About

I'm a lecturer in Occupational Therapy, privileged to support our pre-registration learners with their occupation of learning.

Teaching responsibilities

I facilitate learning across all pre-registration Occupational Therapy programmes here at Derby, particularly relating to occupational and health equity and justice, working with communities, and professional identity/transitioning to practice. As well as leading our Public, Global and Community Health, Professional Reasoning & Professional Identity (MSc pre-reg.) and Transitioning to Practice (BSc) modules, I enjoy teaching on our undergraduate research/evidence-based modules. I also support several students as a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT), including placement visits.

Professional interests

Equity, Diversity and Belonging (EDB), particularly in relation to pre-registration OT education and experiences of the workforce and future workforce.

Future possibilities for the profession (Future Focused Practice).

Digital skills development.

Research interests

The intersection of LGBTQIA+ and occupational therapy/science, particularly concerning trans and non-binary identities.

Digital upskilling pertinent to practice.

Membership of professional bodies

• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registered
• Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)
  • Member of RCOT LGBTQIA+ Expert Advisory Group
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Qualifications

PGCert Academic Practice & Leadership FHEA, University of Derby (2026)

MSc (pre-registration) Occupational Therapy, University of Derby (2020)

BA (Hons) Creative Arts (Music & Art), Bath Spa University (2008)

Recent conferences

• Occupational Therapy Education

Including: June 2024 – RCOT Annual Conference (‘Occupational therapy education: developing digital literacy skills through webpage design’; ‘Growing Belonging during Occupational Therapy pre-registration education’)

• LGBTQIA+ in Occupational Therapy

Individually: June 2021 – RCOT Annual Conference – Invited plenary panel member (LGBTQIA+) ‘Inclusion: what it means and should look like to our profession’; November 2021 – RCOT OT Week ‘OTs for Equity’ Launch Event – Invited discussion panel member (LGBTQIA+); July 2022 – RCOT EDB Insights Session with Dr Rebecca Swenson (previously London South Bank University)

With members of LGBTQIA+OTUK Affinity Group (‘Through Pride Comes Progress’, The OT Show 2022) and RCOT LGBTQIA+ Expert Advisory Group (‘Through Pride Comes Progress’, RCOT Annual Conference 2022)

• MSc Independent Scholarship (Supervisor: Helen Brown): ‘A gender agenda: an exploration of pre-registration occupational therapy students’ understandings of gender variance and relevance to occupational therapy practice.’

Including: June 2021 – RCOT Annual Conference (Poster Presentation); October 2021 – Global Assembly on Everyday Life, Gender and Sexuality, University of the Philippines (Oral Presentation; recipient: Best Oral Presentation); September 2022 – ENOTHE (European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education) Annual Meeting

Experience in industry

Clinically, my experience is predominantly mental health based. Before my OT training I worked in Older Adult Mental Health (inpatient unit and community crisis team), and post-registration in community-based roles working with individuals experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, psychosis (Psychosis Pathway then At-Risk Mental State (ARMS) Team within Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP)).

Relating to Equity, Diversity & Belonging (EDB), Inclusive Engagement, and support for both Early Career Occupational Therapists and our OT Support Workforce, I have undertaken project-based work with and for the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). Drawing on personal, professional, and research experience regarding occupational therapy perspectives on LGBTQIA+ identity, I have also been invited to speak to pre-registration OT students at several UK universities and a range of discipline-specific events.

Recent publications

Invited contribution: Tempest, S. (2026) Growth-based career planning for healthcare professionals: a narrative for change. 1st edition. Newark: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.

Williams, T., Spencer, H., Prime, L & Baker, J. (2024) 'Flowing in a common direction', OT News, June 2024, pp.16–18.

Samuels, T., Spencer, H., Booth-Gardiner, R., Flowers, S. & Mohamed, S. (2023) 'A bold ambitious strategy', OT News, December 2023, pp.16–19.

Samuels, T., Kenney, S., Spencer, H., Webster, J., Williams, T., Daniels, R. (2023) 'Campaigning for a more inclusive and supportive culture', OT News, June 2023, pp.20–23.