Recognising the rapid expansion of the occupational therapy workforce in perinatal mental health services, RCOT was commissioned by Health Education England to develop a blended training programme to ensure occupational therapists have the skills and confidence to meet the occupational needs of mothers with mental health problems and their infants.
The training programme included a series of regional workshops, aiming to reach occupational therapists across the whole of England.
The aims of the workshops were to:
· Understand the context in which perinatal mental health services are commissioned and provided across England
· Identify and explore the unique role and contribution of occupational therapy to perinatal mental health services
· Hear examples of good practice from occupational therapists working in perinatal mental health
· Identify opportunities for continuing professional development, evidence-based practice and networking.
Find RCOT Professional Adviser Sally Payne’s blog on how involving clinical experts ensured programme relevance and credibility:
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