Occupational Therapy Service (Shetland Islands)

The Independent Living Centre is a purpose-built building in Gremista, north of Lerwick, and is the base for the Occupational Therapy Service provided jointly by the Shetland Islands Council and NHS Shetland.

Occupational therapy provides practical intervention to empower people to make maximum recovery from illness or disability and to overcome barriers that prevent them from doing the activities (or occupations) that matter to them. This support increases people's independence and satisfaction in all aspects of life.

The Occupational Therapy Service supports around 2,000 people of all ages in the isles, who require specialised assessment and intervention to return them to, or allow them to remain independent, in their own home.

Community Occupational Therapy Services may include the provision of specialist equipment, adaptations to properties, teaching new skills or techniques to allow independence in managing activities of daily life. Intermediate Care Occupational Therapists provide services to people who have current health problems and need transitional, and intensive, support to get back to their former level of independence at home.

All Occupational Therapy Services for Adults in Shetland work closely with other primary care teams, housing teams, staff at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, Social Care Teams and other health professionals to ensure a joined up experience for patients and clients. The team works very closely with the 7 care homes across the isles.

Occupational Therapists also run clinics at the centre for Wheelchair Assessments and Blue Badge applications.

The service also provide Occupational Therapy services for children (based at hospital), support to people with acute health conditions currently in hospital (medical, surgical and pre-operative planning consultations), and through an Employability Pathway aimed at those who wish to return to employment opportunities.