cOnnecT with Mark Blandford

CAOT-BC: Why did you choose OT as a career?

Mark: It chose me really. I was a Police Officer in England when I met a great girl who soon became my wife. She was also a Police officer but had been harbouring a notion for a while about changing to become an OT because she had two school friends who were OT’s. Carolyn and I also became enamoured with moving to another country and Canada was high up on that list but as a police people it was clear that we weren’t going to get into Canada very easily. So, Carolyn decided that she was going to leave the Police to do OT and I thought I would follow her to university and study history but as I talked more and more to our OT friends it dawned on me that joining Carolyn and becoming an OT would suit my personality (short attention span, problem solver and talker) but would also get us into Canada more easily. So the choice was more pragmatic than thoughtful. My friends told me that whenever I got bored in OT there would always be something new to adapt my skills to – they said OT was a great springboard to an interesting and varied work life. They were right.

CAOT-BC: Where have you worked over your career?

Mark: My first job in England was a geriatric rotation followed by a move to Cape Breton NS where Carolyn and I worked as generic OT’s in the small community of North Sidney/Sidney Mines. They hadn’t had OTs here before so we introduced them to the potential and were lucky enough to create lots of things from scratch – a neuro outpatient clinic; a seating clinic; a hand clinic and with others a day hospital. After Cape Breton we moved to BC where I worked at the Royal Jubilee in just about all areas – burn unit, rehab, res care, psychiatry and geriatric rehab. I did a spell of private practice for 5 years working in medico-legal areas and assistive technology/ergonomics. My attention span let me down again and found the private practice wasn’t my thing so I moved back into the public system where I focused on dementia care. After being part of the commissioning team of a specialized dementia unit I was seconded into a project manager position working on the development of Assisted Living on Vancouver Island. This led to me taking the management track which I’m still on. I’ve managed the regional assisted living program as well as seniors health teams and more recently the Victoria Home and Community team. I took a two year spell working for a non-profit society where I was the Director of Community Development and Housing).

CAOT-BC: Where do you work now?

Mark: I’m currently seconded from Island Health to the newly created Office of The Seniors Advocate where I’m the Deputy Advocate.

CAOT-BC: What has been your most interesting job?

Mark: Honestly it’s always the job I’m doing now. Whenever I move I’m usually doing something new and responsible for startup – my attention span issue means that I seem to need the pressure of being in the learning curve phase of a new project  to perform best. (it’s the reason I stopped taking flying lessons – I knew that once I learnt to fly I would potentially become complacent with the actual flying bit and likely kill myself. Pilots need to do the same thing in exactly the same way over and over again – that’s not me.

CAOT-BC: What has surprised you most about working as an OT?

Mark: How much fun it could be. I came into OT accidentally and thought I would eventually go back to policing but when that opportunity came I realized OT was a way better choice for me than policing – though I do miss driving fast through red lights.

CAOT-BC: What do you find most challenging about working as an OT?

Mark: Keeping up to date with the new grads – I’m always humbled by the quality and intellect of new OTs. I don’t think I would get into OT school today so my hat is off to these incredible people.

CAOT-BC: What do you like about OT?

Mark: The variety and opportunities life has presented me because I’m and OT. Also, the way it has shaped my ability to think around problems and be creative.

CAOT-BC: What is your personal philosophy about volunteering and giving back to the profession?

Mark: I really am not too good here but I do make a definite effort to ‘talk up’ my OT profession at the decision making tables when I’m there. More than one senior health leader has said to me they wish they could get more OTs in leadership roles. I also pay special attention to all new grads who report to me – I make sure that they have a rich employment experience so that they will retain the enthusiasm for their profession over the long haul.

CAOT-BC: Tell us about someone who has influenced your OT practice?

Mark: There have been many – past and present -  but perhaps I’ll choose Norma Fraser. She was the principal of the school  I trained at (University Hospital of Wales). Norma took a risk on admitting a husband/wife combo to the program and she followed that with many quiet chats with me that mentored me through. For instance when I refused to take the basketry course (yes we did that) because I was not going to do stuff like that – Norma helped me see that some things just had to be done and that being an OT requires you to keep an open mind. She was a leader and a trail blazer for OT in the UK.

CAOT-BC: What might someone be surprised to know about you?

Mark: I can’t read fiction. At least not easily – I read almost exclusively non-fiction (politics and history). My dream job would be battlefield history tour guide.

CAOT-BC: What would you tell someone who is thinking about becoming an OT?

Mark: Think beyond the science. I remember an old definition that said OT was an art and a science – the science is important but it’s the art that makes us a complete rounded therapist. How we communicate and how we are is often more important than what we communicate and what we do. This is a people based profession ultimately and the non-scientific attributes of your persona are every bit as important as your science brain.

CAOT-BC: What do you think will change/shape practice over the next five years?

Mark: My master’s degree is in leadership so I’d have to say leadership is a defining concept for healthcare. OTs are natural leaders because of the way they analyse people, issues and situations. Many just don’t realise their leadership potential. The OT voice can shape the healthcare system for the better so consider taking leadership roles as they become available – you will be surprised at how you can influence the system.

CAOT-BC: What do you do when you aren't working?

Mark: I am addicted to premier league football (soccer to many). I watch and research the league – an my team Southampton constantly. I also love to be in my 1.5 acre garden – there is always something to do which is my main form of exercise next to cycling.