Introduction to the application of the Structured Observational Test of Function (SOTOF)

Who is this course for?

This course would be suitable for:

Band 6 occupational therapists working in the community with children and young people

Occupational therapists (including clinicians, managers, educators and researchers) working with older people with possible neurological conditions, including:

• Stroke
• Head injury
• Dementia
• Parkinson’s disease

Occupational therapists working with older people with neurological conditions in any of the following settings:

• Hospitals
• Day hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Residential homes
• Community services
• Day services

What will I learn?

During this course, you will learn how to:

• Make evidence-based decisions to support people with dementia in the home environment
• Support and enable carers
• Increase awareness and evaluate the work of key authors in the field
• Evaluate current practice in the field of dementia rehabilitation and enablement
• Share and reflect upon personal practice utilising case study examples

On this course you will discover how to structure the home environment for people with dementia. These integrated and enabling approaches include:

• Collaborative, educational and practical interventions with carers.
• Consideration of how to apply assistive technology.
• Physical adaptations, communication and language play.
• Creating an enabling environment to help maintain and enhance wellbeing for people with dementia and their carers.

How will I learn?

You will learn by role playing the administration and scoring of SOTOF in assessment simulations. Through this you will gain experience in giving the assessment, scoring the test, and considering the use of information gained. You will also consider and discuss the application of the SOTOF for your practice, service evaluation or research.

How will my employer benefit?

You will receive an electronic copy of the SOTOF (second edition) test manual, instruction cards and forms so that you can apply SOTOF as part of your practice. Your employer will have evidence that you are able to apply SOTOF to your practice.

Professor Alison Laver-Fawcett, Professor in Occupational Therapy

Alison has been an occupational therapist since 1986, and has worked as an occupational therapy clinician, researcher, professional lead and educator. She is now a Professor in Occupational Therapy in the School of Science, Technology and Health and has worked at York St John University since 2008, and has been teaching Occupational Therapy students since 1991.

She started her career working as an occupational therapist at the Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton Health Authority, before working with older people at Bolingbroke Hospital, London. She began her research career in 1990 as a Research Occupational Therapist, in the Department of Geriatric Medicine at St George's Hospital Medical School, London.

Alison’s PhD is in Psychology (Neuropsychology and psychometrics) and was awarded by the University of Surrey. This resulted in the development of the Structured Observational Test of Function (SOTOF). She gained her Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice at York St John University in 2009.