Course details for the Association of Occupational Therapists Diploma

“Group III Occupations and Techniques Detailed Syllabus of subjects listed on page 21 of Syllabus and Regulations for the Diploma”, used by Valerie Davis during her qualification to be an occupational therapist, 1954-1957

Valerie Davis, like all the other candidates for a diploma in Occupational Therapy, had to take courses in anatomy, physiology, psychology and first aid. As part of their final examination, they also had to take papers in their specialisation, submit craft samples, attend practice sessions, and have an oral exam. On the front page of this book, Valerie underlined the techniques she wanted to train in: general recreation, embroidery, basketry, dressmaking, pottery, weaving, rug-making and stool and chair seating. Within each of these topics valerie had to chose different options to learn. For her general recreation she focussed on dance techniques and organised parties and quizzes which she would later use for people in her care. Her lesson notes and craft samples for each of these topics were also donated to the Science Museum by her family.

Valerie Davis qualified as an occupational therapist, aged 25 in 1957. Like many women of her generation, she stopped working once she married but was also living far from her nearest hospital. Her son remembers that his mother’s occupational therapy knowledge influenced the way she interacted with the world how she cared for her family, both in health and illness. Valerie Davis did return to practice in the 1970s, working at the OT department at the Royal East Sussex Hospital. However, changes in the NHS impacted how occupational therapy was carried out. Focusing more on aids and adaptations rather than the craft practice Valerie had learnt, she felt that the overall well-being and development of competence with the people she helped was often overlooked.