Soaring Above Pain – Belinda

Placement not pre-arranged but urgently accommodated due to withdrawal of arranged one

Familiarising myself with complex persistent pain science in first few weeks of placement- essential to learn to enable assessments and interventions

Initially shadowing appointments to understand the process from referral into the service, through to appropriate interventions, group work programmes and discharge

Undertake complex, holistic assessments with a wide-ranging client group (age and pain condition), to identify appropriate interventions and enable goal setting- both face to face and via virtual platform

Providing pain science education and occupational therapy specific interventions to individuals, both face to face and via virtual platform. These included activity analysis and scheduling, activity balance advice, encouraging participation in activities of value and meaning to each individual service-user and promoting formal relaxation

Shadowing supported virtual fibromyalgia pain management programme

Supporting colleagues deliver hydrotherapy sessions

Attending and contributing to MDT team meetings and occupational therapy team meetings

Shadowing opportunities – learning from pain specialist such physiotherapist, psychologist, nurses and consultants

Continual learning – constantly learning and adapting to new insights and strategies in pain management

Exposed to both physical and mental health patient cases

Hybrid working

Access to supportive/understanding team, having regular supervision

Complex cases

Emotional toll

Risks management

Transportation

Be keen to learn something new each day and ask questions

Use of regular supervision to express feelings as well as other wellbeing services provided