A message from Kerry Edwards, Subject Director Occupational Therapy.
A warm welcome to all the students who will be starting the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy programme with us next week. For those of you who are arriving this weekend, I wish you a smooth journey to York and hope that you soon settle into your new accommodation. Similarly, safe travels to all students who will be commuting to York on Monday. I know that you are about to embark on an exciting programme of study, your first module is innovative, engaging and thought-provoking. The team are committed to working in partnership with you to create a positive and stimulating learning environment. I hope that you soon feel part of the York St John Occupational Therapy (YSJOT) community, also the university itself, and that you enjoy your studies with us. I look forward to meeting you all on Monday afternoon.
A message from Stephen Wey, Induction tutor and year co-ordinator
Hi all and welcome to York St John University Occupational Therapy programme. I’m just writing a short piece to introduce myself, you will also all meet me next week of course. I am Stephen Wey and you will see a lot of me in the first year as I am Induction tutor, Year 1 coordinator and Module director for the central taught module (1OT410) that spans both semesters of year 1 (as well as having input into teaching in other years and the masters programme). I have been a qualified occupational therapist since 1993 so have a lot of practice experience, mainly working with people with mental health problems and cognitive disabilities, particularly specialising in practice with people who have dementia (and I am also a Dementia Friends champion and trainer). Even before that I worked in mental health in other roles so overall have a career in mental health going back well over 30 years. I am also currently engaged in research into occupational approaches to enabling participation for people with dementia in co-occupations and have a wide range of interests in various creative activities which I bring to bear in my teaching as well as professional and academic experience. I hope very much that you have a great time at YSJ on the OT programme, that it is sufficiently challenging, as it should be, but also enables you to have some fun and feel you are developing both your knowledge and skills, and your confidence and values.