Community Occupational Therapist - Una McAuley

What is your job?

I am a Community Occupational Therapist with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust based at the Braid Valley Hospital Site in Ballymena.  People often ask me what exactly is Occupational Therapy?  My job entails me working with people, who have a range of disabilities and who require support to remain as independent as possible within their own home.

This involves me assessing such daily living tasks as dressing, washing, mobility and through the provision of advice, equipment and adaptations, I assist them reach their maximum level of safety and independence.

What happens in your average day?

I work form 9am -5pm and I spend the majority of my day out and about assessing clients in their home.  In the morning I come into the office to pick up my calls and emails from the day before and make contact with the various agencies we work alongside.  I work a lot with external agencies like the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the companies who supply specialist equipment.  I forward plan my visits for the day to ensure I get to see as many clients as possible. Each day is different. In one day you could see a number of clients with a range of conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s.  A lot of my work is involved with adapting the clients home to accommodate their disability or prescribing equipment to enable them to be as independent as possible. I also address the social aspects of clients’ lives, ensuring that they can avail of the opportunity to meet with other people or access a range of social networks. Clients can become withdrawn and socially isolated so the OT encourages and facilitates them to get involved in local groups, night classes, or day trips to encourage social interaction.
In the adult Community OT service we assess all clients over 18 years so I could be involved with clients in their nineties or a teenager who perhaps has been involved in a road traffic accident.

How did you decide to become an Occupational Therapist?

I started as an auxiliary in a nursing home when I was 16 and I really loved working with the older generation and found it very rewarding.  When the Occupational Therapists came into the Nursing Home to work with some of the residents, I thought it was amazing the difference they made to their lives.  I got into the University of Ulster at Jordanstown to study the 4year degree course in Occupational Therapy and it was demanding but enjoyable time. I had 4 placements to complete during your course, 2 in my second year and 2 in my fourth year. These were the most satisfying parts of the course.
  One of my placements was in the Antrim/Ballymena Learning Disability OT Service and that is the area I would most like to work in.

I’ve been working in the Trust  for 3years and during that time I took a 6 month career break from my job to work as an OT in Australia.  It was a great experience.  Occupational Therapy is a much more widely recognised profession in Australia and they are very focused on rehabilitation.  I worked in a rehabilitation centre where people go after they are discharged from hospital and where they spend 2-3 weeks becoming completely independent again before they return home.  The main difference between clients there and here, is that  here you have to ask them who lights their fire for them whereas in Australia you have to ask them how do they get in and out of their swimming pool!

What gives you satisfaction in your job?

Whenever you give your client a simple piece of equipment like a perching stool so they can sit and wash their dishes or a wheelchair that means they are able to go out and do their shopping, those are the small things that you know make a huge difference to their lives.

Are there any lows to your job?

The negatives are trying to manage my time most effectively.  OT’s issue a wide range of equipment, much of which is tailored to suit individual client need, so a lot of my time is spent sourcing this equipment and carrying out depth assessments.  Of course there is all the paperwork to complete and targets to meet but I enjoy the challenge.

How do you relax after a busy day?

I play a lot of sport and I am a keen camogie player so I vent my frustrations on the pitch!  Mainly I try and shut the door and not bring the stresses of work home with me.

Who inspires you?

I work with a great team of staff who inspire me everyday.  There is such a mix of different people and as a Band 5OT I am the junior in the team, so I am constantly learning from all of them.  My mum is my driving force, she works 9am – 5pm as a Primary School Teacher but she still manages to run a busy home as well.

Page last updated:21 July 2009