1. Occupational Therapy in Health and Social Services The Rep Birmingham 30 January 2008

2. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk The vision of the future of occupational therapy in health and social care: The research perspective Dr Katrina Bannigan Reader in Occupational Therapy

3. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk Background: Opportunity for (personal) reflection 30 years of occupational therapy at York St John University (Mayers 2007) Priorities for Occupational Therapy Research – POTTER (COT 2007, Bannigan et al 2008) Mental health strategy (COT 2006) Launch of the Research Centre for Occupation and Mental Health (RCOMH)

4. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk Aims of presentation Expectations in relation to research Where are we now? (i.e. How do we compare to the what is expected?) What does this mean for the future? How am I creating the future as a researcher?

5. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk Expectations #1 The research forum and clinical effectiveness forum for allied health professions (AHP) agreed a vision that ‘All AHP practice will be knowledge and evidence based by 2100 within a respected culture of high quality research’ (Creek 2005: 15).

6. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk Expectations #2 Best Research for Best Health (NB England – not the four countries) We aim to create a health research system in which the NHS supports outstanding individuals, working in world- class facilities, conducting leading-edge research, focused on the needs of patients and the public (DH 2006)

7. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk Themes All practice will be knowledge and evidence based A respected culture of high quality research Outstanding individuals, working in world- class facilities, conducting leading edge research Leading edge research which is focussed on patients’ and the publics’ needs.

8. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk Where are we now? All practice will be knowledge and evidence based POTTER priority topics A respected culture of high quality research British Journal Occupational Therapy review Outstanding individuals, working in world-class facilities, conducting leading edge research How many leading occupational therapists can you name? How many are researchers? If practice should be evidence based researchers should be providing a lead to the profession? Leading edge research which is focussed on patients’ and the publics’ needs. POTTER priority topics POTTER projects – users and carers literature.

9. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk Review of British Journal of Occupational Therapy Last year – Jan 2007- Dec 2007 –Research articles N = 29 (40%) –38% in previous review (Mountain, 1997) –Does not contribute to our understanding of effectiveness of occupational therapy practice. –Does not meet the criteria to be included in NICE guidelines.

10. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk What does it mean for the future? Capacity is growing but is it growing fast enough? Quality of the research in occupational therapy needs to increase. More leadership and programmes of research needed. Suggestions –Capitalise on strengths Most research in UK conducted for an academic award so we need to capitalise on this opportunity. Partnership and collaboration (particularly service user and carers) Need for an international perspective? (Bannigan et al 2006) –New understanding of academy Clinical practice (Evidence based practice) Education (Research Informed Teaching) Develop our understanding of academy –> move away from researchers/ educators in the future?

11. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk Visions of the future? ??????????????????????????? What does the future hold? ??????????????????????????? End of occupational therapy as a profession in the UK?. Vibrant profession whose practice is knowledge and evidence based. That has a respected culture of high quality research where leading edge research, focussed on patients’ and the publics’ needs, is conducted by outstanding individuals, working in world-class facilities

12. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk How am I creating the future as a researcher? Research Centre for Occupation and Mental Health (RCOMH) ‘To develop and lead co-ordinated programmes of research in occupation and mental health and well being to influence best practice’

13. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk A final thought… In New Ways of Working - They state “It may mean some of them having to ‘up their game’ if they are to take their proper place in a more fully functioning team.” (CSIP/NIMHE 2007 p14) …...is the same true for occupational therapists in the research arena?

14. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk Acknowledgement Claire Bell, Research Assistant, York St John University - who has contributed to review of the British Journal of Occupational Therapy 2008 and the discussion that shaped this presentation.

15. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk Contact details Dr Katrina Bannigan Reader in Occupational Therapy Faculty of Health and Life Sciences York St John University Lord Mayor's Walk York YO31 7EX T: +44 (0)1904 876793 k.bannigan@yorksj.ac.uk

16. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk References Bannigan K, Boniface G, Doherty P, Nicol M, Porter- Armstrong A, Scudds R (2006) Priorities for occupational therapy research in the UK: a strategic overview. (Unpublished.) London: College of Occupational Therapists. Bannigan K, Boniface G, Doherty P, Nicol M, Porter- Armstrong A, Scudds R (2008) Priorities for Occupational Therapy Research in the United kingdom: Executive Summary of the POTTER project British Journal of Occupational Therapy 71 (1) 13-16 College of Occupational Therapists (2006) Recovering Ordinary Lives The strategy for occupational therapy in mental health services 2007–2017. A vision for the next ten years London: College of Occupational Therapists College of Occupational Therapists (2007) Building the evidence for occupational therapy: priorities for research. London: COT. Creek J (2005) A vision for the allied health professions Occupational Therapy News 13 (2) 15

17. York St John University | www.yorksj.ac.uk References Creek J (2005) A vision for the allied health professions Occupational Therapy News 13 (2) 15 CSIP/NIMHE (2007) Mental Health: New Ways of Working for Everyone Available at: http://www.nimhe.csip.org.uk/silo/files/progressreportpdfapril 2007.pdf Department of Health (2006) Best Research for Best Health Introducing a new national health research strategy London: Department of Health Mayers C (2007) York St John celebrates 30 years of OT education Occupational Therapy News 15 (11) 7 Mountain GA (1997) A review of the literature in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1989-1996 British Journal of Occupational Therapy 60(10) 430-5.