Country members/ Sweden / Newsletter
News from Sweden, September 2011
New publication: the Book of Life
In September we have published a tool, “The Book of Life” (Swedish title: Livsboken), as a support the possibilities of meaningful and individual activities. In the book relatives are informed about the way you want to live your life, when you no longer are able to tell them. What kind of food do you prefer?, What kind of music do you like? etc.
By filling in and updating the book now and then, you will make it easier for your family to give you the opportunity to be active and to be supported to participate in occupation throughout your life. The book can be downloaded here (in Swedish only): www.minlivsbok.se.
New publication: Occupational Therapist – a Profession for the Future
For our recruitment of students to the occupational therapist programs in Sweden, we have also launched a new publication “Occupational Therapists – a Profession for the Future” (Swedish title: Arbetsterapeut – ett framtidsyrke). In a “young” way, the publication presents the OT training, subject and profession in Sweden. The document can be downloaded from our website (in Swedish only) - www.fsa.akademikerhuset.se.
New version of our Quality Policy
A new version of our Quality Policy has been released in September. The English translation can be downloaded from our website www.fsa.akademikerhuset.se and headlines “Other languages/English/Quality work”
20 October – the Occupational Therapy Day in Sweden
We celebrate our National Occupational Therapy Day on 20 October. The theme this year is "Participating in occupation – a human right". The International World Occupational Therapy Day will be noticed as well, by article in our member journal and notice on our website. Also, we have defined the theme of the OT Day in 2012 – “Active Ageing”, with reference to the theme of the European Year.
The COTEC2012 congress
The work with the COTEC congress in Stockholm in May 2012 is progressing. The “Call for paper” was distributed from May 2011, when the abstract submission form opened on the congress website www.cotec2012.se. So far we have received almost 100 abstracts from more than 20 countries around the world. Closing date for abstract submissions is 5 October 2011. The programme will be presented on the congress website by the middle of November. At the same time we open up the registration form. We have 200 LIKES on Facebook – you are welcome to join us as well. Thank you very much for all your help promoting the congress!
Film about psychiatric disabilities
The Swedish Institute of Assistive Technology (SIAT) has launched a film about psychiatric disabilities with the Swedish title: “En krycka för själen”. The film can be browsed with English subtitle from this link: http://www.hi.se/sv-se/Arbetsomraden/Projekt/hjalpmedelifokus/Ladda-ner/Filmen-En-krycka-for-sjalen/
In September 2011
Lena Haglund
President of the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists (FSA)
News from Sweden in March 2011
A new web portal for newcomers to Sweden
www.saco.se/en/Welcome-to-Sweden - this web portal has been initiated by the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (Saco) with its 23 independent trade unions and professional associations (FSA is one of them). Information to be found is for example Searching for a job, Studying in Sweden and Helpful links.
Position statements adopted by our association
During our General Council Meeting in November 2010 three important position statements were adopted:
· Assessing work ability
Many occupational therapists are practicing in areas where assessing work ability is an essential assignment for the profession and also the research knowledge is growing very fast in Sweden nowadays. The assessments done by the occupational therapist have a great impact on the clients´ situation both from a financial, social and legal point of view. However, the concept is complex and in order to support and assist the practitioners, the FSA has identified some issues the occupational therapist has to consider when working with assessing work ability:
- use assessment that assess the work ability from a)the individual function perspective b) the ability to perform different task perspective and c) the individual function capacity perspective to carry out a work position on the common market
- use different information source such as the client him/her self and the employee
- use different method to collect information such as observational, self-reported and interview
- to use assessment that have a theoretical ground with mean that the result of the assessment shall help the occupational therapist to develop a treatment plan.
- to use assessment that a s sound scientific standards such tested validity, reliability and utility
- to use assessment that notes the impact of the environment and the task use (artificial or real) in the assess situation.
· Occupational therapy and sustainable development
Environment, ecology and sustainable development, are terms getting more and more in focus in our society. It is important that the occupational therapist has an awareness and knowledge about how the concept “sustainable development” affects and motivates people’s activity and participation. Furthermore, the occupational therapist has to integrate this concept in her/his professional practice. Therefore FSA has decided to work actively for:
- that occupational therapy students during entry level education adopt knowledge about sustainable development in relation to their professional practice,
- that the occupational therapist in her/his contact with client hold an active approach to a sustainable development, and
· Occupational therapy at crisis and disaster situations
In the descriptions of professional requirements for occupational therapists (National Board of Health and Welfare, 2001), it is documented that occupational therapists need to be able to adjust their work at crises and disaster situations. These are situations affecting people and their possibility for activity and participation in their everyday life. WFOT has developed the project called Disaster Preparedness and Response. According to WFOT and the outcome of the project, there are reasons for the national organisations of occupational therapists to work with a national action plan. FSA will work on such an action plan during 2011 and 2012.
New book “Law book for registered occupational therapists”
In October 2010 we launched an important book – “Law book for registered occupational therapists”. The author of the book is Dina Jacobsson, legal adviser at the FSA. This book has been most appreciated among our members and some of the OT programmes has the book as student literature.
Workshops and meetings for our active members
During the first part of 2011, we have held many workshops/network meetings for our active members for example members of our committees of different working areas, local webmasters, the presidents of our local branches and the local ombudsmen. In March we also held an one day conference for the lecturers and students from the eight OT programmes in Sweden. The theme of this conference was Occupational Science.
The COTEC2012 congress
The work with the next COTEC congress in Stockholm in May 2012 is proceeding well. The congress fees are now available on the congress website www.cotec2012.se and by the end of March the keynote speakers will be presented. The first congress e-newsletter will be sent in March. I April you will find the Invitation to Exhibition and Sponsorship on the website. The abstract submission opens on 5 May and closes on 5 October. All help with spreading information in the European countries is most appreciated. Please contact us if you need congress information as first announcement, bookmarks and posters. Contact: tisa.fsa@akademikerhuset.se.
In March 2011
Lena Haglund
President of the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists (FSA)
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