Occupational Therapy NI

Yesterday, Corinna was delighted to attend Cancer Focus Northern Ireland information session on their exciting new initiative coming to Enniskillen in Spring 2025.

As part of their 5 year strategy launched last year, Cancer Focus NI hope to create cancer support centres in each county in Northern Ireland starting with Fermanagh.

These centres will provide a range of support services as well as an informal, relaxed environment where those dealing with cancer can go for a chat.

It's a very exciting initiative for Northern Ireland, we wish Cancer Focus NI all the very best and look forward to visiting the centres in due course.

It’s hard to believe that the Summer’s almost over and children are already returning to school for induction days.

Returning to school 🏫 after summer holidays can be an exciting and challenging time for children and parents/guardians

A change in routine, having a different teacher, and meeting new friends can be difficult for children. Some also experience separation anxiety😔

It is important to acknowledge these feelings with our children to help them make sense of big emotions🫶🏼

Here are some tips to help prepare your child for a smooth transition back to school
⬇️⬇️⬇️

🔸Preparation is key. This will help reduce anxiety for both you and your child. Show your child their uniform. Let them try it on. Break in new shoes - this is important for kids who prefer to walk barefoot or don’t like to wear a traditional shoe 👞

🔸Establish a bedtime and morning routine at least one week before school begins. This will help your child adjust to the school routine and ensure they are well-rested for the day.

🔸Talk about school with your child. Use visuals/social stories if appropriate to aid understanding. Discuss any worries your child may have and acknowledge them as genuine feelings. Talk about the positive aspects of returning to school, such as playing with friends and learning new things.

🔸If you are offered the opportunity to visit the school with your child, use this as a time to familiarise them with the teaching staff, layout, classrooms, and playground. This will help alleviate any anxiety they may have about the school environment. The school may give you a social story or some visuals of the school environment that you can use at home with your child to help them prepare for a return to school.

🔸Manage anxiety: This is a very big emotion for a child. If your child is feeling anxious about returning to school, validate their feelings and provide reassurance. If appropriate, teach them relaxation or mindfulness techniques to help manage their anxiety.

We wish all the young people good luck with the return to school and the academic year ahead 💚

🚨OFFICE CLOSURE🚨

The office is closed on Friday 12 July and Monday 15 July 2024.

It will reopen Tuesday 16 July at 9am.

The case management team Occupational Therapy NI pride themselves in delivering

🌊 HIGH QUALITY

🌊 CLIENT CENTRED

🌊 COST EFFECTIVE

case management services to their clients ✨

How do we achieve this❓

➡️ On receipt of the case management instruction from a solicitor or insurance company, we meet with the individual and their family/caregivers to gain an in-depth understanding of the impact of the injury on the individual’s:

🔸physical
🔸emotional
🔸psychological function

➡️We gain an understanding of how the injury affects their ability to undertake their normal daily activities including:

🔹self care
🔹education/work
🔹leisure

➡️Through discussion with the individual and their family, we identify the immediate needs of the individual including:

✅rehabilitation
✅care
✅housing
✅equipment
✅transport
✅work/education

➡️We source the appropriate support for the individual either from statutory services if timeframes are acceptable, or private suppliers if the waiting lists are protracted for statutory services.

➡️Our goal is to ensure the individual receives cost effective intervention from the right people at the right time 💫

➡️We support the individual through their rehabilitation journey, reviewing and evaluating services in place at regular intervals to ensure the individual’s needs are met at all times💚

For more information on the Case Management service, feel free to contact us:

📱07887 698182

📧[email protected]

What is CASE MANAGEMENT❓❓

The British Association of Brain Injury and Complex Case Management (BABICM) define it as:

‘a collaborative process, that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to meet an individual’s health and wellbeing, education and/or occupational needs, using communication and available resources to promote quality, cost effective and safe outcomes’

Occupational Therapy NI provides case management services to clients following catastrophic injuries such as:

🔸birth injury

🔹brain injury

🔸spinal cord injury

🔹serious orthopaedic injury

🔸amputation

Our team of highly specialised case managers are trained Occupational Therapists 💫

They will support and guide you through your rehabilitation journey by ensuring you receive cost effective intervention delivered by the right people at the right time💚

This can be during and/or at the end of the litigation process.

Get in touch if you would like more information on our case management service:

📧 [email protected]

📱 07887 698182

Good luck Windmill Stars FC at the Foyle Cup ⚽️

Delighted to attend the Institute of Government & Public Policy Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the workplace conference today in Belfast.

Lots of thought provoking presentations which generated interesting discussions around EDI in all its forms.

So many take home points but the main three are :

Reasonable adjustments in the workplace are not expensive to implement

Minor groups do not require special treatment, they require the opportunity to operate/exist/work on a level playing field

We can all be leaders for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion with/without legislation in place

Great also to catch up with Andrew and Neil from Sync Living

🚀🌟 Join us at the for an amazing Lego Camp this summer!

Perfect for kids aged 6 and up, our camp offers endless fun and creativity. 🧱✨

🔹 Develop problem-solving skills

🔹 Boost creativity and imagination

🔹 Enhance teamwork and communication, make friends and have FUN!

Don’t miss out on this exciting adventure! Sign up today and let the building begin! Snacks provided! Book one or 2 days!

Comment ‘let’s build’ below and we will send the booking link direct to your inbox or book via link in bio🏗️🔥

Happy International Day of Play 🌟

Today marks the first ever International Day of Play, and it aims to preserve, promote, and prioritise the importance of play so that all people, especially children, can benefit from its rewards and THRIVE to their full potential 💜

As Occupational Therapists, we recognise that play is a child’s main occupation 🧩🎨🧸

We use play in therapy sessions and at The Thrive Hive for several reasons including:

🔹as a therapeutic medium to engage and motivate the child in therapy

🔹develop and build on physical and cognitive skills

🔹using it a medium for self expression and emotional regulation

🔹it’s fun

Let us know your child’s favourite play activities in the comments below ⬇️

Occupational Health services assist employers of all sizes to support their employees at work. Involvement with Occupational Health does not have to be a one-off experience, we can provide continued support to employers and employees as they navigate the circumstances they face.

The main aim of an Occupational Health professional is to support employees to remain in work. There are no standard set of recommendations that suit all employers/employees. It's not a one size fits all approach. Advice and recommendations:

- are tailored to each individual employee and employers situation
- can be reviewed and tweaked over time to beat support both parties.

Stories such as the one below are becoming more and more common. Ongoing engagement with Occupational Health professionals can help avoid such circumstances.

Get in touch if you have any questions and keep an eye on our posts for further updates

O2 settles disability discrimination case for £160,000 Eamon Bowen took a case against former employer Telefonica Ltd and was supported by the Equality Commission.

🎉 GIVEAWAY 🎉

To celebrate the launch of The Thrive Hive this year and to thank you all for your support, we are giving away a place for our Getting Ready For School Programme which is taking place in August!

If you have already registered you can still enter and if you win we will refund your fee!

To enter:

1. Follow our page Occupational Therapy NI, The Sensory Submarine
and The Thrive Hive
2. Like and Save this post
3. Tag 3 friends below (each comment is an entry so feel free to enter as many times as you like)
4. Share to your stories making share to tag us

Winner will be announced on this post and on our stories on Friday 17 May after 8pm.

Govt considering changes to PIP in relation to mental health

Mental health focus of PIP disability benefit overhaul Disability payments that help with extra living costs could be scrapped in favour of more tailored support.

📣NEW CLASSES

Bookings are now LIVE for our next Tuesday Term in Newry❗️

Tickets can be purchased via www.thesensorysubmarine.com - link in bio

Early booking advisable due to small group size (maximum 6 kids per session)

Hit Share or tag a friend below to spread the word 😀

Looking forward to a great day of learning at the National Menopause Summit

Margaret McEvoy Occupational Therapy Services Corinna Keaney Occupational Therapy Services

💚💚

Thank you for your kind words!

We love facilitating these small groups and feel so privileged to be able to help children and families in our local communities.

If you are interested in registering for our small OT led groups we have 4 new classes starting on Saturday 20th in Armagh and Newry- a couple of places are left in each.

Bookings can be made directly on www.thesensorysubmarine.com or send us a DM

Occupational Therapy NI
The Sensory Submarine

Today is World Health Day 🌎

This year’s theme is ‘My Health, My Right’✨

It was chosen to champion the right of each individual to have access to quality physical and mental health services, education, and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination‼️

Every human being has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health but sadly this is not the case in some parts of the globe 🌏

At Occupational Therapy NI, we pride ourselves in being an inclusive and neurodiversity affirming practice 💚

We promote good health at home, school, workplace and in the community through education and advice 🏠🏢🏞️

We educate individuals and organisations on workplace health 👷🏼‍♂️👩🏽‍💻

We signpost individuals, their families, and organisations to appropriate sources of information and support to ensure they have access to the right support when needed 💻📚

More information on the campaign can be found on the World Health Organization (WHO) website 🖥️

By increasing our awareness and working together we can make a difference to our own health and that of the wider community 💫

Happy Easter 🐣

🌟🌟NEW CLASSES🌟🌟

The Thrive Hive has released new dates for OT led sensory play classes in Newry and Armagh 🙌🏼

Additional classes have been added in both venues on a Saturday ☺️

Early booking is advisable and bookings can be made here ⬇️

www.thesensorysubmarine.com

Feel free to DM us if you have any questions ☺️

The Sensory Submarine

🐣Easter Holidays🐣

Our office is now closed for the Easter Holidays 🐰

We re-open on Thursday 04 April 2024 at 10am 🕙

We will respond to emails/calls on our return ☺️

We hope you all have a nice break 💚

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

We were thrilled to receive this testimonial from one of our Armagh parents 💚

The groups in Armagh and Newry have now finished for Easter 🐣

We have released new dates for Armagh groups after Easter, and we will shortly be releasing dates for Saturday groups in Newry 🙌🏼

If you would like any information on our groups, send us a DM and we will get back to you ☺️

Occupational Therapy NI
The Sensory Submarine

🌟NEURODIVERSITY CELEBRATION WEEK🌟

is proud to be supporting Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2024! 🫶🏼

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences ✨

Together let’s change the narrative to understand, accept, and celebrate neurodiversity 💫

🐣 Exciting News 🐣

We are delighted to announce our Easter Neurodiverse Camp 😃🐴

🐴 Ages 4 & up

🐴 The camp will be restricted in numbers so that everyone can take their time & enjoy the horses

🐴 Activities will include horse care, riding, arts & crafts, quiet time, Equimotional worksheets, fun & lots more 😃

🐴 Snacks & Refreshments provided

Our sessions take place outside on our trails & in the forest 😃

⭐️ Special Guest visits from baby calves & lambs & of course Millie the Goat 🐄🐐🐑

⏱ 10am - 12:30pm
🗓 Wednesday 3rd & Thursday 4th April
⭐️ £70 for 2 mornings / £40 for 1 morning
£20 deposit secures spot

Pm for more details 😃

This is a great opportunity to learn through play & experience the joy a horse can bring ❤️

Happy St Patrick’s Day from the team at ☘️

We have released new dates for the next block of classes in The Thrive Hive Armagh

Book here for the Thursday evening class for Primary school children aged 5+ starting April 11 ⬇️

https://www.thesensorysubmarine.com/event-details-registration/primary-school-aged-sessions-2

Book here for the Saturday pre-school age class for children aged 5 and under starting April 06 ⬇️

https://www.thesensorysubmarine.com/event-details-registration/sensory-saturdays-aged-5-and-under-2

Numbers limited to 6 per class 😊

🌟Happy International Women’s Day🌟

We have had the honour of working with some of the strongest and inspiring women, in the form of colleagues or clients 💜

Today we celebrate the achievements of every woman around the globe 🌍 and we would like to mention some of the amazing women we have had the pleasure of knowing ⬇️

Our mothers who have been a constant source of support 🫶🏼

Congratulations to Enniskillen Royal Boat Club for another fantastic day of rowing at yesterday's Erne Head of the River. Well done to all the crews but especially the girls who endured snow, sleet and rain in the morning's race.

Congrats to Castleconnell Boat Club who won the Women's Junior B 8+ category sponsored by Occupational Therapy NI. They had to leave early and weren't present for the prize giving

🌟 The Power of Lego 🌟

Did you know that Lego can help your child’s development❓

As occupational therapists, we have seen firsthand the incredible benefits that playing with Lego can have on children’s development.

From fine motor skills to creativity and problem-solving, Lego is more than just a toy – it’s a tool for growth and learning.

🔹 Fine Motor Skills: Building with Lego bricks requires precision and dexterity, helping children develop their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. As they carefully piece together their creations, they are also strengthening their fingers and improving their grip strength.

🔹 Creativity and Imagination: With Lego, the possibilities are endless 🌈 Encourage your child to let their imagination run wild as they build castles, robots, and anything else they can dream up. This creative outlet not only sparks innovation but also boosts self-expression and confidence.

🔹 Problem-Solving Skills: Building with Lego involves trial and error, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Whether it’s figuring out how to make a structure stable or finding the right piece to complete a design, children learn to think logically and persevere through challenges.

🔹 Social Skills: Lego is a great way for children to interact and connect with others. Whether they’re building with siblings, friends, or in a group setting, Lego encourages teamwork, communication, and sharing. It’s a wonderful opportunity for children to learn how to work together towards a common goal.

So, next time your child is engrossed in a pile of colorful bricks, know that they are not just playing – they are learning, growing, and developing essential skills to enhance their independence and function🚀

RARE DISEASE DAY 2024

Today is which aims to raise awareness for all the rare conditions affecting people across the globe 🌍

While individually the conditions may be rare, they affect 3.5 million people across the UK and 300 million people across the world❗️

So today, the team at Occupational Therapy NI are wearing the bright colours of blue/green/purple/pink and will light up out homes at 7pm in support of Rare Disease 🌈

We’d love you to join us and support the rare disease community 🫶🏼

Post your pictures below and come back at 7pm to see us light up out homes 💙💚💜🩷