About the Service - Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists work with people with a disability or an illness to promote independence in everyday life. They can help by supporting people to achieve goals that enable them to do things they want to do as safely and independently as possible.

OT's will assess someone's ability to manage daily activities and may agree further input which includes the following:

1. Education of new skills and techniques;
2. Practice of regaining old and reinforcing new skills;
3. Graded practice of activities to increase confidence;
4. Group work;
5. Provision of assistive equipment;
6. Recommendations for adaptations;
7. Promoting health and wellbeing;
8. Finding ways to cope with problematic symptoms which can impact on daily living;
9. Emotional and psychological support for patients and families;
10. Promote quality of life using meaningful activities;
11. Assessment of the client and their hand to identify difficulties; establish goals and carry out interventions or give advice to increase function and therefore independence.

OT's can also provide activities to improve:

1. Memory;
2. Concentration;
3. Problem solving;
4. Self-esteem and confidence.

OT's follow the RCOT guidelines and HCPC standards for Occupational Therapy.

These procedures will support OT's carrying out adult needs assessments under the Care Act. Supplementary procedures and guidance to support other areas of work can be found in:

1. The Local Resources; and
2. Children's Services procedures.