Occupational Therapy Week comes to Edmonton

Shopmobility

Residents who find daily tasks a struggle may benefit from the advice and support of an occupational therapist.

There has never been a better time to find out how Enfield Council can support residents, as it is Occupational Therapy (OT) Week (7-13 November).

Occupational therapists enable and empower people to recognise their own strengths to overcome challenges they may experience in completing everyday tasks or activities.

Residents who have limited walking ability are able to loan scooters from the Shopmobility facility at 4 Monmouth Road in Edmonton Green up to two hours to enable them to shop in the mall freely.

Shopmobility provides a free loan service of manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and electric scooters. They are for anyone wishing to use the Edmonton Green Shopping Centre, whether an older person, those with a mobility difficulty or are temporarily immobile.

This week residents also had the opportunity to have an informal chat with Enfield Council’s occupational therapists about how they may benefit from using safer techniques, equipment or home adaptations to increase safety within their homes.

Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, Cllr Alev Cazimoglu, who visited Shopmobility this week, said: “It was a great to visit Shopmobility and to meet residents who rely heavily on the scooters and equipment provided, to help them get around, shop and live more independently.

“Occupational Therapy Week is a great opportunity to raise awareness of careers in a very rewarding profession. I would encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to consider a career in this area and to find out more about the vacancies and apprenticeships available.”

The Council currently has six OT vacancies available across the service and a further five OT vacancies at assistant level will be advertised early next month. OT apprenticeship training programmes are also available and begin in September 2023.

Email recruitmentcentre@enfield.gov.uk for further information on OT vacancies and career options, or visit our jobs and careers page.

Case study

“I’m Angela Osei-Owusu, Principal Occupational Therapist at Enfield Council. The Principal Occupational Therapist position is a newly created role which focuses on high quality service delivery.

“My role enables me to be the voice of OT in Adult Social Care and promote best practice. Enfield Council values OT and recognises the difference we can make in people’s lives.

“We have excellent OT’s in eight teams, three OT assistant managers, seven OT team managers, two OT service managers and myself as principal occupational therapist, all equally passionate in raising the profile of OT. To support the increasing demand to our service, additional vacancies have been created.

“Enfield Council encourages innovation and creativity, supports ambitious staff to lead projects, learn specialisms and share with others.

“We have recently relaunched assistive technology, trained a cohort of champions and will continue to roll out training to increase awareness for staff and the community.

“Enfield Council is committed to collaborative working with our residents, voluntary sector, colleagues within health and all our partner agencies.

“If you are looking for a new challenge in a supportive environment where professional development and career progression is encouraged, come and join us!”

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