I am Hannah Collier a 3rd year Occupational Therapy student at The University of Northampton. I have experience working in a variety of clinical settings, NHS, charitable and health and social care services including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS), Adult Mental Health Services, Specialist Neurology Services, Forensic Services and Reablement services. I have worked with people experiencing a wide range physical and mental health difficulties and enjoy working collaboratively and creatively to achieve desired outcomes.
Additionally, I hold a BA (Hons) in Drama and Applied theatre, a core concept in Applied theatre is advocating for marginalised communities and exposing occupational injustices. Therefore, the skills I gained whilst studying have been transferrable within my OT practice and lend to my current placement opportunity and working alongside Kirsty Stanley and Jenny Ceolta Smith. Both Kirsty and Jenny are Occupational therapists advocating for increased support, recognition, and treatment for the Long Covid Community.
The emerging placement opportunity I am completing involves supporting Long Covid Kids | Charity | Post Covid Syndrome and offering online support and content for this community. It has allowed me to practice remote working and increased my knowledge and exposure to having a professional social media presence and using social media as a tool for advocacy. The concept of advocacy to me means putting peoples’ lived experience first, listening, respecting, and assisting people to access support and using factual evidence-based information sharing to spread awareness. Furthermore, this placement has also encouraged me to practice self-advocacy as a student and as a patient with my own healthcare needs, it has caused me to consider the importance of practicing self-care and self-advocacy to become a better advocate in OT practice.
As a student OT I adhere to professional standard outlined by RCOT and HCPC.
Hi! My name is Hannah Leslie, I am a third year Occupational Therapy student at The University of Northampton. Throughout my degree I have been fortunate enough to have experienced working within several different clinical settings in the NHS, Charitable and Health and Social care services. Community rehabilitation, acute assessment, mental health interventions, organising social prescribing events, advocacy and equipment provision are just a few things I have done throughout my degree. On my last placement I had the opportunity to set up and run an Upper Limb Clinic for individuals who had experienced a Stroke. I also have experience outside of my degree working in both retail and health and social care.
I have worked with people experiencing a wide range of physical and mental health difficulties and enjoy working in collaboration with others. From this I believe myself to be a creative problem solver and a core Occupational Therapy belief I constantly refer to, is that every individual is an occupational being, their identity and roles can be achieved and maintained by engaging in their meaningful occupations whilst aiding their health and wellbeing and improving their quality of life.
All these skills have been transferable within my Occupational Therapy practice, and I am now on my final practice placement working alongside Kirsty Stanley and Jenny Ceolta-Smith. Both Kirsty and Jenny are Occupational Therapists who advocate for an increase in support, recognition, and treatment for individuals within the Long Covid Community. This is a role emerging placement and has helped me further enhance my skills by allowing me to practise remote working and has also aided me with development on my knowledge and exposure around Professional Social Media presence and using this for advocacy. I have learnt a lot so far from both Kirsty and Jenny, to me, advocacy is always putting the individual and their lived experience first, actively listening, respecting, and supporting individuals to access the support right for them through using factual and evidenced based information to raise awareness.
Occupational Therapy Standards & Code Of Ethics – RCOT
Guidance on conduct and ethics for students | (hcpc-uk.org)
Occupational Therapy for Long Covid - by Occupational Therapists with Long Covid 