Managing Work

Clare Cahill
Neuro Occupational Therapist
April 2021

Clare Cahill OT 2
Session Outline
• Reflection … Voc Rehab Talk – Jan 2021
• What can get in the way?
• Are you ready?
• How can you help self back to work?
• Key themes

Clare Cahill OT 3
Plan: View as a project – job seeking and work
preparation
• Identify skills, strengths and limitations and match to
job- what can you do?
• Areas of interest/preferences
• Set an outcome – begin with the end in mind
• Break it down into small chunks – step by step
• Set timescales
• Make a plan
Clare Cahill OT 4
• Develop a routine - regular small actions every day
• Work on specific issues e.g. work on stamina,
communication skills – join a group
• Look for opportunities and options – be flexible
• How prepare now for future work? (prep CV, gain skills,
volunteer, research, local resources and network etc)
• Ask family, friends, peers etc for support and feedback – who
can support you?
• Do I want to make changes? Think differently
Clare Cahill OT 5
Overcoming Barriers At Work…
• Think of options – bespoke and unique to you
• Break down job role – look at skills, strengths
• Liaise with employer – education to colleagues re ABI
• Think about solutions/strategies
• Reasonable adjustments – equipment, days/hrs, tasks, additional
training, environment IT support, delegate, who else can help
with parts of role etc.
• Need balance – work v home life
• Always more than one solution – think positive
Clare Cahill OT 6
HINTS and TIPS:
• Create a regular daily and weekly routine
• Commit to spending time every day working towards goal
• Keep it simple and plan, plan, plan…..
• Break it down to bitesize chunks
• Focus on ability and unique skills
• Use plan to track and amend progress
• Be flexible, review and adapt
• Share plans with family, friends, peers - ask for help if needed

Clare Cahill OT 7