Meet our peopleAcross Surrey and Borders Partnership, our colleagues bring care, creativity and commitment to everything they do.
In these stories, they share what their roles involve and what a typical day looks like, offering a real glimpse into the work we do and the people who make it happen.
Meet Christina Long, our Occupational Therapy Lead for Older People’s Community Mental Health Services in North and Southwest Surrey and Northeast Hampshire.
“I enjoy the variety of my role and the chance to make a real difference – to the people we support and to my colleagues.”
I lead occupational therapy across older people’s community mental health services in several areas. My role includes providing clinical supervision, appraisals and mentoring to occupational therapists, supporting student placements and helping shape our continuing professional development.
Alongside the leadership side of my job, I also carry out therapy assessments and interventions for people with complex needs. I work closely with colleagues, carers and partner organisations on service development and quality improvement.
No two days are the same. I might be helping with individual assessments, running group sessions like Memory Matters or Lifestyle Matters, chairing meetings or reviewing care pathways. I also spend time supervising colleagues, supporting training, or working on service development projects.
The variety is one of the things I value most – it’s a great mix of clinical, leadership and strategic work.
What I enjoy most is the opportunity to make a positive difference – not only to the people we support, but also to my colleagues.
Occupational therapy is a unique profession that supports people to live as independently and meaningfully as possible. The things we do every day – cooking a meal, enjoying a hobby, caring for others – are closely linked to our sense of identity and wellbeing. I love helping older people and their carers achieve what matters to them, especially when facing challenges related to mental health or cognitive changes.
Our interventions might involve learning new skills, finding alternative ways of doing things or making changes to the environment to build confidence and safety. Supporting the development of other occupational therapists is also a big part of my role – whether through supervision, mentoring or sharing ideas. Helping others grow in their careers is something I find really rewarding.
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