You are not alone, thousands of OTs can’t afford to go to the conference either because of the cost of the actual conference itself or the additional cost of travel and accommodation.

You may be a really experienced OT thinking you really should get a grip of some ‘theory’, but where to start…..?

The reality is that ‘the theory’ that you think you should know is woven into your every day practice without you even knowing it. You use it every day you are at work without thinking; yet are the first to say ‘Oh I am not very good with all that theory stuff I just do my job’.

OT’s say this to me all the time, and often cite it as a reason that they can’t have students, ‘It’s all that theoretical stuff I just don’t know anymore’.

Well let’s have a look at all that theoretical stuff you do know.

You are HCPC registered so that means you are providing evidence of the standards of practice that extensive research has identified as the core skills of all AHP’s. ✔️

You are working somewhere within the OT process and know what comes before and after the bit that you are doing if you focus on one aspect of it.✔️

You are breaking down tasks and activities everyday so people can have meaningful occupations, again lots of psychological theory and research that underpins all that.✔️

Where ever you are working there are N.I.CE. Guidelines. If you hadn’t seen them just Google NICE guidelines and which ever clinical area you are in or long term conditions there will be some. Just read the summary, if you are ticking all the boxes; great. If not have a closer look, you may find something useful to help you offer a quality service with Government support.✔️

You could go through your case notes with a check list of what should be in them and what is in them. An audit by any other name. Both of the above are part of Clinical Governance.✔️

That’s a lot of theory for someone who doesn’t know a lot about it..

If you still feel you are lacking confidence articulating the theory side, why don’t you add it to your supervision sessions? You should be having an hour once a month or two months.

Is it a productive session?

If not could you use the sessions to integrate ‘theory’ with your practice? This would increase your confidence, your ability to articulate more clearly the context of your role in the service, and the thing I use the theory all the time for is arguing for change. Nine times out of ten you will have a ‘feeling in your water’ that something is not right, you are an experienced professional after all, but having someone else, Government, researcher, academic also saying it gives you more authority to objectively argue for change.

Start today with adding one of the above to your next supervision agenda! ✔️