Robynne and Ellie: implementing an occupational intervention

Emma has recently been supporting a group of amazing degree apprentice students on their role emerging placements. Here Ellie and Robynne share their experiences of setting up an occupationally focused intervention in a relatively challenging setting.

We recently completed a role-emerging placement as part of our university degree apprenticeship. This placement was with a charity-run project that provides essential services, including food parcels for individuals experiencing homelessness, drug and alcohol issues, poor mental health and deprivation. The project also offers assistance with housing applications, benefits and general support, and a café-style service where members of the public can gather to socialise and enjoy warm drinks.

After getting to know the service, we decided to run a structured week based on the "5 Ways to Wellbeing" framework. We felt that wellbeing was not being prioritised by service users, who were more focused on survival. Running a week of different activities focused on wellbeing was necessary to provide meaningful occupational-focused activities as service users had diverse backgrounds, ages, and needs which would not have been met with one single activity. 

Activities included a customised "5 Ways to Wellbeing" leaflet designed specifically for service users, a jigsaw puzzle to provide a ‘mindless’ distraction from everyday stress and improve cognitive function, and a photography walk to a local park to promote physical activity and mindfulness. We also facilitated a nature-based crafts session to support creativity and sensory engagement and a bingo activity to foster social interaction and sense of community. 

Each activity was well received by the service users. The jigsaw puzzle, in particular, was beneficial for one individual, offering him a chance to relax while completing it. The walk provide a chance for service users to pay attention to nature and view a familiar park with a different perspective while looking for nice areas to photograph. The craft session attracted wide participation, with positive feedback highlighting how enjoyable and meaningful it was for people who attended. The final activity, bingo, successfully engaged service users who would not typically participate in group activities. 

Going forward, having seen the positive impact of the week, the placement plans to keep a jigsaw puzzle in the quiet space and has invested in mindful colouring books, crosswords and craft activities to offer these on a regular basis to service users.  They had been left with the 5 ways to wellbeing leaflet to give this out to service users as needed. They also plan to run a ‘’Wellbeing week” every year with different activities to meet the needs of service users. 

This experience has enhanced our practical skills and strengthened our ability to adapt sessions to meet the varied needs of individuals, which will be invaluable in our future practice.