What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?
Occupational therapists (OTs) are an essential part of the British healthcare sector, helping people with disabilities, traumas, developmental delays, illnesses, etc., carry out day-to-day activities they otherwise wouldn't be able to.
An OT's scope of practice is broad. It can range from helping a stroke patient recover their fine motor skills to recommending home alterations to better suit the accessibility needs of an individual who suddenly needs to use a wheelchair.
In this article, we'll look more deeply at what occupational therapists do, the skills needed and the general pathway taken to become one.
What is an Occupational Therapist?
As alluded to at the start, occupational therapists help deliver a better quality of life to people who struggle with daily activities. An occupational therapist can work on cognitive and physical aspects, and their goal is to help people live as independently as they can within the constraints of their particular condition.
OTs champion people throughout their recovery and development, celebrating the small wins just as much as the significant milestones. Making a cup of tea might seem like an everyday task to most of us, but it can be incredibly difficult for someone recovering from a stroke.
Occupational therapists recognise this and ensure the patients know just how big a step it is to complete those seemingly minor tasks. Little by little and inch by inch, OTs introduce (or reintroduce) those elements of self-sufficiency that can elevate a person's quality of life.
Occupational therapists utilise a variety of evidence-based treatments holistically to ensure that whatever an individual's presenting needs are, they can help with functioning – whether that's a little or a lot.
What Do Occupational Therapists Do? 4 Examples
Below, we've outlined a few scenarios where OTs can help establish or reestablish functioning within patients:
Stroke Patients
When someone suffers a stroke (or another brain injury) their functioning is often severely impaired. They might experience speech and language difficulties, loss of functioning in (usually one of) their upper limbs, and balance problems to name just a few.
An occupational therapist might come into the stroke patient's home and see how it's laid out, assessing where changes can be made to accommodate for issues with balance (the addition of a grab bar or handrails, for example).
They might help them redevelop their fine motor skills through exercises and guide them through mental and memory-based tasks to once again strengthen their cognitive conditioning.
The OT may well also offer psychological support; recovering from a stroke is a hugely draining experience and patients often display signs of anxiety and depression, grieving the life they had pre-stroke.
Elderly Patients
As people get older and frailer, they typically lose some of their mobility and, previously easy tasks, like washing and dressing, become more difficult. OTs can help with these Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
The OT might recommend altering the shower with a grab bar, for instance, or adding a bath seat to the bathtub. Moreover, they might provide the elderly patient with adaptive equipment to help them dress more easily (an extra-long shoehorn to avoid bending over, for example).
Finally, the OT might develop a gentle exercise plan that can easily be performed (safely) at home. These exercises could include basic stretches and seated exercises to maintain muscle strength and joint flexibility.
Helping with Dementia
Besides helping elderly patients with their physical functioning, OTs often aid patients with dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders.
This can look like playing memory games, labelling doors, cupboards and drawers around the home or coming up with strategies to manage tiredness and fatigue – a prevalent symptom of dementia.
Children with Learning Difficulties
Daily tasks like dressing, eating and socialising can be difficult for children with developmental delays or learning difficulties. An OT will first assess a child's physical, cognitive and social abilities. They will then work with the child's family to set tangible, meaningful goals.
If fine motor skills are an issue, for example, then the OT will work on developing the child's handwriting. The OT will adjust their tailored care plan accordingly if the child's skills are more impaired.
OTs will often utilise play therapy when working with children; in fact, many occupational therapists believe play to be an integral aspect of paediatric occupational therapy. Writing a foreword in the Royal College of Occupational Therapists' Occupational therapy and play Practice guideline, Anne Gordon, a Senior Consultant Occupational Therapist wrote that:
"Play is a primary occupation of childhood, and as an occupational therapist working with children and young people I would describe it as integral in assessing, intervening and setting therapeutic goals in everyday practice."
Physical Disabilities
Patients with physical disabilities like spinal cord injuries often receive the assistance of occupational therapists. To use the spinal cord injury example, an occupational therapist will work on upper body exercises that the patient can practise to strengthen their weakened muscles.
They might also supply the patient with splints and recommend a suitable wheelchair that's right for the patient's needs; something which is particularly important when you consider just how vast the wheelchair market is and how much choice there actually is.
Another example of where an OT might help with physical disabilities is in the case of a patient who has multiple sclerosis (MS). The occupational therapist can help with fatigue management and energy conservation techniques, as well as the provision of adaptive technologies to assist in the case of muscle weakness or coordination issues.
What Skills are Needed to Be an Occupational Therapist?
Occupational therapists are incredibly talented individuals with equally diverse skillsets, ranging from compassion to patience and physical endurance to communication skills. We've gone into more detail for some of the skills, below:
Compassion
You won't find an OT out there that isn't compassionate. That's just a fact. Occupational therapists are amongst the most compassionate professionals, and they need to be, given the pain and the struggles they see every day.
OTs often see patients in a highly vulnerable state, one in which their loss of basic functioning might leave them feeling robbed of their dignity – a previously fit and healthy individual suddenly being unable to easily wash or dress themselves because of a stroke, for instance, is understandably a lot to process. OTs must be sensitive to these issues and display copious amounts of empathy to ensure the greatest care possible.
Patience
Occupational therapists often work with patients whose progress appears to be trickling along at a snail's pace. However, the OT cannot be frustrated by this because if they are, how can they expect the patient to feel any differently? A mantra that many an OT will be familiar with is not learning to run before you can walk.
The OT must outline to the patient that they will have to be patient (no pun intended) and, similarly, react with grace and understanding if the patient gets frustrated at the pace of (or lack of) progress. Rome wasn't built in a day and an OT's tailored plans rarely work on such a short timescale, either.
Communication Skills
Occupational therapists need strong communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal, to be successful. Breaking down complex terms and medical jargon into easily understandable language that patients can understand is crucial.
Physical Endurance
OTs need good physical stamina to perform their daily tasks, particularly if they're helping patients get in and out of bed or otherwise helping them move about. They're often standing for large parts of the day and seeing multiple patients per day; it's a tiring role, make no mistake!
Organisational Skills and Time Management
An occupational therapist needs to stay organised whilst treating multiple patients and keep detailed records as they do so. Patients have varied treatment plans and require different equipment and therapeutic interventions. Keeping on top of this is vital in ensuring that sessions run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
The Pathway to Becoming an Occupational Therapist
So, we've covered what an OT is, some examples of their work and the skills required to be one. But how exactly do you become one?
The first step is to gain an undergraduate degree or complete a master's (if you've already completed an undergraduate degree). The former typically takes three years to complete whilst a master's is between one and two years.
Upon graduating, you need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This is a legal requirement to practise as an OT in the UK. Once you've registered with the HCPC, you're also eligible then to become a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
Once registered with the HCPC, occupational therapists can apply for jobs. They can look to work in various settings, including the NHS, local authorities, the private sector and more. Occupational therapists usually start at Band 5 of the NHS' Agenda for Change pay scale.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Does an OT Do for Autism in Children?
Occupational therapists help assess and manage sensory processing differences in autistic children (using techniques like sensory integration therapy) and engage in play techniques to improve cognitive and social skills.
They may also help develop fine and gross motor skills – again, this can be done through playful, engaging activities that the child finds appealing.
Can Occupational Therapists Diagnose Mental Illnesses?
No, occupational therapists cannot diagnose mental illnesses. This responsibility typically falls to psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and GPs with the appropriate qualifications and training.
Is Occupational Therapy Covered By the NHS?
Yes, you can receive occupational therapy through the NHS here in the UK. If you think you or your child needs it, talk to your GP, and they can refer you to OT services.
What is an Occupational Therapist's Salary?
As they're paid on the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale at Band 5, OTs can expect to earn between £28,407 and £34,581, depending on experience.
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