2005 Occupational Therapist of the Year
Jo Tinkler
An occupational therapist who works in Portsmouth, Jo Tinkler, has won the College of Occupational Therapists' / Stannah Stairlifts' Occupational Therapist of the Year Award for 2005. Jo was chosen out of hundreds of occupational therapists nominated for the award by a panel of judges led by consumer investigator and children's rights campaigner, Esther Rantzen, and Jon Stannah, Managing Director of Stannah Stairlifts.
Despite having only been an occupational therapist for four years, Jo - who graduated from Southampton University in June 2001 - has contributed an enormous amount to the profession itself and to her individual patients. She was nominated for the award twice: firstly by Sandie Davies, the mother of a young man with learning difficulties Jo helped extensively, and secondly by her colleagues on the Fareham and Gosport Learning Disability Community Team, who have continually been impressed by Jo's work and attitude.
Sandie Davies said that Jo's work with her son, Michael, has helped to enhance his life:
"Michael, who is 20 years old, has profound learning disabilities and autism. He had been resorting to self-harm and was gradually losing weight and losing interest in the world around him. We felt that he wouldn't survive. Jo has spent many hours with Michael over the last eighteen months, and her work has made a real difference and stopped Michael's life from spiralling downwards. Now, he is making choices, moving around the house, and doing so much more - all thanks to the work Jo has done with him." Jo says she developed sensory integration and intensive interaction programmes to give Michael more control over his life:
"Intensive interaction is a way of communicating with someone who doesn't speak - mimicking and responding to the noises and actions they make. We also developed calming strategies to help Michael to cope when things become too hectic or busy for him."
In her role, Jo works in community learning disability teams in Fareham, Gosport, Portsmouth, Havant and Petersfield - mostly visiting people at their homes, in residential settings, day-services and respite units. She says she is "deeply touched" to have won the award:
"I genuinely love my job, and I would recommend occupational therapy for anyone seeking a career which is fulfilling, varied and interesting. It's so rewarding getting to know your patients - finding out what's meaningful to them and working around that.
Esther Rantzen said: "The role of an occupational therapist is often underestimated and misunderstood, which is why awards like these are so important. It was wonderful to meet Jo Tinkler - a real unsung hero - and I hope that these awards will help to raise the profile of the profession as a whole."
