INTERVIEW…

Sarah Dove // Specialist Occupational Therapist

Q: Can you tell us about your role within the hospital?

• I work as an Occupational Therapist within CAMHS. My job involves working with young people and their families to find solutions to things they are finding challenging with things they need to do in their every day life and things that they would like to do. Challenges may be because of functional/skill difficulties, sensory processing difficulties, and difficulties with motivation, amongst others.
  

• I work as part of the team within CAMHS. My colleagues include psychologists, psychiatrists, Nurses, mental health practitioners, speech and language therapists and an art therapist. We work collaboratively to ensure the best possible outcomes for our service users.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

• The variety

• Meeting amazing young people and amazing families

• Working as part of a team

• Making a difference to improve the quality of lives....however small.

Q: How can we best maintain a flourishing mindset at school, play, work & at home?

• Maintain A positive attitude, be willing to try new things, perhaps taking some risks.

• Be Creative!!! Define yourself in an alternative way...regardless of age, ability, diagnosis etc.

• Let kids get messy, like really messy. Let them lead creative sessions without having an 'end product' in mind.

However bad things are....it won't always feel that way, things will get better.

Q: We're hoping to make some positive changes to the physical environment within the CAMHS service at NHS Forth Valley. What would you like to see there?

• Whatever the service users decide they want...it’s their space, where they need to feel included and a space to feel relaxed and comfortable, as much as possible.

• Anything other than beige walls will be an improvement!

• ...and anything which creates a better sense of inclusion and ownership for the service users.
  

Q: What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

I'm a very visual person and love the image of blue sky above the clouds from an aeroplane. So, remembering when things are gloomy, there is blue sky above!!