We offer sessions online as standard (over Microsoft teams or similar), or a phone call on weekdays between the hours of 8-5pm. If these hours don’t work for you, please contact us to discuss your requirements. Please note we promote the secure use of technology for easy accessibility and sharing of resources where possible to promote sustainable/environmentally friendly delivery and minimise costs. If you need help with technical set up of calls, have a question or would prefer a face-to-face session, please let us know!

For all face-to-face sessions including practical assessments, travel costs may be included on prior agreement based on proximity (travel for > 1 hour radius at £30 per hour travel time, pro rata’) plus petrol included as standard at 0.45p/mile. As a qualified mountain leader, we can safely offer bespoke and outdoor ‘walk and talk’ sessions e.g. for group coaching if planned in advance – contact us ahead of your session to discuss equipment/access/location.

We are fully qualified occupational therapists and can provide appropriate assessment and feedback for individuals and groups – our services are designed to offer support to both!  We aim to work with a small number of people committed to making meaningful changes in their lives. We will always maintain transparency regarding the extent of our services to assess if our capacities align with your requirements before accepting a contract, and whilst our focus is on coaching and training, we do also offer individual practical assessment.

Yes, absolutely! We love utilising our occupational values and knowledge to help others to take an informed, safe and creative approach to work in the health field. Especially, we are passionate about championing projects that explore the interface between the arts/outdoors, participation in meaningful activity, and health wellbeing. Get in touch with your latest project, we’ll be happy to support you with training for your staff, data, evidence and resources.

Our aim is always to promote a working contract that is appropriate to achieve your goals and to actively work with you to promote your independence and self-reliance, whilst safeguarding you and others appropriately. Our approach is sensitive, trauma-informed, and collaborative and we will always prioritize creating a secure and non-judgmental atmosphere that fosters trust, choice, and autonomy. Our services are designed to offer short-term and affordable practical support for change; they are not intended to be a long-term solution. Appropriate alternative support services will be signposted where possible.

Our roles are as a coach and an occupational therapist, NOT a counsellor or Occupational Health doctor. Though we hold registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) and also have extensive medical clinical experience, we work clinically as an Occupational Therapist (OT) at the present time, and therefore any medical concerns regarding a diagnosis, medication or investigations should be addressed to a separate authorized medical professional.  We will never advise that you or any other individual attempt to perform beyond the safe limits of your or their own physical and mental abilities (regardless of whether you want to or ask for our help to do this).

We are fully qualified occupational therapists, and have held a wide range of roles across a range of topics (including in housing adaptations). However, our services are designed primarily to offer training and coaching, so whilst all requests will be considered, a specific needs assessment may be redirected. Due to local variations in provision and funding, our scope of assessment will not qualify as formal structural housing adaptation advice and any major moving/handling or adaptation concerns should be addressed to an authorized OT in your area for an in-depth assessment and liaison with building services. We are happy to assist with signposting and location of appropriate services to help as far as possible. We can recommend generic small aids, and other devices however are not affiliated with any brands and items are not included in the consulting fee as standard.

Occupational therapy/occupation/occupationally-focussed: From the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (OTs), an OT “helps people of all ages overcome challenges completing everyday tasks or activities, looking at relationships between the activities an individual does every day (we call these ‘occupations’), alongside the challenges faced and the environment. OTs see beyond diagnoses and limitations towards hope, and help a person get back to doing the things they want and need to do after a period of change”.

An occupation is any activity that we need, want or like to do to live and to look after our physical and mental health, and our emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Occupation isn’t just a job or activities of daily living. An occupation can be self-care, such as washing, eating or sleeping; productive, such as work, study, caring or domestic activities; and leisure, such as playing sports, hobbies or socialising.  They give our lives meaning, purpose and structure.

When we can’t do an activity anymore or we need to adjust the way we do it, because of ill health or other barriers, our sense of self and purpose may change. Vital Adaptation focuses on meaningful occupations and finds new ways and adaptations to do these, recognising that achieving goals is a crucial part of going through a recovery process, establishing a new identity or providing a service which truly meets the needs of the population it serves.

Occupational justice: “Occupational justice is about  promoting fairness, equity, and empowerment to enable opportunities for participation in occupations –  for the purposes of health and quality of life’ (Durocher, 2014). It’s been said that social change can only truly be effected if people become occupationally conscious (Ramugondo, 2012). At Vital Adaptation, we aim to innovate in full awareness of occupational justice, offering practical advocacy to bring about improvements in participation and engagement. We consistently monitor and evaluate our work and outcomes to ensure continuous improvement.

Humanitarian: from the Cambridge University dictionary, as being “involved in or connected with improving people’s lives and reducing suffering”. We work closely with our clients to promote occupational justice, bring about positive change and avoid harm with a trauma-informed and collaborative approach.

Health Equity: The concept of health (in)equity recognises that different groups of individuals/populations may experience health and outcomes differently owing to a range of disadvantages – in their ability to access resources, due to discrimination, or a lack of money or status. We aim to optimise accessibility, affordability, public awareness and enablement in our consultancy as a way of working towards equity and correcting these factors for everybody to benefit.

Evidence-base: Evidence-based practice, according to NHS England, is the “integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values”, meaning that decisions/treatments are made using a combination of clinical expertise, the preferences of the patient, and the best available evidence. At Vital Adaptation, we recognise the importance of keeping up to date with clinical recommendations, and consistently take part in clinical supervision and continuous professional development to improve our practice.