Social enterprise: a model of recovery and social inclusion for occupational therapy practice in the UK

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-01-2017-0002
Pages91-101
Date10 April 2017
Published date10 April 2017
AuthorAnna Joy Stickley,Kelly J. Hall
Subject MatterHealth & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion
Social enterprise: a model of recovery
and social inclusion for occupational
therapy practice in the UK
Anna Joy Stickley and Kelly J. Hall
Abstract
Purpose Occupational therapists are increasingly working in organisations outside of the public sector.
UK government policy over the past decade has promoted health and social care provision by social
enterprises. The purpose of this paper is to examine the compatibility of occupational therapy practice and a
social enterprise environment, within the UK and questions if this approach may enhance experiences of
social inclusion for people who use these services.
Design/methodology/approach Case study methodology was used with eight social enterprises in the
UK. Data were collected through: semi-structured interviews, formal organisational documents, and field
visits and observations. Interviews were conducted with 26 participants who were occupational therapists,
service users and social entrepreneurs/managers. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed
using thematic analysis.
Findings Occupational therapists experienced job satisfaction, professional autonomy and were able to
practise according to their professional philosophy. Service users valued support with: employment, routine,
social relationships, and developing a sense of identity, particularly outside of a medical model definition.
To a degree therefore, people using these services claimed socially inclusive benefits. Challenges with
funding social enterprises, however, impacted occupational therapy delivery in some cases.
Research limitations/implications The majority of social enterprise research is drawn from case study
methodology; however, this was the most appropriate research design to gain greatest insight into a small
but developing phenomenon. Further research into occupational therapy practice within social enterprises is
required, particularly on the effectiveness of returning to work and social inclusion.
Social implications Social enterprises can provide therapeutic environments to promote recovery and
social inclusion which is also compatible with occupational therapy practice.
Originality/value This is the first known national research into occupational therapy provision in social
enterprises within the UK, which evidences a compatibility within occupational therapy practice within a
social enterprise environment and the benefits of this.
Keywords Social enterprise, Social inclusion, Recovery, Occupational therapy
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Occupational therapy in the UK has been largely shaped by the medical model, however
developments within the profession over recent decades has led to a re-focussing on the
centrality of occupation for health. As a result, the profession is exploring new environments for
practice outside of traditional, medicalised settings. The recent changing landscape of health
and social care provision in the UK provides occupational therapists with new and different
opportunities for practice. Social enterprise is an emerging arena for occupational therapy
practice and is the focus of this paper. Research into health and social care delivery through
social enterprise is a recent phenomenon and research remains sparse, especially within the field
of occupational therapy. This research reported in this paper is believed to be the first to explore
the provision of occupational therapy within social enterprises in the UK, and the first to consider
Anna Joy Stickley is an
Occupational Therapist based
in Nottingham, UK.
Kelly J. Hall is a Lecturer in
Social Policy at the Department
of Social Policy and Social
Work, University of
Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
DOI 10.1108/MHSI-01-2017-0002 VOL. 21 NO. 2 2017, pp. 91-101, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308
j
MENTALHEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
PAG E 91

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