1. COT st Annual Conference and Exhibition and Specialist Section – Older People 19 & 20 June ICC Birmingham

2. Sensory processing: it only matters in everyday life Dr Winnie Dunn, Distinguished Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy Education, University of Kansas
It is more important than ever to characterise sensory processing as a key factor in participation goals rather than the goal itself. Winnie explored the critical link between sensory processing and how people live satisfying lives on their own terms.
Key points
Sensory processing is about everyone, not just those vulnerable or with a diagnosis.
Everyone has stories about themselves, their other children, their partners and how these individuals respond to sensory events in their otherwise not notable everyday lives
Challenging ‘abnormality

3. Unlocking potential: occupational case formulation in a prison setting Parkinson S-Freelance MOHO training, Jamieson L-NHS Grampian
Learning outcomes
• Describe the occupational case formulation process using concepts from the Model of Human Occupation, and review completed evaluations in adult mental health services.
• Appraise the impact of occupational case formulations on an occupational therapist’s ability to develop effective therapeutic relationships and influence goal attainment in a prison service.
Case formulations were introduced into a service to tell short stories: starting with where each person has come from (occupational identity) and where they are now (occupational competence).
An ongoing evaluation of prisoners goal attainment shows that prisoners appreciate the way occupational case formulations capture their circumstances and concerns, and feedback suggests that case formulation provides an effective tool for combatting occupational alienation.

4. Work, Health and Disability – Occupational Therapists as Health and Work Champions Karin Bishop-Assistant Director of Professional Practice, Genevieve Smyth-Professional Advisor (Mental Health and Learning Disabilities), College of Occupational Therapists
Explored the latest in the field of disability and employment, including the push for work as a health outcome. This was an ideal opportunity for occupational therapists to engage in the ‘Work agenda’ and create culture change with the Health and Work Champion pilot project with Public Health England.

5. Activity Participation How do you know there’s effort during activity participation?
Sherwood W-International Creative Ability Network, Casteleijn D-University of the Witwatersrand, Taylor C-Bournemouth University
Learning outcomes
• Explain the importance of effort to activity participation, mastery of challenges and ultimately well-being.
• Describe the conditions that are necessary for effort to occur and how this relates to occupational therapy.
• How effort can be assessed/identified through observation during activity participation.
Occupational therapists seek to create the ‘just right’ challenge for clients. Mastering challenge requires effort. Therefore, therapists need to determine:
How much effort a client is capable of
Whether they are putting in adequate effort for mastering challenges
How to facilitate effort.

6. Occupation Station STARTwork: an art-based intervention to support people experiencing mental ill health move towards employment Jones R-Start in Salford
Learning outcomes
• Reflect on the value of creative occupations as a therapeutic tool for mental health recovery and social inclusion, with a focus on employment.
• Gain practical and accessible creative skills to use in interventions.
This session was a sample of the course this service offers.
After creating the stop-motion films, which were short and impressive, Rachel opened up the following question to the group:
What are the benefits of this task to aiding work?
Answers included: team work, increasing confidence and self-esteem, concentration and focus, communication and coordination as well as group work.

7. The Conference Debate This house believes that diverse roles are a vital tool in the future of our profession Chair: David Brindle, Public Services Editor, The Guardian
Speaking for the motion: Miranda Thew, Senior Lecturer, Leeds Beckett University and Yvonne Thomas, Principal Lecturer and Academic Lead for Allied Health Professions, University of Worcester
Speaking against the motion: Kee Hean Lim, International and ENOTHE Lead for Occupational Therapy, Brunel University London and Gabrielle Richards, Professional Head of Occupational Therapy and Trust Social Inclusion & Recovery Lead South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
The popular conference debate is where a controversial matter facing the occupational therapy profession is contested by high profile, passionate speakers. Hear the debate and make your voice heard at this exclusive conference experience.
Arguments against the motion addressed its wording – are these roles ‘vital’ to our future, or just another opportunity? The speakers also warned about the risk of diluting occupational therapy into generic therapy, rehab or care coordination roles, and trying to do all things for all people. When the profession has a hard enough challenge of promoting its worth, should it not be clear about what it is, what it does and its territory? Should occupational therapy students not be mastering basic skills and building their professional identity first, before exploring roles outside of traditional practice?

8. Empowering support workers to engage older people in residential settings in activity Haines D-University of Brighton
Learning outcomes
• Understand an occupational therapy approach to embedding recommendations regarding supporting engagement in activity in the work of a team supporting people with profound learning disabilities.
• Consider the relevance of this approach to occupational therapists working with support workers of older people in residential and nursing care settings.
The case study highlighted challenges in getting others to follow recommendations.
Shifting cultures of leadership and support impacted on engagement in activity.
Occupational therapist aimed to sustain cultural change by working with support workers in a collaborative and empowering way.

9. Keeping people out of hospital. Reducing pressure on primary care.
COT Insights: Improving Lives, Saving Money Karin Bishop, Assistant Director of Professional Practice and Karin Orman, Professional Practice Manager, College of Occupational Therapists and Speaker from NHS Rightcare
The Improving Lives, Saving Money campaign has attracted a high media profile across all four countries. Hear about the impact of this campaign which is highlighting how occupational therapists are making a difference in primary and social care.
The campaign makes the case for occupational therapists in 3 key areas:
Keeping people out of hospital.
Reducing pressure on primary care.
Addressing over reliance on social care.
Living, not existing