AHP Team (C Totten)

Our AHP Journey in the State Hospital

Over the last 20 years, the AHP services at The State Hospital have evolved from Occupational Therapists (OT) to a wide range of professions including dietetics, physiotherapists, podiatry and arts therapies (drama, music and art).  The last decade has seen changes moving away from uni-disciplinary working to all AHPs working closely together. With a new AHP lead in place in 2017, it has been an opportunity for therapists to develop their remits as  individual disciplines felt that they lacked identity as an overall AHP group. It was fact we did not often meet as an AHP group, we lacked opportunities to network and share ideas and we were not  working together regarding achieving our local and national policy drivers. The aim of our journey was to become more cohesive and visible as one Allied Health Professional Team within the State Hospital.

OT Service Example: 2017 iMatter Storyboard

What we did

• Established monthly Continued Professional Development meetings as an AHP group
• Started a monthly AHP business meeting
• Established regular weekly time for AHPs to meet over lunch to improve contact and team relationships
• The Appreciative Inquiry model was used among the largest AHP group, Occupational Therapy, as a means to plan service development with discussions to expand to full AHP service.
• All AHPs are managed under one AHP Team Leader.

Where we are now: AHP iMatter 2018 Story Board

Whats the impact?

More efficient and productive services;

• Improved joint working between all AHP groups for patient rehabilitation
• Cohesive approach to improved patient outcomes
• Co-facilitated sessions and joint group work
• Enhanced AHP identity within the State Hospital