1. Heather Davidson University of Salford #COT2017 #OTleadership
Exploring leadership development with occupational therapy students using feminist participatory action research.
Heather Davidson
University of Salford
#COT2017 #OTleadership

2. Background Challenge of complex practice environments
Constant change within health and social care
Traditional forms of leadership within a hierarchical system
Female leadership traits
Limited longevity of leadership initiatives
Socialisation process into a profession
Reflective/client centered approach of OT
Research in relation to power/confidence and unease in OT
Rationale for the study.

3. My Background
Personal and academic interest in the professional identity of occupational therapy from a critical theory perspective.
BSc – OT in the MDT hierarchy
MSc – student preferences for teaching leadership
Observation of female students and their resilience, determination and ability to overcome challenges.

4. Combination of Professional and Personal.
Professional Doctorate
Dissertation Findings - confusion re leadership
Identification of differences in male and female leadership styles
Passion to develop robust occupational therapy graduates
Inquisitive re. the impact of gender upon the profession of occupational therapy.

5. Research Aims
1. To explore the female undergraduate occupational therapy students perception of leadership and leadership development.
2. To establish the personal and professional context in which leadership skills need to be developed.
3. To identify, implement and evaluate leadership development activities to positively impact on female students’ personal and professional confidence and leadership potential.
Identification and statement of research question/hypothesis

6. Methodology
The research used a feminist participatory action research (FPAR) approach.
Feminist – with women, about women, for women.
Participatory – collaborators have a role in the design phase and the research process as a whole.
Action Research – a cyclical design of experience and evaluation.
Methodology recruitment analysis ethics

7. Rationale for FPAR Feminist Participatory Action Research
Female undergraduate occupational therapy students
Exploration of experience
A wish to empower with the selected method
Phase of experiencing and then evaluating an activity
With women, for women, about women.
All female participants.
Participants choose activities, discussion areas, evaluation tools
Emancipatory, transformational
Sense making – acknowledges a dissonance in occupational therapy between philosophy and practice

8. Research Process - Timeline
July 2014 Ethical approval granted
July 2014 – Participant recruitment – 7 students recruited in July.
September 2014 – December 2014 – FPAR group meets fortnightly to explore leadership and identify leadership development activities.
Early Jan Ethical approval amendment submitted reflecting participants choice of leadership activity.
February 2015 – March 2015 – FPAR group meets fortnightly to take part in selected activities.
April 2015 – FPAR group evaluates the activities and group process.

9. Research Process Ethical approval application 1 for phase 1 submitted
4 discussion meetings
What is leadership?
How can leadership be taught?

10. Research Process Ethical approval application 2 for phase 2 submitted
Confidence Building
Assertiveness
Emotional Resilience
Practice Skills
Image/presence
Focus group to evaluate process
Reflective Diaries submitted

11. Findings Thematic Analysis
Themes of – identity and multiple roles expressed in three themes
Being a student
Being an occupational therapist
Being a leader
Preferences for content
My position as researcher – identifying my place in the combining factors
Descritption and interpretation of results

12. Combination of Concepts - Rhizomes and Intersections

13. Rhizomes + Intersectionality = Authentic Leadership Model
Collaborator
Occupational therapy philosophy
Feminism
Leadership
Multiple roles
Authentic Leadership Model

14. Recommendations Authentic Leadership Development Model
Leadership Development in BSc OT Undergraduate programme
Clarity re OT identity and definition
Additional current work – intersection of gender and occupational therapy.
Consideration and discussion of implications for practice

15. Contact details
Heather Davidson
@HD55