Campbell Live, The Ranfurly Trust and Diversional Therapy

Campbell Live, The Ranfurly Trust and Diversional Therapy

Diversional Therapy’s mission is to improve the quality of life of people of all ages and abilities, through on-going support and development of clients psychological, emotional, spiritual, social and physical needs and wellbeing. This is achieved by the planning, design, coordination and implementation of a client centred leisure based activity program.

The New Zealand Society of Diversional Therapy Inc. is the professional organisation open to all who are engaged in Diversional activity. This includes Diversional Therapists, Motivation Therapists, Activity Therapists, Activities or Recreation Officers and Occupational Therapy Aides.

The purpose of the NZSDT is to educate, motivate and encourage Diversional Therapists. The Society encourages formal education with the National Certificate in Diversional Therapy, on-going education with regional support groups, the annual national conference and maintains the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics for members. The NZ Society of Diversional Therapists Inc. stands behind the education, its members and registration process.

Service providers and management of any organisation resourcing a diversional programme have a significant responsibility to provided suitably skilled staff plus sufficient time and resources to meet the needs of the ever changing abilities of residents. Diversional activities are tailored to enrich the particular needs of individuals and groups to achieve as much enjoyment and fulfilment as possible.

Quality residential care is expected and required to encompass all the needs of clients to sustain life and dignity including providing diversional activities. Often diversional therapy is the public face of a busy and caring establishment and is regularly perceived as a measure of quality for residential environments.

The diversional activities available in residential care and particularly for the most vulnerable folk carry a significant expectation for families, as often on visiting residential care the question will be, what will Mum or Dad be doing during the day? The answer holds considerable weight as a reflection of the level of care to many families.

Residential care management spend significant amounts on advertising and image building, they should also consider expenditure on diversional activities as investment on future client development.

The Ranfurly Trust debate would appear to be a direct result of a changing management culture at the Trust and the concerns and expectation of family. The area most highlighted is the diversional therapy program.

The coordinator currently employed at the Ranfurly Trust Home is a fully qualified, registered Diversional Therapist, trained to provide to the needs of individuals and groups

With regard to the Ranfurly Trust and in the hope of alleviate some of the concerns. As President of the New Zealand Society of Diversional Therapy Inc. I offer to independently review the current diversional therapy program compared to the needs of current residents and to make a formal report available to management, the diversional staff and to families.

Mary Gracie

President

The New Zealand Society Diversional Therapy Inc

ENDS

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