Dr Sophie Knight

Sophie Smith (4)

Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy and BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Course Lead

School of Health and Wellbeing

Department of Allied Health

Contact Details

email: Sophie.Knight@worc.ac.uk
tel: 01905 543016

Sophie qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1997 and worked in a variety of settings in practice, predominantly in Adult Social Care. In 2009 Sophie made the move to working in higher education and was a lecturer and Placement Education Tutor at Bournemouth University until October 2018 when she moved to the University of Worcester. She is now a Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Course Lead. Sophie completed her PhD part time whilst working full time, the focus of the research was the role and meaning of food for older people. Sophie loves working with students and says that they have taught her a lot over her years of university life. Occupational Therapy is one of the most rewarding and exciting professions and being part of the journey for new generations of Occupational Therapists is a privilege.

Qualifications

PhD Understanding the role and meaning of food for older people through participant-driven photo-elicitation (2022)

PG Cert Higher Education (2010)     

MA Design Research for Disability (2009)    

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy (1997)

Teaching and Research

Teaching

Sophie currently teaches second-and third-year BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy students:

OCTH2202 Environments of Practice (second year module)

OCTH3203 Innovations in Occupational Therapy Practice (third year module)

Sophie also has input into other modules throughout the year and supports Personal Academic Tutees, Dissertation students and is the Course Lead.

Research Interests

Older people and food

Creative research methods

Identity as researcher vs occupational therapist

Product and environmental design for disability (Universal / Inclusive Design)

Research Team Member for the Food Glorious Food Research project run by the Association for Dementia Studies at the University of Worcester – 2024 – 2025

Professional and Regulatory Bodies

Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy – Since 2011

Royal College of Occupational Therapists – Member since 1997

Health and Care Professions Council – Registered since 1997

Publications

Grant, T., Knight, S., Archer, M. (2026) Let the Games Begin: Using Taskmaster to Amplify Student Voices – Presentation University of Worcester Learning and Teaching Conference 2026

Knight, S., Archer, M. (2026) Would you like to fill in our survey? Ways to engage students in completing student surveys, from the NSS to CES and everything in between. Presentation University of Worcester Learning and Teaching Conference 2026

Knight, S., Archer, M., Grant, T. (2026) This house believes that debate-based assessments reflect real world professional skills better than traditional assessments. Presentation University of Worcester Learning and Teaching Conference 2026

Channing, J., and Knight, S. (2026) Co-curator of: “Strike a Light: The Art and Science of Occupational Therapy” exhibition – Rugby Art Gallery and Museum April / May funded by The Elizabeth Casson Trust.

Channing, J., and Knight, S. (2024) Celebrating Occupational Therapy: Making an exhibition of ourselves. – presentation at The OT Show November 2024

Heaslop, Annabel, Knight, Sophie and Grant, Terri (2023) Teamwork makes the dream work: strategies for fostering a collaborative and supportive team approach within higher education. In: RCOT Annual Conference 2023, 14–15 June 2023, Online.

Knight, Sophie (2023) Occupations in Focus: Using participant-driven photo-elicitation as a research method for exploring occupations. RCOT Annual Conference 2023, 14–15 June 2023, Online.

Knight, Sophie (2023) Food in focus: Use of participant-driven photo-elicitation to explore food occupations. Presentation: Health and Medical Humanities in the Midlands – Archives, Objects, Methods.

Knight, S. (2023) Story Telling Through Photos – CPD Seminar for Somerset Social Services as part of their Carnival of Practice

Drury, D Smith S Occupational Therapist, Researcher, Academic; Transferable skills or blurred boundaries June 2019 – Royal College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference Presentation 2019, awaiting publication

Cooke B, Smith S 2017 Custom made rehab: Considering whether engaging with regional festivals could provide rehab opportunities. Dorset Knob Throwing - therapeutic potential or one hurl too far? Poster RCOT Conference June 2017

Heaslip V, Smith S 2016 Working with people from diverse cultures: Cultural competence, a knowledge domain, or a way of being? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THERAPY AND REHABILITATION 23(11):2-3

Akers L, Smith S 2014. Friend or foe? Occupational therapists' relationships with independent providers of activity-based projects BRITISH JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY 77:120-121

Tilbury S, Smith S 2014 A university and practice reflection on "unified" working to support quality placements BRITISH JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY 77:61

Smith S 2013. "Is it time for dinner yet?" Food routine: a concern for occupational therapy? BRITISH JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY 76:46

Smith S 2011. The commode: a test case exploring the conflict between form and function BRITISH JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY 74:119

Images of Research 2019 – Judges Runner Up Award

Royal College of Occupational Therapists Conference 3 Minute Thesis Competition winner 2019

Pint of Science Seminar with members of the public (linked to PhD work) 2019

Research Seminar Presentation University of Worcester: “…I often eat outside if the weather's right…” Exploring the connections between older people’s food occupations and their natural environments through participant-driven photo-elicitation (June 2022)