OT Week 2025: On early intervention...
Celebrating OT Week's focus on prevention and early intervention...
This OT Week, the 3rd-9th of November, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists are celebrating their annual campaign that highlights the value of occupational therapy.
Titled "Right Support, Right Time: Unlocking the Power of OT", this year's focus is centred on how early intervention from occupational therapy is key to building a healthier and more sustainable future for all.
RCOT wants to support shifting the focus of care from "crisis-driven to prevention-focussed approaches", which is something that aligns with us here at Krysalis. We believe that the work occupational therapists do help people stay well for longer, and produces measurable and meaningful outcomes for individuals, families, employers, and claimants alike.
Highlighting the value of occupational therapy in prevention and early intervention shows how occupational therapists can make an impact across all areas of practice and stages of life.
And while RCOT will be sharing the voices of people who give and receive occupational therapy, we thought we'd join by asking some of our neurological occupational therapists what providing the right support at the right time means to them...
Occupational therapy is about understanding the individual's view of their world. It is only by taking care to understand their view that intervention can be described as truly person-centred. 
Krysalis Founder and CEO, Jo Throp
Krysalis OTs on early intervention
When posed with the question surrounding the importance of prevention and early intervention, one of our neurological occupational therapists, Vicky, stated that "the earlier we become involved with someone following an acquired brain injury or a neurological diagnosis, the sooner we can start to support them in managing their symptoms."
She went on to speak about how "early intervention gives us the opportunity to work alongside the person to develop strategies that promote independence and, ultimately, help them stay engaged in the activities that are most meaningful to them."
Another Krysalis OT, Anna O, expressed that "early neurological occupational therapy empowers individuals to engage in meaningful activities sooner, reinforcing their sense of competence and control during recovery."
With nearly twenty years experience, Anna also gave her expert opinion on how neurological injury or illness can impact a person's physical, cognitive, and psychological functional ability. She said, "Addressing these challenges early helps build trust, increases confidence in everyday skills, and sparks a sense of hope - all of which are key to achieving long-term recovery."
Our profession is truly holistic; the client-centred nature of the role is guided by the aspirations and goals of the clients we serve.
Krysalis Founder and CEO, Jo Throp
When we spoke to another neurological occupational therapist - and sensory integration practitioner in-training - Anna F, she spoke on how early intervention is key to boosting individuals confidence; she said, "it puts in place helpful habits, routines, roles, and environments to promote good performance participation and well-being."
Anna F went on to say, "Early intervention equips the individual with coping skills, social-emotional abilities, and resilience, which helps prevent problems from escalating and allows for quicker, more effective support. This can help the individual, the employer or family to be able to consider bespoke support options to help maintain independence and productivity."
Overall, she believes that providing early support "helps maintain stability in daily life and work, fostering a stronger sense of self-worth and a more hopful outlook on the future."
Taking part in OT Week 2025
Last year's OT Week theme was about the value of occupational therapy, and this year is a specific highlight on prevention and early intervention, which showcases some of the goals set in RCOT's Workplace Strategy.
At Krysalis, we have seen first-hand how timely, specialist, and impactful innovation solutions benefit individuals, and we are confident in our belief that occupational therapy can make a huge difference relative to prevention and early intervention.
If you want to access resources for this week, you can head over to the Royal College of Occupational Therapists webpage to discover more.
In the meantime, keep an eye out for Krysalis posts across all our social media accounts @KrysalisNeuroOT to get involved with what we're saying this OT Week.
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