Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
National recognition for Yorkshire Occupational Therapy professionals
Miranda Thew, Senior Lecturer in the School of Health at Leeds Beckett and Dr Kate Heward, Owner and Specialist Neurological and Vocational Occupational Therapist at Rehabilitate Therapy Ltd, have received Merit Awards from the College of Occupational Therapists, whilst Professor Gail Mountain, Chair of Applied Dementia Research at the University of Bradford has been awarded a Fellowship.
The College of Occupational Therapists Merit Awards, introduced in 2008, are for occupational therapists recognised by their peers in the occupational therapy community for excellence in their sphere of work.
Stand up Paul Devlin, Rena Findlay, Dr Kate Heward, @ThewMiranda as our peer nominated 2016 Merit Awards Winners https://t.co/RUNxtiDTjw
— COT (@BAOTCOT) February 22, 2016
Speaking about receiving the Merit Award, Miranda Thew said: “I am honoured to have received such recognition especially when it is from my peers, our MSc occupational therapy programme at Leeds Beckett has gone from strength to strength with this year, all our students successfully being offered occupational therapist posts before they had actually completed their studies!”
Dr Kate Heward, who completed her PhD at Leeds Beckett and now owns Rehabilitate Therapy Ltd, which provides a range of individualised and outcome oriented occupational therapy services to clients following brain injury or those with other neurological conditions, added: “Occupational Therapy is a profession I feel passionately about, being able to make a real different to people’s lives is incredibly rewarding and to be recognised by my peers for doing a job that I love is very special."
Miranda Thew was the Course Leader for the MSc Occupational therapy (pre-reg) programme at Leeds Beckett University for the past 5 years. She devised a model for Role Emerging Placements, the first in England for a full cohort of students, and is lead editor of an international book on role emerging practice. She is also lead editor on a book concerning lifestyle management. She has been involved in delivering wellbeing at work programmes for many years. She regularly presents at local and national conferences and facilitates CPD workshops for occupational therapists particularly in scoping new fields for occupational therapy practice and helping them apply business and entrepreneurial skills to their portfolio.
Dr Kate Heward is an experienced neurological occupational therapist who combines her clinical work with research and teaching. Kate’s outlook is dynamic, innovative and challenging, believing passionately in client-led, occupational community based rehabilitation.
Kate has expertise in a number of different areas of neurological rehabilitation with a special interest in vocational rehabilitation, transitional rehabilitation and independent living, and working with clients who have cognitive and behavioural difficulties.
The British Association of Occupational Therapists is the professional body representing a diverse and thriving community of occupational therapy staff across the UK. It is committed to promoting the unique value and benefits of occupational therapy to the public, service commissioners and political representatives.
The award of Fellowship is the highest honour the College can bestow on members of the College. Professor Gail Mountain was a practising occupational therapist for 13 years before becoming involved in research. Her research interests are focussed upon improving the quality of life of older people through provision of appropriate interventions, good design and by facilitating participation, reflecting her occupational therapy background.
Gail is also Professor of Health Services Research (assisted living research) within the Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Group at the University of Sheffield.
On hearing the news Gail said: “I am thrilled to receive this award. Throughout my research career I have carried the values and interests of occupational therapy with me so it is very special to be recognised in this way.