Debbie Brennand

A blog from one of our fantastic Occupational Therapists' @Mersey_Care reflecting on her experiences working in a prison based OPD service as a newly qualified OT #chooseOT #OTweek2020

RT @HightownJFL: We’ve received a lot of messages in the last 24hrs, sorry I couldn’t reply to everyone but I’m sure you understand why. Th…

We are recruiting x2 Band 6 Occupational Therapists to join our Integrated Mental Health Teams at HMP Liverpool and HMP Altcourse @Mersey_Care. This is an exciting opportunity to get involved in service development work. Please get in touch for more information. See link below…

We are recruiting an Occupational Therapist at the Beacon, HMP Garth @Mersey_Care. Band 5 or 6 dependant on experience. If join as B5, it will be a B5-6 development post. Please get in touch for more information #OPD merseycare.nhs.uk/working-for-us…

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a B6 Occupational Therapist to join the existing team at the Beacon, HMP Garth. The service is part of the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway and is delivered in partnership with @Mersey_Care and @hmpgarth - advert below for more info.

Let’s STOP calling clients ‘non compliant’ and ‘treatment resistant’ And start calling them someone who: •just needs more help and support. •needs a different kind of support. •is feeling really scared. Compassion first always.

@Tori_Doll_ @Mersey_Care Well done everyone, fab news!!

⭐️ Absolutely over the moon for the #OccupationalTherapy team at Rathbone LSU for winning the #innovation award at @Mersey_Care #positiveachievementawards2021 ⭐️

Proud to co-author the book with Dr @lyouansamouth “Little Book of Violence prevention. Certainly an interesting read on the benefits of #prevention and #earlyintervention How many lives have been lost because interventions haven’t been done ? Back to professional curiosity.

@ForensicOT_ELFT Developing collaborative occupational formulations that can be owned by service users and shared with the staff team. It can really empower people whilst helping them to further understand themselves and think about change and what that could look like #OTalk

Final question! #OTalk Q5 What do you think the occupation-focused opportunities might be in this setting?

@ForensicOT_ELFT The focus of ‘doing’ together within services. We have prison officers engaging in sport with the men and maintaining the garden alongside each other! Amazing for building relationships, interpersonal skills whilst engaging in meaningful occupation #OTalk

@ForensicOT_ELFT Availability of substances in prisons and the impact on therapy! Always important to understand substance use from an occupational perspective too though and in the context of someone’s life and experiences #OTalk

Here's our penultimate question. #OTalk Q4 What do you think the challenges might be of working in a secure hospital aka inpatient forensic mental health setting?

@ForensicOT_ELFT Managing the power dynamic within relationships, the balance of security vs. therapy, emotionally challenging for staff, managing transference and countertransference within therapeutic relationships #OTalk

@NatalieS_OT @ForensicOT_ELFT Couldn’t agree more! So much more to people and their occupational identity!

@ForensicOT_ELFT One of my favourite things about working in forensics is changing the narrative that surround the people we work with. Moving away from the "criminal" label and drawing out their talents, interests and ambitions. Showing people how much they can contribute to society #OTalk

Here's your first question for the evening! #OTalk Q1 What are your perceptions or clinical experiences of inpatient mental health?

@ForensicOT_ELFT It’s a treatment service without the Offender Personality Disorder pathway. Very much a relational model including models of trauma and attachment and following the principles of an Enabling Environment #OTalk

@DebbieBrennand That sounds so interesting Debbie. Is it a therapeutic community setting? #OTalk

Are you looking for a new opportunity? We are currently recruiting for vacancy 350-SELD2699207-A Clinical / Forensic Psychologist. Apply online today at jobs.merseycare.nhs.uk/vacancy/289960… You can also view all of our other vacancies on our jobs page jobs.merseycare.nhs.uk

@carterrdc 😂😂😂

Remember when I said 2020 was going to be my year and then I broke my ankle on my first night out of the year. Good riddance, 2020!

Here are three of our men who worked tirelessly through all weathers to ensure our memorial garden was completed in time for Remembrance Day. The garden is a credit to their hard work and commitment - Thank you 👏😊🌹

@BecksBlain @open_debate @jodieannalder I’ve been taught this too at work! Impressive!

Working in a medium secure unit can be tricky to think of activities that don’t use anything that we’re not allowed in the hospital. Today a patient taught me how to finger knit! It was so easy and we sat just chatting&teaching other staff. #TeamLaurel @open_debate @jodieannalder