The Community MS Team has been up and running since September 2004. It consists of an Occupational Therapist, a Clinical Psychologist and an Occupational Therapy Technical Instructor.

So far it has had 50 referrals from local health professionals, carers and self referrals.

What are the aims of the project?

The overall aim of the team is to improve the quality of life for people on whom MS is having a severe impact. As the impact of MS can be severe in different ways, the team use a bio psychosocial model which encompasses the physical, psychological, cognitive and social aspects of living with MS. It provides Occupational Therapy and Psychological assessment and therapy and is often involved in working with carers and families.

It focuses on any of the following:
• Activities of daily living
• Fatigue management
• Access around the home and the community
• Accessing work and leisure activities
• Educational activities
• Social activities
• Confidence and self esteem building
• Adapting to and coping with changing roles and abilities
• Strategies to help with memory and concentration and other cognitive difficulties 

Outcomes

The team is funded as a three year fixed term project, which is to be researched qualitatively and quantitatively, thereby collecting information on how effective this model of work is using standardised outcome measures as well as interviews. The team is currently piloting the use of a combination of outcome measures to establish the best ones to use. These, alongside subjective opinions, have so far demonstrated a positive effect. 

What it means to people with MS and other health professionals

"I have found confidence from the MS team talking and discussing what I hope to accomplish".
Quote from a service user.

The team plays a central role within the service provision for people with MS. This is partly by acting as a point of contact and linking in with services to decrease the gaps in service provision but also by identifying gaps within service provision and feeding back to the relevant sources. 

Future Plans

As the team is still quite new it is constantly evaluating and developing it work, in order to suit the needs of its client group. Team members hope that through the research project they can prove the effectiveness of providing Occupational Therapy and Clinical Psychology within people’s homes and communities.