Post‑Event Wrap‑Up: From Stroke to Work — The Journey Back

Post‑Event Wrap‑Up: From Stroke to Work — The Journey Back

Yesterday’s live CPD session, From Stroke to Work — The Journey Back, brought together OTs, VR practitioners, case managers, and multidisciplinary clinicians for a deeply practical and evidence‑informed exploration of stroke‑related vocational rehabilitation.

Led by Ms Salma Khanam, CEO & Clinical Lead OT at Step Forward OT, the session unpacked the real‑world complexities of supporting clients as they rebuild their working lives after stroke. With over 15 years of clinical experience across NHS, independent practice, and medicolegal settings, Salma offered a grounded, structured approach that resonated strongly with practitioners working at the intersection of health and work.

Key Themes from the Session

• The OT role in stroke‑related VR  Salma reframed the return‑to‑work journey as a clinical pathway in its own right, one that requires nuanced assessment, collaborative planning, and a deep understanding of occupational identity.
• Functional, cognitive, and psychosocial assessment tools  Attendees gained practical frameworks for identifying how stroke‑related changes impact job performance, stamina, executive functioning, communication, and workplace participation.
• Workplace‑focused intervention planning  The session explored strategies for job and task modification, environmental adaptation, pacing, fatigue management, and phased return‑to‑work planning.
• Supporting alternative career pathways  Salma highlighted how OTs can guide clients through role redesign or career transition when returning to a previous role is no longer feasible, always with a focus on meaning, identity, and long‑term sustainability.
• Current UK vocational rehabilitation guidance  Attendees left with a clearer understanding of national frameworks shaping best practice, strengthening clinical reasoning and ensuring interventions remain evidence‑based.

About the Presenter

Ms Salma Khanam is an Occupational Therapist and founder of Step Forward Occupational Therapy. Her career spans NHS leadership, independent clinical practice, and extensive medicolegal work, specialising in functional assessments, care needs evaluation, and environmental recommendations. As a trustee of the Vocational Rehabilitation Association, she continues to champion high‑quality, evidence‑based VR across the UK.

Resources & Next Steps

• CPD certificates are available on request
• Session recordings will be shared with all registrants and can be purchased by contacting the admin team

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Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to such a thoughtful, practice‑enhancing discussion. Events like this strengthen our collective ability to support people navigating the complex transition from stroke to meaningful, sustainable work.

If you attended, we’d love to hear what you’re taking back into practice.

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