Maintaining your professional identity as an occupational therapist in social care

Alex Laidler qualified as an occupational therapist in 1993 at the University of Queensland, Australia. Her early career included roles across various inner London boroughs in acute and community NHS settings, predominantly in physical and neuro rehabilitation. She managed multi-disciplinary therapy and rehabilitation services, intermediate care, and continuing care services before becoming a joint head of service in Southwark, managing both health and adult social care services. She joined Essex County Council as a director of adult social care in 2015 and managed both adult social care and community NHS services before having two children and returning to the role of principal occupational therapist for adult social care.