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Circles

Learning and development networks, for clinicians, educators and students.

Foster global connections in professional groups, without social media distraction.

Join existing Circles, or start a new one. All are moderated and information is securely stored.
Participate in discussions, create polls, share files, video and visual resources.
Public Circles: Engage with anyone.
Private Circles: Engage with specific individuals or a team; admins admit Members.

OT Circles

View groups and posts below.

Research + Evidence
Public·244 members
Mental Health
Public·565 members
The OT Journal Club
Public·379 members
Paediatrics
Public·509 members
Independent Practitioners
Private·269 members
Southend/Essex Occupational Therapists
Public·3 members

Circles Feed

This post is from a suggested group

5 hours ago · posted in Research + Evidence

A Modest Proposal for Stair Descent in the Elderly

Falls on stairs are common among older adults, and forward falls during descent are associated with high injury risk. Being elderly myself and having a number of stairs in my home I have given this issue some thought. Current fall-prevention guidance appropriately emphasizes handrail use, lighting, stair design, and strength and balance training. However, comparatively little attention has been given to task-modification strategies that alter how stair descent is performed.

I wonder whether an oblique stair-descent orientation—approximately 60 degrees relative to the direction of the stairs, rather than fully forward or fully sideways—may reduce fall risk during descent in some older adults.

This orientation would combine several independently supported safety mechanisms:

1. It naturally enforces slower, deliberate descent, discouraging step skipping and rapid cadence.

2. It shortens the effective step length, potentially reducing overstepping and foot overhang.

3. It reduces forward momentum, which is strongly associated with injurious stair falls.

11 Views

This post is from a suggested group

9 hours ago · posted in Mental Health

CREATION VIA SUNO AI: AN INDUCTIVE PROCESS OF SUBJECTIVATION

Creation via SunoAI operates as a neuro-psycho-corporeal inducer, enabling a passage from sound-making to bodily experience, from emotion to agency, and ultimately to verbalization of the subject.

🧩 Core principle

👉 It is the act of AI-assisted creation via Suno AI that induces:

sensory (auditory and bodily) perception,

emotional activation,

mobilization of the subject,

Intervention Ideas

Resource Signposting

Service/Therapy Insights

10 Views

This post is from a suggested group

yesterday · posted in Mental Health

any Spanish OTs around?

Hi everyone! I’m interested in evidence on the evaluation of people with severe mental illness in workplace performance.

Could also be something in english!😀

Thanks

Assessments/Outcome Measures

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Hub Team

14 hours ago

Thanks for reaching out @cristina rubio - we can bring your query to the attention of fellow Members, to prompt suggestions. Just to check though, are you specifically looking for research on people with severe mental illness who live in SPAIN, or could they be based elsewhere? Ideally you'd like evidence in Spanish, but English is also fine? We'd suggest you edit your post title, to reflect the mental health/workplace theme here.

This post is from a suggested group

8 days ago · posted in Research + Evidence

Participants needed!

Hello everyone, my name is Vanessa, and my group

members and I are conducting a research study for our Master’s thesis at Stanbridge University in California. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that occupational therapists consider when making discharge recommendations in acute care, as well as the challenges and barriers to discharge planning. If you are a licensed occupational therapist (OTR, OTR/L) currently working or have previous experience in the acute care setting, please consider participating in this study that will take 10-20 minutes of your time. Please review the attached flyer for more information on eligibility requirements, access to the survey, and contact details. Please feel free to share with any other OTs that would be a good fit! Thank you!

Vanessa Cuellar MSOT/S. Leslie Bergado MSOT/S, Ryan Belt MSOT/ S, Angela Kim MSOT/S

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This post is from a suggested group

Abigail Brown

9 days ago · posted in The OT Journal Club

A Member who has completed one or more OT CPD Courses, supporting their development

Hub CPD Participant

Past/present host of The OT Journal Club, sharing research and analysis with Members

Journal Club Host

(Winter 2025-26): The Cost of Inactivity in Healthcare

-Journal Club (JC) host- Abigail Brown - Specialist Mental Health Occupational Therapist (UK), providing inpatient rehabilitation.

-Research title- The cost of inaction on physical inactivity to public health care systems: a population-attributable fraction analysis

-Research authors- Costa Santos, A., Willumsen, J., Meheus, F., Ilbawi, A. and Bull, F.C.

-Journal of publication- The Lancet Global Health

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Jennifer Bellamy

6 days ago

I connected with this article on a personal level. I always notice during the winter months I become much less active, and this has a clear impact on my wellbeing.

When my activity levels drop so does my mood.

On a physical level my joints feel stiffer, my flexibility decreases, and I tend to gain weight.

I also feel less motivated which then makes it harder to engage in physical activity. Reading the article helped me connect my own experience to the broader public health picture.

From an occupational therapy perspective, it highlights how supporting people to maintain meaningful movement and routines, especially during the winter months could have a real impact on both physical and mental health.

This post is from a suggested group

9 days ago · posted in Paediatrics

Participants needed!

For my MSc pre-registration occupational therapy dissertation I am exploring OTs experiences of using video conferencing to deliver services to children and young people.

If you:

Are a HCPC registered OT
Have used video conferencing to deliver OT services to children and young people in the UK

I would really like to hear about your experiences in an online survey.

Service/Therapy Insights

27 Views

This post is from a suggested group

9 days ago · posted in Research + Evidence

Participants needed!

For my MSc pre-registration occupational therapy dissertation I am exploring OTs experiences of using video conferencing to deliver services to children and young people.

If you:

Are a HCPC registered OT
Have used video conferencing to deliver OT services to children and young people in the UK

I would really like to hear about your experiences in an online survey.

36 Views

This post is from a suggested group

pipsmacdonald

28 days ago · posted in Mental Health

An active participant in OT Circles - posting, commenting and/or sharing resources

OT Circles Engager

Evidence based interventions for people with dementia in care homes

Hi been asked if I could help to outline what sort of interventions should/ could be offered to patients with dementia living in care homes (ideally evidence based) . Our current offer is limited to CST (cognitive stimulation therapy) followed by periodic consultations with psychiatrist, medication review/ monitoring ; can anyone help please

Service Development

Resource Signposting

Intervention Ideas

Assessments/Outcome Measures

360 Views

Jamie Grant

Dec 08

•

Hi there @pipsmacdonald - Further to @jenny.casson's suggestion below, I've collated further replies to your query, from the Hub's Facebook page post:

Joanne: "Totally depends on the situation... on the person and what is occurring for them. Often groups and activities are put on for the residents and it is not relevant or appropriate. I work within a service as a mental health OT, in collaboration with carers, to support residents who are experiencing behaviours that concern (previously called 'behaviour that challenges'). We work on the Newcastle model, a stepped approach and very evidence based..."
Bex: "Please look at gardening groups. There is a lot of supporting evidence for the benefits of gardening. I did my final placement in mental health/ dementia setting that was using an outdoor space at the hospital to run a gardening group for clients and their carers - and it was really beneficial for social interaction and physical and mental wellbeing. The act of growing plants and tending do them is very restorative."
Shell: "The Jackie Pool Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrument - We've used it jointly OT and MH together, to help person-centred care and meaningful activities with carers and activity co-ordinators, its great."
Clare: "I was also going to mention the fabulous PALs Pool Activity Level training for activity coordinators, care givers... Activity or rather promotion of meaningful occupation is the duty of all care givers... and in an ideal world of course wouldn't start and end with activity coordinators. More understanding is required on the sensory differences in the stages of dementia..."
Diana: "Would like to see more care homes have pets as therapy (PAT), visitors to bring their pet or actually living in the care home - or allow residents to bring their own pets in where possible as this ‘anchors’ them to their new home - it is after all their home and the staff are really their visitors. Encourage residents' autonomy, by offering choice of activity or working out a daily or weekly timetable with them - staff could ask how they can help, as if employed by/ a new ‘friend’ of the resident. Give them 'jobs' to do if they’re fit and able enough, as some residents may still believe they're working (e.g. gardening, helping in the kitchen, organising the laundry, teaching other residents/staff their hobby). Organise outings where/if possible. Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, seasonal events (e.g. Wimbledon, the Boat Race, Grand National, FA final, etc). Whatever you would normally do at home, try to replicate in a care home - ‘normalise’ the experience as much as possible for residents."
Gina: "Life Story work is often really meaningful - and helps carers see the care home resident as an individual, helps staff have points of meaningful conversation with residents, and helps the resident gain strength from the roles, hobbies, travels they've had over their lifetime. Work with families to bring in photos or memorabilia that will be meaningful to that individual. You can make the Life Story into a little booklet that can be shared with consent from resident with others."
Debra: "Sensory interventions, music therapy, PAT dogs and animals. We have donkeys, ponies, goats and rabbits brought in... walking, hand-holding, pampering sessions, gardening, sensory story telling, birdsong and nature. 20 years in this business."

This post is from a suggested group

Daniel Symns

29 days ago · posted in Southend/Essex Occupational Therapists

OT Circles Engager

Welcome!

Hello everyone,

My name is Daniel, and I’ve been a qualified Occupational Therapist for five years. I have experience ranging from Paediatrics to Elderly Care and Rehabilitation, and I’m currently working towards specialising in Paediatrics. I recently moved to Southend from London and have been looking for ways to connect with like-minded people. Since this is a platform for Occupational Therapists, I knew it would be a great place to meet others—after all, OTs are amazing!

I decided to create this group to connect with fellow Occupational Therapists in the area as I’m still finding my feet. I also hope it can become a supportive space for peer discussion and shared learning.

57 Views