Our 2026 Conference, titled “Doing Occupational Therapy Well: Complexity, Creativity and Care,” was a truly inspiring day, bringing together colleagues from across services to celebrate innovation, creativity, and the transformative impact of occupational therapy across Cygnet.
The event also saw the team open its Occupational Therapy Awards 2026 nomination window.
Throughout the event, a consistent message emerged:
The importance of staying connected to the core values of our profession while embracing new approaches that empower the people we support.
Agenda
Opening the Day
The conference opened with an introduction from Victoria Wisniewski, setting the tone for a day focused on learning, reflection, and celebrating excellent occupational therapy practice.
The keynote address was delivered by Louise Fouche, who challenged us to reconnect with the foundations of occupational therapy. Her presentation explored how our profession can sometimes become overly focused on outcomes and measurements, reminding us of the importance of creativity, meaning, and engagement in occupation.
As one attendee reflected:
“When I first trained as an OT, it was about the process of creativity and interest. The pleasure and meaning of doing. When the outcome was the patient’s motivation, enjoyment and satisfaction of doing. Thank you for returning us to our roots.”
This powerful message resonated throughout the day and provided an excellent framework for the presentations that followed.
Understanding Sensory Integration
The first presentation was delivered by Lindsey Duhra and Laura Jane Pinner, who explored the eight senses and how the brain processes sensory information.
Complex concepts were broken down into accessible, easy-to-understand language, making the session engaging for practitioners of all backgrounds.
A particular highlight was the opportunity for attendees to create their own sensory ladders, giving everyone the chance to “OT ourselves” and reflect on personal sensory needs and regulation strategies.
Feedback included:
“You’ve made it really easy to understand and implement for any OT to use.”
“Thanks! That was very interesting.”
Hearing the Service User Voice
A moving video presentation featuring a service user and Ella Louise Taylor explored the real-world impact of sensory strategies. The session provided valuable insight into lived experience and reinforced the importance of collaborative, person-centred practice.
One quote from the service user particularly stood out:
“Occupational Therapy is a life’s user manual.”
This simple but powerful statement captured the essence of occupational therapy and its role in helping people navigate everyday life.
As attendees reflected:
“A timely reminder that as OTs we can have a powerful impact when we work alongside our service users.”
And:
“It is great to see the acknowledgement of the impact that sensory integration has on our service users and their abilities to engage.”
Artistic Explorers: Creativity Without Limits
The presentation “Artistic Explorers: A Creative, Graded Occupational Therapy Group Intervention Across Multiple Social Care Services” was delivered by Emma Mellor, Amrutha Chandran, Charlotte Warren and Kirsty Turner.
The team demonstrated how creative activities can produce meaningful outcomes across a range of social care settings. Particularly impressive was the success achieved with participants who have severe learning disabilities, autism, and who are often non-verbal. The project challenged assumptions about who can benefit from group interventions and highlighted the universal power of engagement through occupation.
Attendees commented:
“Who’d have thought that one intervention could have SO many applications and outcomes.”
“Thank you for sharing such amazing creative ideas.”
This presentation served as a reminder that innovation and creativity remain at the heart of effective occupational therapy practice.
Poster Presentations
The Pizza Pathway
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Angie Hodgson presented the innovative ‘Pizza Pathway’, demonstrating how pizza making can be carefully graded using the VdTMoCA levels of creative ability.
The project showcased occupational therapy’s ability to break down meaningful activities into structured therapeutic interventions whilst maintaining engagement and purpose.
Feedback included:
“Lots of positive feedback in the room and plans to put ‘pizzas into practice’.”
“Pizza Pathway highlights the OT process and its connection with VdTMoCA.”
Empowering Voices: Your Right to Vote
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Another poster presentation, delivered by Amrutha Chandran and Karen Shaw, focused on “Empowering Voices: Your Right to Vote.”
This project explored an often-overlooked aspect of occupational therapy practice: supporting citizenship, inclusion, and participation in democratic processes.
The presentation highlighted how voting rights are intrinsically linked to occupation, belonging, and identity.
One attendee reflected:
“Great project raising the importance of being engaged in our political systems, an important part of citizenship and belonging.”
Another added:
“Voting rights for people with disabilities is such an important matter.”
Ordinary Magic: Extraordinary Outcomes
Susanna Shotter led an interactive session entitled “Ordinary Magic: Extraordinary Outcomes.”
The hands-on nature of the session helped reinvigorate attendees and encouraged active participation. Aqua painting emerged as a simple yet highly effective intervention with extensive therapeutic benefits.
Reflections included:
“Nothing needs to be perfect or forever. Things can come and go but through our determination can always be reproduced when it is needed.”
“Incredible how one activity can have so many benefits.”
“I loved the idea of aqua painting as a calming activity.”
The presentation highlighted how ordinary activities can create extraordinary therapeutic opportunities when viewed through an occupational lens.
Redesigning Recovery Through Activity in CAMHS
Leyla Erkasap, Sunne Jones and Amy Hughes presented “From Checklist to Community: Redesigning Recovery Through Activity in CAMHS.”
The team demonstrated how co-producing occupational therapy pathways and assessments with young people has led to more meaningful engagement and improved outcomes.
Their work highlighted the value of ensuring that services are designed alongside the people who use them, rather than simply for them.
Attendees praised the practical resources developed, commenting:
“Really like the new look and the grab sheet.”
“Love the workbook. Well done.”
Celebrating Service User Stories Through ‘Cygnet Times’
Later in the afternoon, attendees watched a video presentation from Alice Butler, Emelia Smith, Caroline Pratt and Leanna Kerwin, alongside service users, showcasing the success of the ‘Cygnet Times’, a newsletter created by service users at Cygnet Hospital Bierley.
The project demonstrated the power of storytelling, self-expression, and peer connection. Service users shared their experiences directly, highlighting the value of meaningful participation and ownership.
Feedback included:
“Real people sharing their thoughts on such a lovely intervention.”
“Love the newsletter presentation and the support involved in empowering service users to share their stories.”
Pathways to Purpose: Unlocking Potential Through Vocational Identity
The final presentation delivered by Adele Wheway and Kerry Booth, explored “Pathways to Purpose: Unlocking Potential Through Vocational Identity.”
The presenters successfully engaged attendees through an interactive quiz and thought-provoking discussion. The presentation highlighted the importance of vocational identity in supporting recovery, purpose, and future aspirations.
Comments included:
“Thank you, Adele and Kerry, for such an entertaining presentation. You’ve shared some very deep issues in an engaging way.”
“Great project. We look forward to implementing this at our secure sites.”
Nominations Open for the Cygnet Occupational Therapy Awards 2026
Our Occupational Therapy Awards celebrate the positive contribution Cygnet’s Occupational Therapists make to the lives of the people we care for, and their loved ones, as well as to the wider Occupational Therapy team and sector.
This is an opportunity for us all to acknowledge and celebrate each other. The award categories are:
• Occupational Therapist of the Year Award
• Outstanding Occupational Therapy Assistant Award
• Heart of Occupational Therapy Award
• Practice Education & Workforce Award
• Occupational Therapy Leadership and Influence Award
• Sarah Thompson Legacy Award
Closing Reflections
The conference closed by reflecting on the themes that had emerged throughout the day. Across every presentation, there was a clear commitment to creativity, collaboration, inclusion, and meaningful occupation.
The conference showcased the breadth and innovation of occupational therapy practice while reinforcing the importance of staying connected to the values that define our profession.
As attendees reflected:
“It’s been a fantastic day. Well done to everyone.”
“So exciting to hear about the fantastic work being done across our services.”
“Great to hear all the presentations today. Many thanks to all.”
The day served as a powerful reminder that occupational therapy continues to change lives through meaningful activity, creativity, and partnership with the people we support.
More than anything, the conference celebrated what makes occupational therapy unique: enabling people to participate in the occupations that bring purpose, identity and meaning to their lives.
Watch parties photo gallery
Across the country, colleagues held watch parties and took part in group activities during the conference day.
Please see photos below from colleagues in the Northeast, South Yorkshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, The South, Staffordshire, East of England, Greater Manchester, London and the Southeast regions and teams from Elston House, Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke, Cygnet Heathers, and Cygnet Hospital Woking.
Watch all the sessions on demand
Session 1
Welcome Note
Presented by Victoria Wisniewski
Keynote Speaker
Louise Fouché; Occupational Therapist, educator and mental health leader with over 30 years’ experience.
Louise is a director of OTGrow and trains OTs in group skills, nationally and internationally.
Louise is the founder of #MoreThanMeerAs, empowering individuals and communities through occupation, connection and recovery.
Questions
Occupational Therapy & Sensory Interventions within inpatient settings:
Presented by Lindsay Duhra & Laura-Jane Pinner
Session 2
Patient Experience of Sensory Integration
Presented by Ella Louise Taylor
Artistic Explorers: A Creative, Graded Occupational Therapy Group Intervention across Multiple Social Care Services
Presented by Emma Mellor, Amrutha Chandran, Charlotte Warren & Kirsty Turner
Poster Presentations:
Pizza Pathway
by Angie Hodgson
Empowering Voices: Your Right to Vote
by Amrutha Chandran & Karen Shaw
Session 3
Ordinary Magic: Extraordinary Outcomes (Interactive Session)
Presented by Susanna Shotter
Reflection time
From Checklist to Community: Redesigning Recovery Through Activity in CAMHS
Presented by Leyla Erkasap, Sunne Jones & Amy Hughes
Session 4
Cygnet Times
Presented by Alice Butler, Emelia Smith, Caroline Pratt & Leanna Kerwin
Pathways to Purpose: Unlocking Potential Through Vocational Identity
Presented by Adele Wheway & Kerry Booth
Closing Plenary Presented by Victoria Wisniewski
Explore the Posters
Case Study – Doing OT Well using Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy in Residential Social Care by Emma Hardie
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Mapping the Psychometric Properties of Sensory Assessments for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: А Scoping Review by Sheeba Devendran
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Innovative Yoga Intervention: Enhancing Occupational Engagement for Adults with Severe Learning Disabilities and Autism by Susan Norris
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From the Ground Up: Horticulture and Occupational Therapy in Mental Health by Josh Jones & Maria Harris
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Care, Complexity and Creativity in Community Occupational Therapy Led Interventions by Alicia Lancashire & Patrick Dewar
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The Pizza Pathway to Independence: Grading pizza-making across 4 levels of the VdTMoCA by Angie Hodgson, with support from Theoca Fredericks
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Empowering Voices: Your Right to Vote by Amrutha Chandran & Karen Shaw
Download the poster presentation
Co-Producing Calm Implementing Personalised Sensory Ladders in Inpatient Personality Disorder Settings by Laura-Jane Pinner, Lindsay Duhra, & Caitlin Harrison
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Tuning Into Creativity: An Individualised Approach to High-Dependency Rehabilitation by Amy Mullen & Caitlin Harrison
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Activity PRN: What Meaningful, Purposeful, Accessible and Timely Occupation Looks Like on a Mental Health Unit by Neil Barker
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