Occupational therapy excellence recognised by professional body
Occupational therapy staff and students at York St John
University have had their work recognised by the College of
Occupational Therapists (COT), receiving a number of awards from
the professional body for their achievements.
Each year the COT administers a range of
awards providing financial support towards members’ education,
research and continuing professional development. Sarah Masefield
is a final year occupational therapy student who was awarded the
COT 2011 Student Award. She received £1,000 towards her final three
month placement in Uganda from March – May 2011.
Describing the background to her desire to
work abroad, Sarah said:
“Whilst on placement in Leeds I worked with
individuals from diverse ethnic, cultural and socio-economic
backgrounds. This raised my awareness of the validity of
occupational therapy practice in different cultural contexts, and
also developed my communication skills with people whose first
language is not, or do not speak, English.”
She added: “I am keen to learn about contexts
outside of the UK and make a positive contribution where possible,
with a view to working abroad at some point in the future;
therefore this placement opportunity will offer me invaluable
insight, personal and professional development.”
Another worthy recipient is Kirsty Edwards, a
final year occupational therapy student who was awarded the COT
2011 Speechmark Award. Kirsty received £800 towards her final three
month placement in Bangladesh from March - May 2011. Once
qualified, she hopes to work as an occupational therapist
abroad.
Kirsty explains:
“This opportunity will help further my
understanding of working within a different culture and also help
me view different ways of treating clients and how countries work
without a national health service.”
Dr Jane Cronin Davis is a Senior Lecturer in
Occupational Therapy at York St John. She is visiting the Centre
for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) and Bangladesh Health
Professions Institute (BHPI) in Bangladesh for two weeks in April.
Jane was awarded the COT 2011 International Travel Award and
received £1,000 to cover the cost of her forthcoming trip. Whilst
in Bangladesh she will work with a senior occupational therapist
from the CRP to implement a joint mental health initiative between
BHPI and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Dhaka.
Final year placement students from York St John will be supported
by Jane to run a programme whilst on their mental health placement
related to the needs of the service users in NIMH.
For further information please contact Amy Hall, PR
& Communications Officer on T: 01904 876466 or E: a.hall@yorksj.ac.uk
