Rujeko Mada

I came across the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) role by chance whilst seeking the right opportunity to return to inpatient-based work following a health break. I previously worked as an HCA regularly collaborating with qualified OTs. 

I applied for my OTA post with very little confidence I would succeed despite very much being qualified for the role and having the required knowledge and skills. A health issue prevented me from interviewing initially, however I was provided with a second opportunity as an OTA working with mental health inpatients. The OT Lead was incredibly nurturing, offering face-to-face time to discuss the role, our expectations, and discussing my health needs and the support that could be offered. She also supported me to seek accommodation, as I would be relocating from 100 miles away.

Starting my role was incredibly challenging without a full team, and with a newly appointed manager, but the first few months flew by and soon enough we had a complete team. Distinguishing between the OT and OTA duties was challenging initially, including working through managing our caseloads in ways that utilised the whole teams’ skills.

I have particularly enjoyed working with people from different educational and training backgrounds and seeing the different skills we bring to the team and learning from each other. My team has been incredible in supporting me with the impact my health needs can sometimes have on my role. How my wellbeing is supported at work is my priority, as it determines how I perform and function as an OTA. 

Whilst I enjoyed my OTA role, I have often felt isolated being the only ethnic minority person within the team. My needs haven’t always been met, and I have regularly found myself misunderstood in terms of how I express myself, language I use and mannerisms. I spent a good chunk of the past year on my first ever performance review and experienced some discrimination and racially induced language which was tough to navigate. The Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, our Matron and BAME network supported me with navigating these issues and resolving them. These experiences, amongst many other positive experiences, have been my motivation for joining the AHP Workforce Project because I believe the project will provide a great learning and reflection opportunity. 

Since joining the AHP Workforce Project, it is evident my voice is empowering, and sharing my experiences will be a valuable towards future planning for our AHP workforce. On seeing the role, I was very enthusiastic to know more about the AHP Workforce, and the work being done and goals for the future.

My team supported my secondment, and it gave me the opportunity to discuss the goals of the AHP Workforce and the project ahead. We also had OT students on placement in the team, which I felt made the experience even more special as they had the opportunity to hear wider discussions about the AHP workforce and experience, not just clinical aspects to their AHP role.

I’m naturally a creative and resourceful person, and my OTA role allowed me time for just that and more. In the last year, I’ve worked on projects aiming to ensure our patients access the essentials, and what they enjoy. Through working with volunteers in the community, we now have a steady stockpile of donated clothes and toiletries which all patients and staff in need can access. As an additional service, I have been running Spiritual and Mental Health drop-in sessions, supportive of the Chaplains’ weekly visits.

In this AHP SW role, currently I am preparing for the AHP Support Worker Conference which fills me with excitement and gratitude to be involved in, and of course, I will finally have the opportunity to meet colleagues whom I have only been communicating with on Teams thus far. This opportunity has exposed me to people within roles I didn’t know existed and engagement in conversations that I only ever imagined having. I also never imagined needing to learn through YouTube how to print labels for the AHP Support Workforce Event; Together Towards Tomorrow on 1^st March 2022 at St Mary’s Stadium (Southampton), but here I am!

I am looking forward to the work we have to do in the months to come, seeing where our goals will take us, and personally I look forward to learning more about our Allied Health Professions, our experiences, and our plans for our futures.

This project will make a huge difference to the AHP support worker roles and I believe will change the way in which we are understood and valued. I am grateful to have this opportunity and look forward to the next few months of new experiences and learning.