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Results are in, the votes have been counted and I am putting on a sparkly dress, to announce the Top 10 Occupational Therapy books that all Occupational Therapists (OTs) MUST read. I wanted to put this list together because I knew I hadn’t read widely enough in my own area. This has given me a few places to look, so thank you to everyone who took part in the 2020 survey. I was really interested to see what was nominated and absolutely delighted to see what wasn’t. We are going to do the top 9 in no order whatsoever and then the overall winner is at the bottom . Enjoy! [N.B. Clicking images takes you to Amazon; other shops and online stores are available] Diverse roles for Occupational Therapists Edited by Jane Clewes and Robert Kirkwood First up... I’m quite pleased this got through, not least because the chapter in it on ‘Personality Disorder’ is by me. This book has a range of occupational therapists in different mental health positions describing their roles; it’s a great resource for particular areas and for bringing innovation into places we haven’t been before. Colleagues of mine wrote about psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs), Prisons and Eating Disorders - I’m pretty sure at one point we were the most academic OT corridor in the UK. It’s probably due a sequel now, with even more novel roles emerging . Groupwork In Occupational Therapy By Linda Finlay 23 years old and still pulling in the votes, this is the oldest book in the list. Written primarily for occupational therapists, 'this text explores the range of group work activities used within occupational therapy practice. Discussing theoretical aspects and practical approaches , this book is an invaluable handbook to those working and studying occupational therapy.' Occupational Therapies Without Borders: Integrating Justice With Practice By Dikaios Sakellariou and Nick Pollard This is a book I hadn’t even heard of before. Apparently this builds on the previous two volumes, offering a window onto occupational therapy practice, theory and ideas, in different cultures and geographies . It emphasises the importance of critically deconstructing and engaging with the broader context of occupation, particularly around how occupational injustices are shaped through political, economic and historical factors. Centring on the wider social and political aspects of occupation and occupation-based practices, this textbook aims to inspire occupational therapy students and practitioners to include transformational elements into their practice. It also illustrates how occupational therapists from all over the world can affect positive changes , by engaging with political and historical contexts. It could probably do with a chapter on COVID-19, but then I’m sure most books could at the moment… An Occupational Perspective of Health By Ann Wilcock and Clare Hocking 4th on the list, another book I hadn’t come across before. Amazon says 'For nearly 20 years, An Occupational Perspective of Health has been a valuable text for health practitioners, with an interest in the impact of what people do throughout their lives. Now available in an updated and much-anticipated Third Edition, this unique text continues the intention of the original publication: it encourages wide-ranging recognition of occupation as a major contributor to all people’s experience of health or illness. It also promotes understanding of how, throughout the world, "population health" , as well as individual well-being, is dependent on occupation.' This sounds like a useful message for us to articulate. Creating Positive Futures: Solution Focused Recovery from Mental Distress By Lucie Duncan, Rayya Ghul and Sarah Mousley Coming in 5th (they are not in order), this is currently going for a much more modest price - and you can let me know whether the Wilcock book is 4 times better. With 5 stars on Amazon 'This is a valuable resource for anybody working in the fields of mental health and disability, regardless of professional discipline , not only occupational therapists but psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and nurses.' It shows a respectful, structured and realistically optimistic way of talking with troubled people, so that their own strengths and resources are highlighted. This book introduces their Solution Focused Measure of Occupational Function . It is clearly written, almost jargon-free and contains many useful case-examples and suggestions for generative questions. The authors have avoided it becoming too much of a therapy-by-numbers ‘cook-book’. Enabling Occupation II: Advancing an Occupational Therapy Vision for Health, Well-being & Justice Through Occupation By Elizabeth A. Townsend and Helene J. Polatajko For its price, I’d expect this book to assess my clients for me. It’s not easy to find a synopsis for this book (if someone sends me one I’ll add it to the article), but what I have learned is: 'As a practitioner, Section I provides you with the opportunity to reflect on the implications that embracing occupation as our core domain of concern has for your practice. The Section promotes an appreciation of the full breadth of human occupation and facilitates the adoption of an occupational perspective in viewing the world. With the Section, you are encouraged to adopt an occupational perspective to guide your practice - be it as a clinician, educator, researcher, administrator, manager, or consultant. You will immerse yourself in language frameworks and models , that will help to organise your thoughts and articulate your understanding of occupation and to explore the learnings that occupational science can shed on your understanding and appreciation of occupation.' Foundations for Practice in Occupational Therapy By Edward Duncan 7th on the list... Eddie was one of my first supervisors, back in the days when I was young and knew nothing. Now that I’m old and know less it’s good to see this scoring so well. 'The internationally acclaimed Foundations for Practice in Occupational Therapy continues to provide a practical reference tool, which is both an indispensable guide to undergraduates and a practical reference tool for clinicians , in the application of models and theories to practice. Underlining the importance and clinical relevance of theory to practice, the text provides an excellent introduction to the theoretical basis of occupational therapy.' Client-Centred Practice in Occupational Therapy: A Guide to Implementation Edited by Thelma Sumsion At 8th in the list, the editor is one of my undergraduate lecturers, who once chided me for napping during a talk. 'Directed primarily towards health care professionals outside of the United States, Client-Centered Practice in Occupational Therapy continues to be the only book that provides the reader with both the theoretical underpinnings of client-centred practice as well as guidance on the practical application of this approach.' Who knows what authoritarian practices will take place in the USA without a book like this to guide them? Kielhofner's Model of Human Occupation By Renee R. Taylor Nearly there… This book was one of the two that dominated the field. 'Updated throughout with new research, the 5th Edition of MOHO offers a complete presentation of the most widely used model in occupational therapy today. In the new edition, author Renee Taylor preserves Dr. Kielhofner's original voice and contributions, while updating MOHO concepts and their uses in today's practice environment . Throughout the book, readers will see a client-centred approach used to explore what motivates each individual, how they select occupations and establish everyday routines - and how environment influences occupational behaviour. The 5th Edition continues to deliver the latest in MOHO theory, research and application to practice and adds much that is new, including new case studies - that show how MOHO can address the real-life issues depicted - and expanded resources, that enhance teaching and learning.' This probably influences my OT clinical reasoning more than any other profession-specific book I’ve read. And the moment you have all been waiting for… ...will have to wait a little longer! I asked people what book wasn’t shortlisted but should have been ; I was told the missing gem was: Recovery Through Activity By Sue Parkinson It is 'underpinned by the conceptual framework of the Model of Human Occupation and will provide an invaluable tool to practitioners and also create a platform for research. Recovery Through Activity: enables service users to recognise the long-term benefits of occupational participation, by exploring the value of a range of activities provides occupational therapists with a valuable tool to support the use of their core skills provides comprehensive evidence regarding the value of activity, along with a wealth of resources to support implementation of an occupation-focused intervention helps to refocus the practice of occupational therapy in mental health on occupation supports occupational therapy practitioners to engage in their core skills and enhance the quality of service user care in mental health' Finally, we have the winner: Creek's Occupational Therapy and Mental Health Edited by Wendy Bryant With more votes than any other and five times the votes of the lowest scoring finalist, this is another ‘go-to' book for me. This 'seminal textbook for occupational therapy students and practitioners has retained the comprehensive detail of previous editions with significant updates, including the recovery approach informed by a social perspective . Emerging settings for practice are explored and many more service users have been involved as authors. Occupational Therapy and Mental Health is essential reading for students and practitioners across all areas of health and/or social care , in statutory, private or third (voluntary) sectors, and in institutional and community-based settings.' If you want to read a non-occupational therapy mental health book, The Body Keeps The Score annihilated the competition... And that is the result of the survey. You also told me you are interested in an occupational therapy TED-style event, so I might see if I can make that happen. Go forth and read these books! Very little is written about some of them, so add to the reviews and tell people what you thought. Before you smash out your money on hard copies of these, it might be worth considering joining your country's professional body; some of these are available as free e-books to members. If anyone wants to send me a copy of any of these, I’m happy to review it... I hope this was useful. Happy reading. Keir Harding Occupational Therapist Keir provides supervision and thinking space around mental health provision, particularly those viewed as being high risk. He is contactable via Beam Consultancy and is active on X/Twitter ( @keirwales ) and Facebook ( Keir Harding OT ).

Grabbing a cup of coffee, hailing a bus, using a computer, holding a phone to your ear, or simply scratching your head… Most of our daily actions involve our arms. But in many situations, when living with a muscular weakness, moving the arm can be challenging or even impossible.  This significantly impacts our ability to engage in daily activities and meaningful occupations, be they within domains of self-care, productivity or leisure. Occupational Therapists (OTs) can benefit from a deeper understanding of upper limb assistive technology and environmental adaption, to maximise potential for occupational engagement. Various devices exist to assist arm movement, such as arm supports, robotic arms and gripping aids. These devices help people maintain autonomy , by enabling them to manipulate objects for essential home tasks, work, or leisure activities. They also facilitate interaction with others and help keep muscles active. Causes of reduced arm mobility Many conditions can lead to loss of arm mobility due to motor or sensory effects, such as neuromuscular disease, or nervous system damage and lesions. Among the neuromuscular pathologies that affect arm mobility, examples include Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Infantile Spinal Amyotrophy, Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, Myotonic Dystrophy type 1, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. In these types of pathologies, the loss of strength can be caused by muscular deterioration at the neuromuscular, nerve or motor neuron junction. Symptoms vary depending on the individual, the disease and its stage of progression. They can affect different parts of the arm, with: muscle weakness in the upper part of the arm (proximal muscles) muscle weakness in the forearm (distal muscles) impairment in the fingers and hand (fine dexterity, e.g. grip and pinch strength) In the case of Duchenne muscular dystrophy for example, muscle weakness is functionally apparent earlier in the lower limbs; it becomes more noticeable in the upper limbs following the loss of the ability to walk. Clinical and radiological studies show that motor deficits in these patients first affect the shoulders and progressively reach the muscles of the arms and forearms, especially those acting as extensors of the elbow and wrist. In the case of neuromuscular diseases, the reduction in muscle strength in patients generally leads to a loss of range of motion. This limitation in movement subsequently causes tendon contractures or osteo-articular stiffness. The resulting pain, which further limits movement and the ability to perform activities, creates a vicious circle. Lesions or injuries of the central nervous system (such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injuries)   can lead to highly variable motor deficits in the upper limbs.  In the case of a spinal cord injury (SCI), the higher the lesion in the spinal cord, the more the muscles of the upper arm (proximal muscles) will be affected. Depending on the degree of the lesion, the patient will retain more or less arm function. A complete lesion will result in a complete absence of movement below the lesion; an incomplete lesion will allow for arm movement, but with reduced strength. Patients who have experienced a stroke often display impaired reach and grasp functions. In this case, movements can be slower, less fluid and/or have a shorter range. The difficulty these patients have adapting the force used to grasp, manipulate and release objects appropriately is of a different nature to that presented by individuals with a spinal cord injury or a neuromuscular disease . Hence, many individuals living with a neuromuscular condition or a lesion of the central nervous system can benefit from the use of an assistive device for arm or hand function. Existing upper limb assistive technology Five types of assistive devices for the arm and hand are available. These devices assist or perform movements for the user. Each type meets a specific need: - Mechanical Arm Supports - Suitable where the person can perform the movement, but where repetitive actions cause fatigue. - Electric Arm Supports - Suitable where lifting the arm is difficult or impossible, but where bending the elbow and shoulder rotation are possible. - Robotic Arms with Gripping Devices - Suitable where arm and hand movements are severely limited or non-existent. - Gripping Aids for the Hand -  Suitable where it is possible to close the hand, but where maintaining the grip is challenging. - Electric Meal Aids - Suitable where lifting the hand to the mouth is difficult or impossible. These devices are adaptable to a variety of joint mobility situations, accommodating different levels in the shoulder, elbow and hand. Several clinical scales have been designed to measure the arm mobility, such as the Brooke Upper Extremity Rating Scale . Assessment methods for the fitting of an upper limb assistive device Assessing for the recommendation of an assistive device For this type of assistive device, there is an increasing tendency to use a top-down approach, starting with the individual's activities, lifestyle habits and preferences. Integrating users' feedback into the recommendation process and adopting an ecological perspective, rather than focusing on physical limitations, helps reduce the abandonment rate of these assistive devices (Hocking, 1999). - 1) Usage - Assessing needs in terms of particular uses allows for: Prioritisation :   For example, for one patient, using a computer might be more important than eating. These choices will impact the direction of the assistive device. Gathering indicators for post-fitting assessment,   by targeting the most important activities . For example, if an individual wants to use the device for fishing three times a year, the well-being associated with this activity might take precedence over the frequency of use criteria. → Clinical scales for evaluating usage: COPM, MOHOST, LIFE-H - 2) Environment - Here, the specific conditions of the distant environment (flat, hilly, etc.) and the immediate environment (specifics of the wheelchair, etc.) are determined. These elements will affect the functionalities of the assistive device. For example, a person living in a very hilly area will need greater ability to lock their arm support. → Environmental assessment tools: Assessment can be multimodal; photos, sketches, videos, tracking movements at home or places of use, etc. - 3) Motor abilities - These abilities should be related to usage. Even if object manipulation is limited, the ability to take and give an object may be very important. The objective is to assess the arm as a whole: Potential pain Possible contractions or joint limitations Skin issues (possible allergies to contact with materials) Sensitivity (feeling at different points of support) Movements (ability to move, manipulate objects, etc) → Clinical scales for evaluating motor abilities:- Functional assessment of the upper limb; Orthopaedic assessment; 400 point assessment; Box and Blocks Test; Jamar: dynamo + pinch; FIM; Minnesota; MFM; Nine Hole Peg Test; Perdue Pegboard Test; Brooke Upper Extremity Rating Scale; CUE-T; Pain (VAS); Barthel ADL Index; Myotools; Nepsy; Ecological situation observations; Preston; PUL; RULM. This assessment of usage, environment and motor abilities results in the definition of functional specifications. Based on these specifications, the occupational therapist can then match the needs with existing devices on the market. Assessment of the assistive device - after fitting The evaluation of the assistive device can occur at various points in time, depending on usage and how the patient is monitored; one week, three months or one year following fitting. This step evaluates the progress in performing activities with the assistive device (as opposed to without), the satisfaction level, or improvement in quality of life. The 2007 report by the National Authority for Health in France suggests that assessments should take place in environments where the device can be expected to be used. In this way, the device’s effectiveness can be assessed in relation to the individual’s primary activities. → Clinical scales for assistive device assessment: QUEST (Demers, 1999), Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) (Krasny Pacini, 2013), COPM, PIADS. A guidebook to explore this topic further The best way to learn about upper limb assistive devices is to try them! This allows you to have a sense of how the device works, experience the sensation of assisted arm movement and determine in which situations it may be suitable. To discover more about upper-limb assistive devices, you can freely download the guidebook 'Assistive Technology for Arm Mobility in Europe' (Orthopus, 2024): This resource was co-written by healthcare professionals, associations, equipment installers and researchers. It also includes testimonials from the true experts: the users themselves. Other resources Global indicators of assistive technology use amongst occupational therapists - Report of WFOT's Global Surveys (World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2019) Global report on assistive technology (World Health Organization, 2022) Clinical scales for upper-limb (Orthopus)  - for before and after the fitting Assistive devices for arms (Orthopus) Bergsma, A., Janssen, M.M.H.P., Geurts, A.C.H., Cup, E.H.C. and de Groot, I.J.M. Different profiles of upper limb function in four types of neuromuscular disorders. Neuromuscular Disorders . December 2017; 27 (12): 1115-1122. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2017.09.003. Epub 2017 Sep 15. PMID: 29033278.

Trigger warning: Self-harm and abuse A Mental Health Act tribunal is where people who are detained in hospital against their wishes get the chance to appeal their detention. They get legal representation and while staff argue why they need to remain detained, the solicitor picks apart their statements to show that the detention is unjust. Watching this are a panel of three people: a psychiatrist, a judge and a lay person - and at the end of the merry process they get to decide whether the detention is required. In the UK, this is how we make sure people aren’t deprived of their liberty without good reason. This bit was a bit dull, but it gets more interesting from now on… I was at a mental health tribunal once where I was asked this question: "If self harm is what keeps them in hospital and they really want to get out, why don’t they just stop doing it?" I relished answering this but my heart sank a bit as well. This was the medical expert on the panel and it is so frustrating that people in such a position of power hold the view that self harm can simply be 'turned off'. I’m not a fan of diagnosis but, using a medical model, self harm is one of the symptoms of borderline personality disorder . In what other area would we suggest people just stop the symptoms of their illness? "Why don’t they just stop hearing voices?" Or even "Why don’t the manic people just calm down?" Obviously, any action that someone takes has an element of choice involved, but in mental health we work with many things that people do that cause them harm. I’m going to suggest that, if the attitude we take into our work is that people should just stop doing what they are doing, it is going to be absolutely impossible for us to help them. It also conveys the idea that people who could just stop are unworthy of help. If you feel that alcoholics should just stop drinking, agoraphobics should just go out more or anorexics should just have a McDonalds, this probably isn’t the article for you. If you’re interested, I’m going to try and explain how to make sense of why people do things that aren’t obviously in their best interests. I’ll probably focus on self harm, but you can use this process for understanding most things . I’ll give it to you in a couple of steps, but the order doesn’t really matter... The things people do make sense Nobody self harms for the sake of it. Nobody self harms because of their diagnosis. The only reason someone self harms is because, in that moment, it’s better than not doing it. You’re not that important There’s a good chance that the reason someone self harms is nothing to do with you. Yes, its painful to see someone you’re supposed to care for hurting themselves. Yes, it’s frightening to think you’ll be blamed for what they do... and yes, it can feel personal. Despite your initial reaction, you will be much more useful if you can start in a non-judgemental and curious manner . If you have to make an assumption, work hard to make sure it is the most empathic one you can think of. Be curious The best source of information about why someone does something is the person themselves. I once read 'She spent time in her bedroom and self harmed due to her diagnosis', which I thought was one of the worst things ever written in somebody’s notes - and the winner of my 'Utter Lack of Interest' award.  We need to ask questions: "Can you help me understand why you do that? I want to understand how it’s useful to you." "How does it help?" These are all things we can say to help people talk about why they do things; as a bonus, it gives them a sense that we are interested in them. It does something for them Everyone’s reason for self harming will be different, but it's likely that they get something positive out of it. It might allow them to feel something (because feeling nothing is terrifying). It might ground them and help them focus. It might validate their sense that they need to be punished. It might... well, anything really. Whether it affects their physiology, thoughts or feelings, there is likely to be some result that is worthwhile. It does something to other people It’s very easy for us to start thinking of ‘attention seeking’ at this point. Let's throw that term out of the window and just think about what happens in the environment once someone has hurt themselves. It might mean that people spend time with you . It might mean that people don’t abandon you . It might mean that people keep you away from something that terrifies you. It might mean that people care for you in ways that they wouldn’t otherwise. I remember one person who had always been neglected by his parents. They only showed they cared when he was physically unwell. Later in life, the only time he could accept people being nice to him without a crushing sense that he didn’t deserve it was after he had poisoned himself. If we ask, we can find out why it makes sense. But they could just ask us! But you won’t ask for things you don’t think you deserve. Many people have lived lives where they were never given what they asked for. Even if they did ask, let’s have a think about who is given the clearest message that people care about them. Is it the person who asks politely for support, or is it the person in their room turning blue, with a team ensuring they stay alive in that moment then watching them for the night?  In mental health services we are very good at conveying the message that the amount of care you receive is related to how dangerous you are. It’s weird that we then get annoyed when people respond to that. We can’t see the choice they’re making If we don’t ask, we are in danger of thinking people self harm for the sake of it. It’s very hard to sympathise with that. If we can see a choice, between cutting and another night of staying awake replaying the most traumatic experiences in 3D IMAX in their brain, it makes a lot more sense. If we can see a choice , between overdosing and feeling that your head is going to explode, it makes a lot more sense. If we can see a choice - between head banging and listening to the voice of the person who hurt you telling you how awful you are and that you deserved it and that no one likes you and it will never get any better, ever – again, it makes perfect sense. We won’t know what is going on for someone until we ask them. We need to make sure we do that. So all of the above are just some ideas. To make it a bit more MOHO , people only do things because they want or need to do them. Other ideas are available, so feel free to dismiss this. I’m going to suggest that if you can do the above you’ll be much more effective at helping people. It might even mean that you work on the problems that lead to people hurting themselves, rather than just trying to stop the self harm itself. Don’t be the person with a deciding vote in someone’s liberty thinking that they should just pack it in. Be curious, be empathic... and honestly, if stopping was easy, people would do it. Keir is a Lead Therapist in an NHS Specialist Service and provides training, consultation, supervision and therapy around complex mental health problems through Beam Consultancy . It is the height of arrogance for me to be writing about this; people who experience these difficulties do it much better. I highly recommend reading this by @hoppypelican. There are more articles like this here Follow Keir on Facebook: Keir Harding OT ; Instagram: Keirhardingot ; X (where he is busiest): @keirwales

Skills of the spoken and written word can be difficult for some individuals to initiate, develop and strengthen. This can impact on personal and professional growth, especially in a progressive world of diverse communication methods. Take this short course to discover unique and shared approaches of occupational therapy and speech and language therapy - in overcoming broad expressive challenges. A test and self-reflection follows, to consolidate your knowledge and provide evidence of learning.

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Norma - Care Expert; Specialist Occupational Therapist; Manual Handling Consultant (LinkedIn, 2024) Testimonials Hub News Hub News Free Growing occupational therapy together, with added rewards! Ahead of 2025, we're officially launching CPD Rewards . We know OT professionals must engage in career-long continuing professional development (CPD). The Hub Team believes that collaboration is key to us all achieving this; shared learning grows resources for everyone - and adds to your CPD. So how do CPD Rewards work? Get involved in a selection of activities on the Hub and receive a Hub Badge for each. Collect 4 badges to earn a reward: One year's free Membership Plus+ ! Learn more and participate via the button below. 28/12/2024 NEW: CPD Rewards Free 'Your passion: Harmonious or obsessive?' "The article essentially highlights the potential negative consequences of engaging in the state of 'flow', if not kept in-check. It outlines how to 'spot when passion turns into obsession and how to maintain personal balance before burnout sets in.' The arguments made me reflect very personally..." This is a new discussion theme within the Independent Practitioners OT Circle - one of our inclusive communities, to foster global connections! Access it free online, or on-the-go, via The OT Hub app . 21/12/2024 OT Circles Plus+ Research: Ableism in mental health settings People with disabilities face raised mental health (MH) concerns and are more likely to use MH services, vs non-disabled counterparts. A 2024 study of US adults with disabilities identified six experience themes: 'Misplaced assumptions about impact of disability on MH, medical trauma and gaslighting, interpersonal ableism, lack of disability knowledge, accessibility challenges and systematic ableism.' Plus+ Members c an read this paper within the Mental Health / Wellbeing theme of the Research Portal. 17/12/2024 Research Portal (Plus+) Plus+ New Attachment infographic series Attachment is a lasting psychological connectedness between human beings, starting in early life (Bowlby). Occupational therapy supports a wide age demographic, so learning here can aid understanding of behaviour observed in sessions. Created by Indonesian OT Ainun Meutia, this new PDF document covers definitions, patterns, components and styles of attachment. Don't have a Plus+ Membership ? Purchase this e-document via the Hub Store . 10/12/2024 OT Downloads Free 'Why kids need outdoor play to thrive' Not only do children need way more movement than our sedentary society allows them (OT Angela Hanscom suggests), but they need precisely the kinds of movements that make adults gasp, if they are going to thrive. This resource signposting can be found within the Paediatrics OT Circle - one of our free learning and development networks! Join it here, or on-the-go, via The OT Hub app . 10/12/2024 OT Circles Plus+ Stroke patients trial nerve stimulation therapy to improve hand and arm weakness One of the first non-invasive trials of its kind, using transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation to damaged areas of the brain. It is led by Bill Tahtis, Consultant OT at King's College Hospital in the UK: "The fact it can be delivered in the comfort of patients' own homes - and without the need for a surgical implant under anaesthetic - means it is accessible to even more." Access this latest news and other stories from the profession worldwide, as part of Membership Plus+ . 08/12/2024 OT Updates (Plus+)

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Similarly, we cannot assume responsibility for the content of information which you receive from Members through the platform and/or app. You release us from any and all liability in connection with the contents of any information which you may receive using the platform and/or app. Creating content By creating content, you represent and warrant that:- The Occupational Therapy Hub has the right to use (host, index and format) and display your content on the platform and/or app Hub Management reserves the right to refuse or remove any content or terminate or deny access to use of the platform and/or app Your Account is not named in a manner that misleads readers into thinking that you are anyone other than yourself If your employer has rights to intellectual property you create, you have permission from your employer to make this available The content does not contain or install any viruses or other harmful or destructive content Downloading, copying and use of the content will not infringe the copyright, patent, trademark or trade secret rights of a third party The content is not obscene, libellous or defamatory, hateful or racially or ethnically objectionable; it does not violate the privacy or publicity rights of any third party Membership Plus+ Standard Hub Membership accounts provide access to a breadth of free resources Upgrading to Membership Plus+ provides unlimited access to a wider range of resources, with priority response from the Hub Team On purchase of a Plus+ plan, future payments will be taken on a recurring basis (as selected), from your chosen account. Please ensure payment details remain up-to-date, for continued auto-renewal and access to your Membership Plus+ resources. At any point, The Occupational Therapy Hub may choose to transition Free Membership resources to Membership Plus+ resources (or vice versa). In its sole discretion, Management may also add, remove or change the services and resources offered, or the fees charged, at any time. Management will notify Hub Members of such changes , prior to any new or altered fees taking effect . Changes to Terms The Occupational Therapy Hub reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify or replace any part of the Terms. Whilst we notify Members of key changes related to platform and app Policies/Terms, it is your responsibility to check the Terms periodically for changes. Your continued use of the platform and/or app, following the posting of any changes to the Terms, constitutes acceptance of those changes. The Occupational Therapy Hub may, in future, offer new services and/or features through the platform and/or app (including the release of new tools and resources). Such new features and/or services shall be subject to the Terms. Account termination In the event that a Member breaches The Occupational Therapy Hub's Terms of Use, Hub Management may terminate access to all or any part of the platform and/or app at any time, with or without notice, effective immediately. Member Comms Member Communications / Cookies and Privacy Cookies/Privacy MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS ( Fre e and Plus+ ) Signing up as a Hub Member When you register as a Hub Member, you will be asked to provide a name, email address and a private password, which will become part of your Hub Account information The Hub securely stores Membership details provided (further details below) Any information requested will be used to activate your account, provide the platform/app's services to you and communicate with you about the status of your Hub A ccount Part of Membership, you receive periodic Member Newsletters * by email; these include CPD recommendations and service changes The 'Sign up' screen includes a link to this Policies page, to review all policies prior to joining as a Member Your Profile Page Each Hub Member is given their own My Profile page; this can be accessed through the Member Ba r, or via the Member Directory * A public-facing My Profile page is optional. To activate this, v isit My Details * and scroll down to ' Visibility and privacy ' (N.B. o nly your My Profile t ab will be publicly visible). It includes the name used to sign up, alongside an optional profile picture and profile text - for the Member to promote their work in, or linked to, the occupational therapy profession Other than storing it for you, we do not do anything with information here; it is there for networking purposes only However, if information is posted that is deemed by Hub Management to be inappropriate or offensive, the Member will be notified and the information will be removed * Requires logging in to access. Membership sign up here . How can I edit or turn on/off communications? Email alerts : To make adjustments, visit Settings * within your Hub Account Therapy Forum alerts : To adjust email or platform alerts for a specific forum, click the 'Follow'/'Following' button Member Newsletters : We send educative and CPD-related content periodically. These communications also keep Members updated about key service changes. If you no longer want to receive these, click the ‘unsubscribe’ link at the bottom of any newsletter COOKIES AND PRIVACY: KEY POINTS The Occupational Therapy Hub takes the privacy of its Members and visitors' information very seriously. We adhere to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (2016/679) and the UK Data Protection Act (2018). Hub Management continually reviews its policies. Personal information We only collect, process and securely store personally identifiable information that you actively submit Such information is used solely for us to provide you with our services, or respond to a communication Once signed up as a Member, you can edit your 'My Profile' page; if you opt in, this can be publicly visible As part of Membership, we send Member Newsletters, to the email address provided No personally identifiable information is passed on to external organisations You have the right to access and edit your information on the Hub, at any time; on email request and subject to proof of identity, you may access personal information that we hold, used or communicated and ask that any necessary corrections be made Demographic data Cookies allow Hub Management to understand anonymous visitor demographics and trends. In turn, this shapes and improves the service we provide you with. Cookies also allow any adverts shown to be more relevant A Facebook pixel within The Occupational Therapy Hub's platform is used to gauge the efficacy of any social media adverts we run Protecting your information Information processed within The Occupational Therapy Hub is encrypted via secure HTTPS networks Data is backed up securely in a cloud-based drive managed by our platform host By using the platform or app and/or joining as a Hub Member, you consent to our Policies (signposted on the Sign up screen). Personal information: what is collected, processed and stored? The only personally identifiable information we collect, process and/or store is that which you actively submit. This may be your name, email address or other contact details that you provide us with. We do not transfer this information to other organisations, unless: You provide us with explicit written authorisation, by email or post It is necessary to comply with the law, or to protect the rights, property or safety of our Management, Team or Members We collect information when you: Sign up as a Hub Member (see above) Register for OT Webinars * Register and/or participate in OT CPD Courses * Submit research for inclusion in the Research Portal * Apply for a platform/app competition or promotion Submit a podcast episode or series to the Podcast Portal * Engage in communication, via an email or our Connect with the Hub form Purchase a product , such as a PromOTe Partnership or an item in the Hub Store Submit an entry to Access Occupational Therapists or the Service Directory Upload a file to the Hub's cloud storage, such as when contributing content within OT Circles * Upload content to Therapy Articles * ; this is a moderated p ortal , with Member-generated content Upload a post to OT Circles * , the Therapy Forum * or The OT Journal Club * - Member-generated content ( moderated ) * Portals marked with asterisks require Member log in to use in full. Membership sign up here . Demographics: what non-identifiable information tools do we use - and why? Cookies : When surfing The Occupational Therapy Hub, cookies (non-identifiable data) may be placed locally on your computer. These can be used by Google Analytics , to allow Hub Management to establish general visitor demographics and trends. This allows us to better shape and refine our service. Such information may also be provided to Google Adsense, so that advertisements on the platform are relevant to you. Cookies do not disclose personally identifiable information about any visitors or Members Facebook pixel : This is embedded within the platform and collects anonymised visitor data. This is used solely to allow Hub Management to gauge the efficacy of any advertisements run on social media How do we protect your information? We implement a variety of safety measures to maintain the security of your personal information: The personal information you provide within this platform is secured within HTTPS networks . HTTPS is the protocol over which data is sent between your browser and The Occupational Therapy Hub site. The ‘S’ at the end of HTTPS stands for ‘Secure’. These communications are encrypted. Data is backed up securely in a cloud-based drive . Member information is not stored in physical form. Statements from our website host: 'If you are a visitor, user or customer of any of our Users [The Occupational Therapy Hub], please read the following: [website host] has no direct relationship with the individual Users-of-Users whose Personal Information it processes. If you are a visitor, user or customer of [The Occupational Therapy Hub] and would like to make any requests or queries regarding your Personal Information, please contact [Hub Management] directly. For example, if you wish to access, correct, amend, or delete inaccurate information processed by [website host] on behalf of [The Occupational Therapy Hub], please direct your query to [Hub Management] (who is the “Controller” of such data). If requested to remove any Users-of-Users’ Personal Information, we will respond to such request within thirty days.' 'The transmission of sensitive payment information (such as a credit card number) through our designated purchase forms is protected by an industry standard SSL/TLS encrypted connection; and we regularly maintain a PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards) certification.' Other than a Member’s My Profile page - optionally viewable by the public - personal information can only be accessed by Hub Management; all management staff keep this strictly confidential Rights to my information You have the right to access and edit your information, at any time, through the web interface provided as part of the platform and app. On written request (by email) and subject to proof of identity, you may access the personal information that we hold, used or communicated and ask that any necessary corrections be made, where applicable, as authorised or required by law. However, to make sure that the personal information we maintain about you is accurate and up-to-date, please inform us of any change in your personal information by email. Third party links To provide a breadth of website content, third party links to useful, external resources and websites are listed. These are mainly found in: Access Occupational Therapists , Therapy Articles * , Therapy Forum * , OT Circles * , OT CPD Courses * , OT Updates * , Podcast Portal * , Therapy Videos * and Service Directory . These external links (websites, videos, PDF documents, podcast platforms) have separat e and independent privacy policies. We therefore have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these links. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our platform and app and welcome any feedback about these linked sites, including if a specific link does not work. * Portals marked with asterisks require Member log in to use in full. Membership sign up here . Changes to our policies If our policies change, amendments will be posted here. Policy changes apply only to information collected after the date of the change. Your consent By using The Occupational Therapy Hub platform/app and/or joining as a Hub Member, you consent to our Policies. Links to this Policies page are located within sign up sections. Questions or feedback? If you have any questions or comments - about our policies or your personal information, to make an access or correction request, to exercise any applicable rights, or to make a complaint - our Data Protection Officer can be reached by email: hubteam@theOThub.com . Alternative methods of communication are listed on the Contact us page. Registration with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO ) Nature of work Occupational therapy information service and networking website and application. Description of processing The following is a broad description of the way The Occupational Therapy Hub processes personal information. To understand how your own personal information is processed you may need to refer to any personal communications you have received, check any privacy notices the organisation has provided or contact the organisation to ask about your personal circumstances. Reasons/purposes for processing information We process personal information to enable us to provide a current, sustainable information service and networking service for our Hub Members and site visitors; to maintain our own accounts and records; to support and manage our staff team. Type of information processed We process information relevant to the above reasons and purposes. This can include: Hub Membership details, within the Member Directory * Therapy Articles * and Therapy Videos * content Financial details, for Plus+ Members , PromOTe Partnerships and Hub Store customers External resources within Access Occupational Therapists , Therapy Articles * , Therapy Forum * , OT Circles * , OT CPD Courses * , OT Updates * , Podcast Portal * , Therapy Videos * and Service Directory * Portals marked with asterisks require logging in to use in full. Membership sign up here . Who the information is processed about To operate our service to you, we need to process information about: Hub Members (Free and Plus+) Members who participate in courses Customers who purchase a product Visitors who inquire about or submit files to the platform or app External podcasts External resources and services External research External occupational therapy practices External occupational therapists Who the information may be shared with In very rare circumstances, in the interest of the public, the company or its Members' safety or security, other governing organisations may need to be contacted. Where this is necessary we are required to comply with all aspects of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ( 2016/679 ) and the UK's Data Protection Act (2018). In this instance, only when required of us, we would share information with: employer associations examining bodies central government suppliers and service providers persons making an inquiry or complaint Hub Store Terms of Use Hub Store For the attention of anyone using the Hub Store . Please read these Terms of Use ('Terms') before purchasing items in the Store. Charges The Occupational Therapy Hub cannot issue refunds for digital products that are downloaded, as these cannot be returned If you make a purchase, you agree that our third party payment gateways will securely store your payment information If the payment method you provide has expired and/or valid payment information is not provided, the transaction will not occur At any point, The Occupational Therapy Hub may choose to transition products from paid to free access (or vice versa). In its sole discretion, Management may also add, remove, update or modify a product, or the fees charged , at any time. Management will notify Hub Members of such changes , prior to implementation of any new or altered costs. Limitation of liability You agree that, under no legal theory, will The Occupational Therapy Hub or its management or team be liable to you or any third party acting on your behalf for any indirect, incidental, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages or losses, arising from or relating to the use of (or inability to correctly use) a product it provides. General representation and warranty Your use of the platform and/or app will be in strict accordance with these Terms, the Privacy, Cookies and Communication Policies , the Hub Membership Terms of Use and all applicable laws and regulations. These include, without limitation, any local laws or regulations in your country, regarding online conduct and acceptable content. These include all applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from the United Kingdom, or the country in which you reside Your use of the platform and/or app will not infringe or misappropriate the intellectual property rights of any third party Miscellaneous If there is any dispute between you and The Occupational Therapy Hub, about or involving the Terms or a product, you hereby agree that the dispute will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. PromOTe PromOTe Partnerships Terms of Service For attention of commercial partners and clients. Please read these Terms of Service ('Terms') carefully before purchasing a PromOTe Partnerships plan. If you don’t agree to these Terms, as well as The Occupational Therapy Hub’s Privacy, Cookies and Communication Policies , you should not use our services. If you are entering into the Terms on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind such entity to the Terms. Fees and renewals The Occupational Therapy Hub cannot issue refunds for partial months of PromOTe Partnerships marketing If you purchase one of our services, you agree that our third party payment gateways will securely store your payment card or other payment information You expressly agree that we are authorised to charge you: A fee for any applicable service which you have purchased, billed on a basis of the outlined and agreed plan period Any charges for use of our service in excess of the usage or other limits placed on your use of our service (and you hereby consent to such charges) If the payment card you provide expires and you do not provide new payment information or cancel your Account, you authorise us to continue billing you and you agree to remain responsible for any uncollected fees. Limitation of liability You agree that, under no legal theory, will The Occupational Therapy Hub or its owners, directors or team be liable to you or any third party acting on your behalf for any indirect, incidental, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages or loss of profits (even if The Occupational Therapy Hub has been advised of the possibility of such damages), arising from or relating to the Terms or your use of or your inability to use the platform and/or app. You agree that The Occupational Therapy Hub will not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as the result of any interactions or dealings with partners or advertisers, or as the result of the presence of such advertisers on the platform. General representation and warranty You represent and warrant that: Your use of the platform and/or app will be in strict accordance with these Terms, the Privacy, Cookies and Communication Policies , the Hub Membership Terms of Use and all applicable laws and regulations. These include, without limitation, any local laws or regulations in your country, regarding online conduct and acceptable content. These include all applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from the United Kingdom or the country in which you reside Your use of the platform and/or app will not infringe or misappropriate the intellectual property rights of any third party Miscellaneous If there is any dispute between you and The Occupational Therapy Hub about or involving the Terms or the service, you hereby agree that the dispute will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Copyright Copyright The OT Hub Ltd is the legal copyright holder of the resources, functions, designs, logos and names ('The Occupational Therapy Hub' and 'The OT Hub'), belonging to The Occupational Therapy Hub platform and app. Our content may not be reprinted, reproduced or modified without written consent. A link to The Occupational Therapy Hub's website (www.theOThub.com ) must appear in all authorised copies of any content owned by The OT Hub Ltd. Content uploaded by Hub Members, via their accounts, is copyright of its respective owners. OT CPD Courses * Courses and contents are owned by their respective hosts. E xternal resources cited are owned by their respective external organisations. OT Circles * , Therapy Forum * and The OT Journal Club * Documents, uplo ads and external links are owned by their original creators/authors, not by The OT Hub Ltd. Therapy Videos * Video footage showcased within the 'Community Videos' channel is owned by its respective publishers, not by The OT Hub Ltd. Podcast Portal * Logos, audio content and embedded links to series and platforms are owned by their original creators/authors. Research Portal * Content uploaded is owned and copyrighted by the research author(s). Hub Store Assessments, documents, presentations and clinical and reflective tools are owned by The OT Hub Ltd, or their creators/authors . Access Occupational Therapists / Service Directory Logos, information and links to external resources and services listed here are owned by external organisations, not by The OT Hub Ltd. * Portals marked with asterisks require logging in to use in full. Membership sign up here . The Occupational Therapy Hub is owned and managed by The OT Hub Ltd, registered in England and Wales. Company number: 11084421.

Membership Plus + Enhance your life-long learning and daily clinical practice. Become a Plus+ Member. Scroll or click images for resource previews: Exclusive occupational therapy resources. Plus+ Members also s u pport the Hub, fu rther supporting our profession . Why upgrade? Unlimited access to: OT CP D Courses Short continuing professional development (CPD) courses allow clinicians, students and the public to learn globally. Each is comprised of sections, including written, graphical and/or video-based educative content. Test and reflective questions then aid to consolidate your knowledge. On completion, receive a CPD certificate and Hub Badge. C ourses are free to Plus+ Members. Research Por tal 3.0 Online gateway to read and showcase occupational therapy research Advancing OT Projects, ideas and collaborations, that raise awareness of and advance the profession Case Stud ies L ibrary of in-depth therapy input, with anonymised patients and service users OT Interventions E ngagement techniques, rehab approaches, evidence-based support plans OT Updates Profession al news and stories collated from around the world, all in one place OT Downloads Assessments, documents, presentations, graphics, clinical and reflective tools * OT Webinars Video interviews, presentations and demonstrations Priority Respons e Enquiries to the Hub Team are addressed ahead of Free Members * Want to purchase individual OT Downloads , without upgrading? Visi t the Hub Store On upgrading to Plus+: "I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in to the resources, as they look fantastic . Thank you for your hard work on The Occupational Therapy Hub." Carina (email, 2024) Don't just take our word for it! How to upgrade: 1) Log in to your Free Membership account. Not joined yet? Become a Free Member he re . 2) Click 'Select' by your preferred option below. 3) E nter payment details. N.B. PayPal opens in a separate window. Low prices. Available in all currencies. Secure payment via debit/credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay Due to exchange rates, examples below are indicative - amount charged may differ very slightly Ann ual: £40 / €47.30 / US $49.40 / AU $78.50 Monthly: £4 / €4.73 / US $4.94 / AU $7.85 Currency conversions last updated 20th January 2025. Upgraded Membership plans Best value Plus+ Member (Annual) £ 40 40£ Every year Available in all currencies. Two months FREE! Select Complete OT CPD Courses Access Research Portal Read Advancing OT Read Case Studies Read OT Interventions Discover OT Updates Unlimited OT Downloads Play back OT Webinars Priority Hub Team Response (+ All Free Resources) Plus+ Member (Monthly) £ 4 4£ Every month Available in all currencies. Select Complete OT CPD Courses Access Research Portal Read Advancing OT Read Case Studies Read OT Interventions Discover OT Updates Unlimited OT Downloads Play back OT Webinars Priority Hub Team Response (+ All Free Resources) On purchase, plans are charged on a recurring basis, unless cancelled. Please ensure payment details are kept updated, for auto-renewal and continued access to your Plus+ resources. Queries or feedback regarding Membership Plus+? Contact us