| Sumario: | The Forensic Learning Disability Team (FLDT) has been established for several years offering psychology, nursing and psychiatry input. Recently the role of occupational therapist has been developed to bridge the gap between inpatient and community settings. Developing the role of occupational therapy within the service was challenging, as few standards were available regarding forensic learning disability practice (Lillywhite and Haines, 2010). This poster will provide a summary of the assessment, intervention and outcomes we have implemented across the occupational therapy provision, which covers both inpatient and community settings. When investigating the provision of other forensic learning disability services, the occupational therapy input and specialist skills varied greatly. Having occupational therapy input within the FLDT has supported our goal of 'bridging the gap' through the use of meaningful occupation, with our service users attending community groups while in hospital and post-discharge. In time, keeping service users out of hospital will save money, but most importantly increase their quality of living. Providing more support allows service users to remain living within the community, while keeping themselves and others safe, and preventing placement breakdown. This poster is valuable to our profession to see the benefits of having occupational therapy input within 'bridging' services. This highlights the value of meaningful occupation to reduce risk and increase skills, as well as emphasising the need for standards relating to forensic learning disability services.
|
|---|