On 28 April 2026, colleagues from across the NHS Lanarkshire Occupational Therapy Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Addictions Service came together for their first Service Development Day since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The event provided a fantastic opportunity for staff to reconnect, share learning, celebrate achievements, and highlight the innovative work taking place across services. The Older Adult Occupational Therapy team made a particularly valuable contribution to the day, showcasing examples of service development, quality improvement, and professional growth which we are delighted to share some of the highlights in this weeks blog.
Inspiring Professional Development
During the morning session, Sarah Jane Donald shared her experience of successfully securing an AHP Fellowship for the 2026 cohort. Her presentation focused on her work exploring the Rookwood Driving Assessment Tool and provided colleagues with a detailed overview of the fellowship application process. Sarah Jane offered practical advice on preparing an application, outlined what prospective applicants can expect if selected, and reflected on the significant personal and professional development opportunities the fellowship has provided so far. Her presentation was both informative and encouraging, inspiring colleagues to consider pursuing similar opportunities for learning and leadership development.
Using Emotional Touchpoints to Capture Patient Experience
Also, during the morning session, Gill Gowran presented on the use of Emotional Touchpoints within the Older Adult Service to gather meaningful qualitative feedback from patients receiving Occupational Therapy interventions. The presentation explained how Emotional Touchpoints were introduced, the feedback tools used with patients, and the process of collecting and analysing responses. Attendees heard how the information gathered was collated into a comprehensive report, which has since been shared with management to support service evaluation and improvement. This work highlighted the importance of understanding patient experiences and ensuring that their voices remain central to service development.
Celebrating the Breadth of Older Adult Occupational Therapy
The afternoon session provided an opportunity for teams to showcase their work through poster presentations and displays. The Older Adult Occupational Therapy team created an impressive poster and table top display that reflected the breadth and diversity of the service. The display highlighted the wide range of assessments, interventions, and specialist tools used by the team, offering colleagues valuable insight into the complex and rewarding work undertaken within Older Adult Services. It also generated positive discussions and increased awareness of the occupational therapy contribution to patient care across the wider service.
Looking Forward
The Development Day was a welcome opportunity to celebrate achievements, share best practice, and strengthen connections across the whole mental health/learning disabilities & Addictions Occupational Therapy service. The contributions from the Older Adult team demonstrated a strong commitment to innovation, service improvement, patient-centred practice, and professional development. As services continue to evolve, events such as these remind us of the expertise, creativity, and enthusiasm that exist across our workforce—and the important role occupational therapy plays in improving outcomes for the people we support.
Plans are already under consideration for the 2027 event!
Contributor: Gill Gowran, Advanced Practitioner Occupational Therapist, NHS Lanarkshire
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