A day in the life of an OT technician

Anna Kapitanec, Membership Development Officer, visits Chris Lucas, Associate Committee Member and OT technician

In a cosy workshop in the OT department of Wotton Lawn hospital in Gloucester, Chris Lucas, an OT technician and an active member of the Associate Member Committee can be found hard at work. He is surrounded by fabulous and inspiring creations, all of which have been made by patients who have been referred to the OT team as part of their treatment.

As a Mental Health Hospital, Wotton Lawn provides the acute inpatient services for adults in Gloucestershire. The OT team consists of ten OTs and four technicians who run a seven day therapy service. Using the Model of Human Occupation, the team work together to design services based around the occupation-focussed care pathway. A wide range of facilitated activities are planned and co-ordinated by OT technicians and draw from their skills and talents.

Chris has worked for the trust for nearly ten years and has helped to produce lots of exciting pieces from his workshop. He has led various different projects from building a rowing boat to creating an intricate doll’s house. Drawing from his past experiences, he uses his skills to get involved in lots of different activities based on the needs of the patients and has helped to set up a regular curry club, which is very popular with both staff and patients, a breakfast club and a thriving green space project.

My day starts with a guided tour and an introduction to the team. I find Chris in his workshop preparing for his first patient. They are going to make a ceramic clock. He has sourced brightly coloured reclaimed mosaic tiles and found a choice of clock hands. Chris has built up a close rapport with the patient and immediately gets stuck in to encouraging a plan and a patient led design.

Next onto a card making class, I enter a room quietly filled with a hive of activity. An OT, OT student and technician are helping to support a group of inpatients who are producing good luck cards and birthday cards for their families.

As a final end to the morning, I attempt some tricky origami and after assisting with a paper cup and a jumping frog, it’s time for a tea break before an afternoon of walking and drumming.

In 2006, a major redesign of services took place and Wotton Lawn hospital became the only hospital service for people experiencing acute illness in Gloucestershire. The therapy programme was revamped to make the most of the multi disciplinary skills and talents. With a focus on bringing the community to the hospital and social inclusion, the team have been involved in many exciting projects including a Green Space project Week.

Chris’ role as a technician is paramount to the department and as a technician his close work with patients allows him to build up a rapport and really make a difference, supporting the planning of activities and leading sessions. “ I can’t describe my role in one sentence, this morning has really summed it up”

Thank you to Wotton Lawn OT Department for allowing me to spend the day with them.

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