Vanessa Rhodes
What did you enjoy most about your placements?
I really enjoyed my first year out on placement which was in an environment dealing with mental health issues. Some of the most enjoyable moments were:
- working in an environment where the full multi-disciplinary team worked together to provide the best care for the service users.
- developing my knowledge about mental health illnesses, in particular Dementia.
- through using my verbal and non-verbal communication skills I built up a rapport with individuals and through this observed signs of well being.
- having the opportunity to go out on community visits as well as working within the mental health unit.
These varied experiences have increased my knowledge of the variety of work carried out by Occupational Therapists and the full multi-disciplinary team.
What tasks and responsibilities did you take part in?
I helped to prepare and facilitate different therapy groups, this included planning trips out and contacting outside resources to come into the unit to run groups. I also developed my own sensory therapy group to help with cognitive stimulation which I lead independently.
I observed and carried out standardised assessments in order to identify problems with processing, memory or physical issues.
I used theory that I had been taught in my modules throughout my placement which enabled my to work productively in the day to day activities within the day unit.
I was able to undertake many administration tasks which included writing up case notes, preparing presentations and taking telephone enquiries along with other general duties.
