Here's the second part of our train interview, conducted on our way to Glasgow, with locally based OTs Helen Saunders (founder of SHOUT) and Sue Peters. They talk about their thoughts on COT conference 2012, share memories of past conferences and give advice to students on attending conference in future years.
What are
you looking forward to most at conference?
Helen: Being
able to experience a good mix of presentations in one place, as well as the
free ice cream and the possibility of a free ‘brollie!
Sue: The
whole experience, plus the opportunity to network and get a showcase of what’s
going on in other people’s practice and, of course, all the freebies you get!
Have you
got any favourite memories from previous conferences?
Helen: This is
the fourth year I’ve attended conference and in the past I’ve enjoyed
presenting a Trent regional poster; one year there was a great workshop with
Greg Stafford about the political environment; the parties we’ve been to have
been good fun and past council member’s lunches have always been a good
opportunity for meeting higher up people.
Sue: This is
my third conference and I’ve always loved meeting lots of people in the
profession and then keeping in touch with them throughout the years.
What advice
can you give to students attending conference?
Helen: Go to as many seminars and workshops as you can, take time to go to the exhibitors and see the poster presentations.
Sue: Go out
and meet lots of other students, compare and contrast your courses and what you
do on them so you can find ways to improve your uni experience.
How does
conference impact your practice?
Helen: Through past conferences I’ve learnt about, and developed my use of, MOHO for sensory integration and people with learning disabilities – that’s been really important to my practice.
Sue: After
conference you go back to work feeling enthusiastic, prepared to make changes
and knowing what to do to move things forward. You feel empowered and can give
positive feedback to other team members about what is happening in other parts
of the profession.
If you
presented something at conference, what would it be and why?
Helen: In the
past I’ve presented a Trent region poster with Wendy [Ferguson]. We were really nervous when we discovered we had to give a seminar, but it turned out to be
a really good experience and I think I would do something like that again with
the regional committee to show what local groups, like SHOUT, are doing in the
region.
Sue: I’d like
to present something related to my practice with amputees, perhaps new
guidelines for MDTs on how to work with new amputees.
Why do you
think it’s important for OTs to attend conference?
Helen: Conference is necessary to keep up to date with OT and practice. It also helps
keep your CPD up to scratch for HPC, as well as enthusing you when you return
to work.
Sue: I think
you can take so much away from conference as a full learning experience, but
last year’s message of being a “meerkat OT” really worked for me! It describes
OTs as forward thinking and staying involved, integrating with other services.
Through conference you can link-in with others, use the network opportunities
to create bench-marks and create the best care experience for your patients as
possible. You also feel like part of the OT community, conferences help to
prove our worth as a profession and with all the changes going on in the NHS at
the moment using conference appropriately means that we have a better chance of
keeping our jobs.
