It’s Occupational Therapy week and to highlight our fantastic OT teams, where showcasing how they support patients, in the hospital and beyond…
Acute Neuro inpatients
The Acute Occupational Therapy service strives to ensure that treatment at The Walton Centre means quality of life and extends beyond meeting a patient’s immediate medical and surgical needs. The team comprises of therapists and therapy assistants which provides specialist support across the Acute wards. We care for patients with cancer, spinal injuries, vascular conditions, neurological conditions and traumatic brain injuries. We deliver holistic assessments and expert discharge planning to help patients regain independence and establish safe, effective pathways out of hospital, to support the best recovery for our patients as well can.
Inpatient specialist rehabilitation
Our Occupational Therapy team works across the Hyperacute and Complex Rehabilitation Units, supporting inpatients with highly complex presentations - from PDOC and specialist seating to wide-ranging cognitive changes. These presentations are life changing and mean long hospital stays, we are passionate about making every day meaningful. We run engaging groups and adapt therapy creatively, offering experiences like animal therapy, visits from the Liverpool Philharmonic, and collaborations with an art resistant (with thanks to The Walton Centre Charity). Working closely with families and the wider MDT, we strive to enrich lives, promote recovery, and support everyone’s unique journey.
Specialist community services
Occupational Therapists in the Community Specialist Rehabilitation Teams use an interdisciplinary approach to work towards an individual's personalised goals in their own homes and communities.
We consider how people are impacted in function to then determine what is important and meaningful for them in their daily lives. We do this through assessment and goals focusing on cognitive, physical, visual and emotional needs, to maximise their potential to return to functioning in their day-to-day life. Examples include personal care, meal preparation, gardening, cooking and everything in between.
Patient feedback:
“If I did too much I was exhausted for 3 days, I’ve realised I need to pick what I want to do and get used to what I can do”
Individual following a brain injury working on managing their levels of fatigue through activity scheduling so that they could participate in meaningful activities
“Your confidence in what I can do, gives me the confidence to do it, and I can!”
Individual working on getting dressed and going on the bus by themselves following a brain injury
“Instructions and things I was asked to do were daunting at first but were well paced which helped my anxiety and also helped me to not be impatient”
Individual working on daily activities and walking outdoors
Vocational rehabilitation
We are Occupational Therapists specialising in Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). We are based in the Community Specialist Rehabilitation Services working as part of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT).
As OT's our unique skills in understanding person/environment/occupation interactions make us perfectly suited to supporting an individual’s return to work. We consider the critical link between work and health, highlighting how good employment supports wellbeing, reduces health inequalities and prevents poverty.
The Royal College of Occupational Therapists is instrumental in promoting VR through the expertise of Occupational Therapists (OT’s), who play a vital role in facilitating individuals, return to meaningful employment after health-related challenges.
Patient feedback:
“I would have really struggled with my work situation if the VR specialist had not helped me. They helped me correspond with the managers and eventually managed to secure me a contract as a retail assistant in a local shop. I am very happy with my work situation now”
“One of my goals was to return to work. VR has been in contact with my employer and between us all we have devised a plan of a phased return to work. VR has always been available when needed to give advice and practicalities surrounding my job”
Long-term conditions
We are a small team of 3-4 OT’s working in outpatients. We work with a vast range of neurology patients with conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, and varying neuromuscular conditions. We tend to utilise a behaviour change approach within our clinics, empowering individuals to understand their condition and adjust their routines to facilitate them to engage in occupations of self-care, productivity and leisure.
Brain tumour coordination team:
One half of the Brain Tumour Therapy Coordinator team is an OT by background – this brings skills in holistic assessment including the ability to assess and manage cognitive and psychological difficulties caused by a brain tumour, or the effects of the treatment used to treat the tumour. We can promote optimisation through the patient pathway including in the last weeks and months of life, to maximise quality of life and ability to live life with as much meaning as possible.
Pain management programme:
We are passionate about our role in supporting individuals with chronic pain to live a meaningful & value driven life.
As part of a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), we play a pivotal role as Occupational Therapists in assessment and directing patients for the right support whether that be one of our programmes, outpatient clinics or signposting to appropriate services.
The Occupational Therapy team help people with persistent or chronic pain to manage their day-to-day activities, helping them to consider, reconnect and problem solves ways of engaging in work, rest or play activities that are important to them. Some of the sessions focus on setting personal targets with a strong focus on applying pacing and activity management strategies, helping individuals to explore potential barriers and problem solve to make positive changes. Sessions also focus on developing techniques of mindfulness and how this can help them to be aware of their body and mind within the present moment.
Pain Management Programmes (PMP)
The Walton Centre offers a variety of pain management programmes tailored to individual needs. The programmes we offer are group-based rehabilitation treatments, that enable an understanding of chronic pain and its wider impact on life, as well as their readiness for change and support. This can be offered to support working towards a program through 1:1 work. We offer support and guidance to help people with chronic pain manage pain more effectively, and in doing so, help improve their overall quality of life. Patient needs are central, giving them access to MDT input on one programme, as well as meeting others who live with pain, supported by having OTs facilitate group discussions, helping them to reflect on their learning and progress.
Occupational Therapists work across the main 15-day programme and deliver group-based therapy for a significant amount of the content over three days a week for five weeks. We also deliver content in the more specialist programmes that we run for young adults, facial pain, pelvic pain, older adults (Oasis) and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome groups.
Post Pain Management Programme
Due to the longevity and chronicity of pain individuals who attend a programme, we also have MDT input following their taking part. This involves group sessions after three and six months to establish how they have maintained change following the programme, and give them some guidance to continue to overcome any challenges which OT play a vital role in. We also offer booster sessions for people that have completed a PMP, but may be struggling post six months with some of their strategies, enabling them to be reviewed by the team and give more individualised support.
More recently, Occupational Therapists on the programme have identified more specific and specialist needs for further support for people around work & employment needs and established a work and employment clinic, which is 1:1 work to explore reasonable adjustments, potential work roles or to support with communicating their pain condition to their employer. We have also recently started a return-to-work group for people living with pain. Returning to some form of employment helps individuals to capitalise on their PMP strategies and improve their confidence and motivation.
Head injury advanced clinical practitioner
Head Injury Advanced Practitioner (ACP) is a specialised healthcare professional who plays a crucial role in assessing, diagnosing, and managing patients following traumatic brain injury.
The role includes:
- Assessment and diagnosis
- Clinical Management
- Collaboration
- Education and training
- Research and quality improvement
- Patient and family support
Overall, Head Injury ACPs play a vital role in trauma settings, using their advanced clinical skills to optimise care for patients with traumatic brain injuries.
Rehabilitation coordinator/Single Point of Contact roles within the Cheshire and Merseyside Rehabilitation Network
Two of our rehabilitation coordinators are OTs, bringing specialist expertise in coordinating complex, patient-centred rehabilitation pathways.
They use skills in complex communication and negotiation, working closely with patients, families, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure a seamless rehabilitation experience. As the Single Point of Contact, they provide specialist assessments, triage referrals, and facilitate patient flow across services.
Collaborating with the wider multidisciplinary team, they deliver comprehensive assessments and develop individualised rehabilitation plans tailored to each patient’s needs.
Strong advocates for patients and families, they guide access to both internal and external support services, ensuring continuity of care from admission through to discharge, supporting each person to achieve the best possible outcomes on their rehabilitation journey.
Read Occupational Therapy Week 2025…
Songwriter and guitarist Sam Leonard, also from Connah’s Quay, said: “After speaking with Dan’s family, we wanted to do something to help The Walton Centre for the amazing care they gave him. He wouldn’t be here with us this Christmas without them.
