Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapists work with those across the life span who experience a wide range of clinical conditions: most commonly those who have difficulties due to physical, mental, social or developmental difficulties.
Occupational Therapists provide assessments and interventions that are aimed at improving an individual’s physical and mental health. The occupational therapist focusses on exploring the impact that a person’s physical or mental health difficulties are having on their ability to complete the daily activities that they want or need to do. As patients’ needs are so varied, Occupational Therapists help GPs to support patients who are frail, with complex needs, live with chronic physical or mental health conditions, manage anxiety or depression, require advice to return or remain in work and need rehabilitation to continue with previous activities.
Providing a range of practical and psychosocial interventions the occupational therapist enables people to facilitate their recovery and overcome barriers that are preventing them engaging in their day to day routines and activities. This helps to increase an individual’s independence and satisfaction in all aspects of their life.
An Occupational Therapist Advanced Practitioner is an occupational therapist who may see a patient at their first point of contact or for follow up management as appropriate with the healthcare system. They will have the skills to assess, diagnose and manage a range of conditions appropriate to their knowledge and expertise and work at an Advanced Clinical Practice level as advanced practitioners (APs). This is defined as “a level of practice characterised by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making… It includes the analysis and synthesis of complex problems across a range of settings, enabling innovative solutions to enhance people’s experience and improve outcomes”
