I have been an occupational therapist since 1986 and have worked as an occupational therapy clinician, researcher, professional lead and educator. I am a Professor in Occupational Therapy at the School of Science, Technology and Health and have worked at York St John University since 2008.
From 2000 to 2008 I worked as a Modernisation Manager for Older People's mental health services. I have been teaching occupational therapy students since 1991 and have taught occupational therapy programmes at Leeds Metropolitan University (2007 to 2008); University of Teesside (1998 to 2000); McMaster University, Canada (1994 to 1997); Washing University School of Medicine, St Louis, USA (1993 to1994); and Canterbury Christchurch College (1991 to 1993). I started my career working as an occupational therapist at the Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton Health Authority, before working with older people at Bolingbroke Hospital, London. I began my research career in 1990 as a Research Occupational Therapist, in the Department of Geriatric Medicine at St George's Hospital Medical School, London.
My PhD is in Psychology (Neuropsychology and psychometrics) and was undertaken at the University of Surrey. This resulted in the development of the Structured Observational Test of Function (SOTOF). I gained my Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice at York St John University in 2009.
X (formerly known as Twitter): @alisonlaverfaw
I teach on both the BSc (Hons) and pre-registration Master's Occupational Therapy courses.
I teach on the following BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy modules:
- Contributing to Occupational Therapy Practice
- Research Preparation.
I am the module leader for our Pre-registration Master in Occupational Therapy:
- Evidence Based Practice and Research module
- Research Project module.
I supervise students' research on both our occupational therapy courses, offering Student as Co-Researcher (SCoRE) project opportunities. I currently supervise 5 PhD postgraduate researchers and 2 Masters by research postgraduate researchers. I am the co-lead for the Postgraduate Supervisors Forum.
From September 2021, I will be teaching on the MSc Advanced Assessment and Outcome Measures Practice. I have been a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2016.
I am an experienced Problem Based Learning (PBL) tutor, since first teaching using a PBL approach whilst working as an Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy at McMaster University in Canada (1994 to 1997) and as a Visiting Lecturer at Leeds Metropolitan University (2007 to 2008).
I provide Continuing Professional Development workshops on assessment and outcome measurement and on the Structured Observational Test of Function (SOTOF) and the Activity Card Sort United Kingdom version.
My teaching interests include:
- Assessment, evaluation and outcome measurement
- Standardisation and psychometric studies
- Evidence Based Practice
- Critical appraisal and critical thinking
- Clinical reasoning
- Research design, methods and data analysis
- Occupational therapy with older people, particularly people with stroke, people with dementia and their carers.
My research relates to the development and evaluation of occupational therapy and health outcome measures and services for older people, particularly people with dementia or stroke. Throughout my career, I have conducted research whilst working in the NHS and at universities in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Research projects have been funded by a number of organisations in the UK and Canada, including the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the Council for Allied Health Professional Research (CAHPR), the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, the King's Fund, the Nuffield Foundation, the Constance Owens Trust and St. George's Hospital Medical Trustees.
My PhD in Psychology involved the development of the Structured Observational Test of Function (SOTOF; Laver 1994; Laver and Powell, 1995). SOTOF is a standardised assessment, used by occupational therapists or students under the supervision, of older patients. It assesses occupational performance in personal activities of daily living and associated neuropsychological problems. The SOTOF 2nd edition has been developed at York St John University (Laver-Fawcett and Marrison, 2016) and comprises a test manual, instruction protocols, record form and enlarged instructions for people with hearing problems or benefitting from written instructions. This edition facilitates occupational therapists to identify the level of prompts and cues required to maximise a person's independence and support rehabilitation or management. SOTOF aids patients’ insight into their functional problems and abilities (Marrison, 2020). SOTOF is published under a Creative Commons licence & freely available by request. Roleplays and an instructional PowerPoint have been developed to support the administration of SOTOF. Please email me at a.laverfawcett@yorksj.ac.uk for a copy.
I have led the development of the Activity Card Sort United Kingdom version (ACS-UK) (Laver-Fawcett, 2019). This assessment comprises a test manual, 3 scoring forms (for the Institutional, Recovery and Community versions), category sorting cards and 93 photograph activity cards, and can be administered by health and social care professionals or assistants in a wide range of settings including hospitals; a patient’s home; care homes; or day centres (Laver-Fawcett and Mallinson, 2013; Laver-Fawcett et al, 2016). The ACS-UK can be purchased from York St John University, please email me at a.laverfawcett@yorksj.ac.uk for cost and ordering details.
I contributed to the development of the Hopkins Rehabilitation Engagement Rating Scale - Reablement Version (HRERS-RV) with colleagues at the University of York (Mayhew et al, 2019). The HRERS-RV provides a standardised measure of patient engagement for use in reablement services.
I was a co-researcher on the National Institute of Health Research funded ‘Models of Reablement mixed methods evaluation of a complex intervention’ study, with colleagues at the University of York. This study described reablement services in England to develop a service model typology. A mixed-methods comparative evaluation was conducted of service models investigating outcomes, factors that have an impact on outcomes, costs and cost-effectiveness, and user and practitioner experiences; and investigated specialist reablement services or practices for people with dementia.
Whilst working for the NHS I gained expertise in service evaluation as a Modernisation manager (2000-2008). I have conducted 6 funded evaluations since working at York St John University. These include the Keeping Families in Mind service evaluation; the Kingsway West project commissioned by the City of York Council; the Social Prescribing project to evaluate the Ways to Wellbeing service; two independent evaluations for Healthwatch York; and a project commissioned by the Yorkshire and Humber Improvement Partnership related to Safeguarding.
Recent publications
I serve on the Occupational Therapy Europe Foundation Executive since September 2017. I work with 5 colleagues on this executive group, which I serve on as the Chair of Research into Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science (ROTOS). My colleagues include the President and Vice President of the Council of Occupational Therapists in European Countries (COTEC); the President and Vice President of the European Network of Occupational Therapists in Higher Education; and the Chair of ROTOS. For more information see: https://www.oteurope.eu/
I serve on the Research into Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science (ROTOS) Foundation Board, serving as Vice-chair (2017-20) and Chair since February 2020. For more information see: https://www.rotosfoundation.eu/about-rotos/
I am a Member of the Scientific Committee for the 2nd COTEC ENOTHE Conference to be held virtually in September 2021.
I am a Member of the Editorial Advisory Board for the Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy (since 2019) and the Editorial Board for Annals of International Occupational Therapy (since 2017).
Member of the Editorial Board for Occupational Therapy International journal (between 2012-2016).
Member of the European Network of Occupational Therapist in Higher Education (ENOTHE) Masters Tuning working group project Phases 1 and 2: Co-author: Starting Tuning of OT Master competences: Comparing masters' programmes to facilitate collaboration in OT education. Project phase. Preliminary Report of the ENOTHE Masters Tuning Project Group. Report to ENOTHE Board (January 2015)
I was invited to Singapore in July 2014 on the Ministry of Health Visiting Experts programme as an 'international expert on Occupational Therapy and Dementia care'.
Co-author of OT-Europe: Launching ECOTROS 2.0. European Collaboration on Occupational Therapy Research and Occupational Science. Report to the ENOTHE and COTEC Boards (July 2014).
Between 2009 and 2011, I was the College of Occupational Therapists (COT) and British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT): Council Member for International Affairs and World Federation of Occupational Therapists delegate and Council member. In this role I was also Co-chair for the International Working Group and served on the COT Membership and External Affairs Board.
I have undertaken several Erasmus funded teachers exchange visits to teach on: the Interdisciplinary Masters, University of Ghent and Occupational Therapy Masters programme, KU Leuven (March 2016); the Occupational Therapy programme at HVA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (April 2014); at Oslo University College, Oslo, Norway; and to visit the University of Gothenburg, Sweden (March 2011). I also attended the Erasmus Partner Week at Oslo University College, Oslo, Norway (in 2010).
Invited expert on clinical assessments for the national SNOMED Occupational Therapy Subsets project and the Outcomes Term SNOMED subset project, for the College of Occupational Therapists (2006-2011).
Invited member of the College of Occupational Therapists' Research and Development Committee (1991-1993).
Regional Representative for the College of Occupational Therapists / British Association of Occupational Therapy Special Interest Group for Occupational Therapy for Older People: South-West Thames Regional Group (1990-91) and South-East Thames Regional Group (1991-93).
Public Relations Officer for the College of Occupational Therapists / British Association of Occupational Therapy's South-West London Sub-Group (1987-1991).
