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A journey in occupational therapy and brain injury rehabilitation

By Samantha Watts: senior specialist occupational therapist at Brainkind

Samantha is a Senior Specialist Occupational Therapist at Brainkind

Samantha is a senior specialist occupational therapist at Brainkind.

Samantha shares her journey from starting as a therapy assistant to specialising in neurology, her approach to supporting people with brain injuries, and the unique challenges and rewards of her role.

Q: What brought you to do the work that you’re doing now?
Samantha: When I left school, all my friends were going off to university, but I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to work with people. A few months after finishing sixth form, I got a job as a therapy assistant. In 2011, I started my occupational therapy degree part-time and qualified in the summer of 2015.

So, I’ve been working in the field of OT for about nine years now, starting when I was 19.

Q: Apart from brain injury, what other areas of occupational therapy have you worked in?
Samantha: A huge part of my early work was on an acute stroke rehab ward, where I supported people right from the start of their journey when they were still medically unwell. I also worked on trauma, orthopaedic, and surgical wards. After I qualified, I wanted a change, so I joined a rehabilitation service under the local council.

I’ve also worked in spinal injuries and paediatrics, specialising in that area for four and a half years, including throughout COVID. I loved working with the team, but my real passion has always been in neurology, which brought me to this role in brain injury rehab at Brainkind.

Q: Did your interest in neurology come from somewhere specific, or did it develop over time?
Samantha: It really developed over time, especially from my therapy assistant job. Initially, I never saw myself in a medical field—I thought I’d go into business or travel and tourism. My family are so proud now; they think it’s amazing that I work in brain injury.

I’ve always loved working with people, and in occupational therapy, I feel like I can make a real difference, especially when working with people over a longer period.

Q: In terms of assessing people with brain injuries, what are the key areas you focus on?
Samantha: Our approach is very much people-centred. We want the person we’re working with to feel a sense of ownership and involvement in their rehabilitation. Yes, we are the experts, but we’re working with a person who has their own priorities and goals. We follow rehabilitation frames of reference and therapeutic models, many of which I learned back at university.

For example, for people who have had a stroke, we follow specific stroke guidelines to ensure the therapy we provide is evidence-based and aligned with best practice.

Q: What are some of the challenges you face when supporting people to regain independence?
Samantha: Some of the biggest challenges include dealing with changes in behaviour, mood, and insight, particularly as people come to terms with their brain injury. We have to conduct capacity assessments and help the people we support understand how their injury affects them. Sometimes, they may not be aware of the changes in themselves, and that can be a difficult conversation.

We also involve families, as a brain injury impacts not only the individuals but also their loved ones. Helping families understand and navigate this journey is a big part of what we do.

Q: How do you involve families in the rehabilitation process?
Samantha: We aim to involve families right from the start. When we receive a referral, we invite family members to join the pre-evaluation assessment if possible. If they can’t attend, we make contact as soon as the person is admitted.

We hold regular update calls and invite families to goal meetings at set intervals to keep them informed about progress and plans. We also offer family sessions where they can learn certain exercises or activities to do with their loved one, which allows them to play an active role in the rehabilitation process.

Q: How do you collaborate with other professionals at Brainkind?
Samantha: Collaboration within the multidisciplinary team (MDT) is essential. Every morning, we have a handover where the clinical team and team senior discuss key points from the previous day. On Tuesdays, we hold a full MDT meeting to review each discipline’s focus for the week.

We work closely with support workers and other therapists to ensure a coordinated approach. For example, I often work jointly with speech and language therapists on cases where a person has communication challenges, and with physiotherapists on cases requiring physical support.

Q: Has technology played a role in your work, and if so, how?
Samantha: Definitely. Technology has improved record-keeping, with everything now stored on digital systems rather than paper. We use iPads for assessments and treatments, and we have a virtual reality programme called Saebo which helps people practise everyday tasks, like shopping or cooking, in a simulated environment.

For people returning to work, we incorporate smartphone use and basic computer tasks as part of their rehabilitation, which has been really beneficial.

Q: What are some common barriers or challenges you encounter?
Samantha: One challenge is motivation, as brain injuries can impact a person’s drive to engage in activities. Some people who were very active before their injury may find it difficult to initiate activities. To address this, we try to incorporate their personal interests into the rehabilitation programme and encourage them to participate in activities like going to the driving range, swimming, or even just playing a game of dominoes. Additionally, funding can be a barrier. Some areas fund rehabilitation better than others, which can affect how long someone can stay with us and receive inpatient care.

Q: How do you stay up-to-date with developments in brain injury rehabilitation?
Samantha: We have monthly OT meetings where we share new research or training we’ve attended. We also have quarterly Brainkind OT meetings with CPD training slots.

I’m a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapy, which gives me access to a range of resources and research publications. I try to keep up with relevant articles in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, and I’m looking forward to the release of new national guidelines on brain injury rehabilitation next year.

Q: Finally, what keeps you motivated in your role?
Samantha: I genuinely love my job. Working in occupational therapy and seeing the progress people make is so rewarding. I feel fortunate to be part of such a supportive team, from admin staff to support workers I feel fortunate to be part of such a supportive team, including management, clinical, admin and support workers.

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