Carving your own path – Karen Forrest’s advanced practice journey – Career Conversations Podcast

In this episode of RCOT’s Career Conversations about advanced practice, Claire Guyatt (Practice and Workforce Manager at RCOT) is joined by Karen Forrest, an independent advanced Occupational Therapist and advanced sensory integration practitioner working in partnership with public services. Karen shares how she shaped her own route into advanced clinical practice after a long NHS career, specialising in working with people with learning disabilities, autistic people and people experiencing mental health or wellbeing challenges, particularly those in highly restrictive settings. Together, Claire and the guest explore: How Karen first discovered occupational therapy through work experience in a long-stay institution, and how her commitment to people with learning disabilities became the foundation of her OT career. What advanced practice can look like in independent practice, including NHS spot-purchased work, care and treatment reviews, mentoring, supervision and specialist sensory integration practice. Karen’s self-directed route to advanced practice, including level 7 sensory integration training, the e-portfolio pathway and evidencing advanced practice outside a traditional organisational route. The importance of the four pillars of advanced practice: clinical practice, education, leadership and management and research. Barriers along the way, including limited career opportunities, the challenge of evidencing research and the need to be creative when formal routes are not straightforward. Enablers such as discomfort, reflection, family support, university support and the confidence to follow a different path. The new articulation of advanced practice through a social justice lens, and why Karen believes occupational therapists need to reclaim occupation as a powerful route to wellbeing. Why advanced practitioners need to demonstrate impact, influence decision-makers and “shout about” the value of occupational therapy at individual, organisational and societal levels. Karen finishes with powerful reflections for occupational therapists aspiring to advanced practice: it takes time, it goes beyond ‘getting the badge’, and the process can bring clarity, confidence and deeper pride in occupational therapy. #OccupationalTherapy #AdvancedPractice #SensoryIntegration #LearningDisability #Autism #MentalHealth #SocialJustice #AlliedHealthProfessionals #RCOT