My name is Redz and I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2017 from Wrexham Glyndwr University. As I’m sure you’ve guessed, Dragon OT represents my Welsh roots having grown up in North Wales however I now live in Manchester.

Since qualifying I have worked in lots of different settings including mainstream and special schools, a specialist autism spectrum disorder school, an adult learning disability team, and an aids and adaptations team.

I became an OT to help people. As a 12-year-old I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and at the time, this had a catastrophic impact on my life. Thankfully through therapy and medication I’ve managed to control my OCD rather than letting it control me. Whilst having OCD is hard, it has shaped who I am today and it is why I do what I do. I strive to help the people I work with as much as I can and hopefully make their lives a little easier and brighter.

Prior to being an OT, I worked as a mental health advocate for 3 years which was an eye-opening yet rewarding experience. Advocating for people who felt they didn’t have a voice and helping them achieve meaningful goals meant so much to me professionally as it did personally. Being an OT means I get to carry on doing that with everyone I work with, helping people as much as I can to meet their needs and goals, and helping them find their voice.

Dragon OT support Covy House and their residents with all their OT needs including assessments of the young people, the environment and staff training and we are always on hand for any support that they need.