Profession occupational therapist

Occupational therapists assess, plan and implement rehabilitative programs that improve or restore human motor functions, maximise movement ability, relieve pain syndromes, and treat or prevent physical challenges associated with injuries, diseases and other impairments.

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Personality Type

  • Social / Investigative
  • Investigative / Social

Related professions therapist

  • Creative therapist
  • Massage therapist
  • Masseur, masseuse
  • Physiotherapist
  • Physiotherapy assistant
  • Podiatrist
  • Psychomotor therapist
  • Recreational therapist
  • Remedial gymnast
  • Respiratory therapist
  • Speech therapist
  • Therapist or health professional, all other

Knowledge

  • Movement techniques

    The various types of movement and physical postures undertaken for relaxation, body-mind integration, stress reduction, flexibility, core support and rehabilitation purposes, and that are required for or underpin occupational performance.

  • Occupational therapy theories

    The fundamental theories that underlie occupational therapy practice, occupation-based models, and frames of reference used in this context.'

  • General medicine

    General medicine is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

  • Paediatrics

    Paediatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

  • Hygiene in a health care setting

    The procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical equipment used and infection control methods.

  • Sociology

    The group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

  • Neurology

    Neurology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

  • Professional documentation in health care

    The written standards applied in the health care professional environments for documentation purposes of one`s activity.

  • Psychiatry

    Psychiatry is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

  • Supervision of persons

    The act of directing one individual or a group of individuals in a certain activity.

  • Ergonomics

    The science of designing systems, processes and products that complement the strengths of people so that they can use them easily and safely.

  • Occupational physiology

    The complex physiology of specific jobs and its relation to disorders and medical conditions and the way to optimize health, work ability, and productivity.

  • Medical terminology

    The meaning of medical terms and abbreviations, of medical prescriptions and various medical specialties and when to use it correctly.

  • Physical medicine

    The diagnosis and treatment methods applied to individuals with physical impairments or disabilities in order to help them restore their body functions lost because of medical injuries or medical diseases.

  • Health care legislation

    The patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.

  • Health care occupation-specific ethics

    The moral standards and procedures, ethical questions and obligations specific to occupations in a health care setting such as respect for human dignity, self-determination, informed consent and patient confidentiality.

  • Geriatrics

    Geriatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

  • Occupational science

    The study of everyday activity including the behaviours, characteristics, and patterns of behaviour and productivity.

  • Orthopaedics

    Orthopaedics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

  • Medical informatics

    The processes and tools used for the analysis and dissemination of medical data through computerized systems.

  • Vocational rehabilitation

    The rehabilitation process of persons with functional, psychological, developmental, cognitive and emotional impairments or health disabilities to overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining or returning to employment or other useful occupation.

  • Psychology

    The human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.

  • Human physiology

    The science of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functions of humans, their organs and cells in good health.

  • Community based rehabilitation

    The method of rehabilitation which involves the creation of social programs for the impaired or disabled persons to allow them integration into the community.

  • Human anatomy

    The dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and altered anatomy and physiology throughout the human lifespan.

  • Pathology

    The components of a disease, the cause, mechanisms of development, morphologic changes, and the clinical consequences of those changes.

Skills

  • Use techniques to increase patients' motivation

    Encourage the patient`s motivation to change and promote the belief that therapy can help, using techniques and treatment engagement procedures for this purpose.

  • Assess risks for the elderly

    Visit the patient`s home to identify environmental factors that contribute to falls or other injuries of the elderly present.

  • Monitor patients' progress related to treatment

    Observe and report on healthcare users' response to medical treatment, monitoring their progress or decay on a daily basis and modifying the treatment procedures whenever necessary.

  • Apply context specific clinical competences

    Apply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within one`s own scope of practice.

  • Interact with healthcare users

    Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.

  • Educate patient's relations on care

    Educate patient`s caregivers, family, or employer on how to accommodate and care for the patient.

  • Adhere to organisational guidelines

    Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.

  • Undertake healthcare examination

    Assess the healthcare user's physical state, taking detailed information on previous injuries, surgery, general health, resources and lifestyle into account.

  • Use e-health and mobile health technologies

    Use mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.

  • Develop a rehabilitation programme

    Develop a rehabilitation programme to help patients rebuild their skills and restore their confidence.

  • Exercise patience

    Have patience by dealing with unexpected delays or other waiting periods without becoming annoyed or anxious.

  • Identify the healthcare user’s personal capacity

    Identify the healthcare user's personal capacity to act in all spheres of life taking account of environmental factors with regard to the social, cultural, physical and institutional setting, identifying biomechanical, motoric, sensory/perceptive, cognitive and psychosocial skills and competences of the healthcare user.

  • Respond to changing situations in health care

    Cope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.

  • Provide health education

    Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.

  • Develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship

    Develop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.

  • Encourage healthcare user's self-monitoring

    Encourage the healthcare user to engage in self-monitoring by conducting situational and developmental analyses on him- or herself. Assist the healthcare user to develop a degree of self-critique and self-analysis in regards to his behaviour, actions, relationships and self-awareness.

  • Advise on healthcare users' informed consent

    Ensure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.

  • Work in a multicultural environment in health care

    Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.

  • Listen actively

    Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.

  • Inform policy makers on health-related challenges

    Provide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.

  • Comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice

    Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.

  • Remediate healthcare user's occupational performance

    Remediate or restore the cognitive, sensorimotor, or psychosocial components of the healthcare user`s occupational performance.

  • Facilitate healthcare user's engagement in occupations

    Identify meaningful and healthy occupations and strategies in partnership with the healthcare user, to enable him to reach his goals.

  • Promote inclusion

    Promote inclusion in health care and social services and respect diversity of beliefs, culture, values and preferences, keeping in mind the importance of equality and diversity issues.

  • Empathise with the healthcare user

    Understand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence. Demonstrate a concern for their welfare and handle according to the personal boundaries, sensitivities, cultural differences and preferences of the client and patient in mind.

  • Ensure safety of healthcare users

    Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.

  • Deal with emergency care situations

    Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.  

  • Educate on the prevention of illness

    Offer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and health conditions. Provide advice on the identification of risks leading to ill health and help to increase the patients' resilience by targeting prevention and early intervention strategies.

  • Work in multidisciplinary health teams

    Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.

  • Apply organisational techniques

    Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.

  • Contribute to continuity of health care

    Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.

  • Apply health sciences

    Apply a broad range of bio-medical, psycho-social, organisational, educational, and societal aspects of health, disease, and healthcare to improve healthcare services and to improve quality of life.

  • Comply with legislation related to health care

    Comply with the regional and national legislation that is relevant to one`s work and apply it in practice.

  • Apply techniques of occupational therapy

    Apply occupational therapy techniques, such as retraining, and splinting in the rehabilitation and recovery of patients, and advising patients on their daily activities.

  • Follow clinical guidelines

    Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.

  • Perform patient activity analyses

    Perform activity analyses of a patient in the sense of linking requirement and ability analyses. Understand the activity; its demands and context.

  • Perform occupation analyses

    Perform an occupation analysis with regard to how an activity is experienced by an individual, taking into account the influences on performance.

  • Instruct on the use of special equipment for daily activities

    Instruct on how to use specialised equipment such as wheelchairs and eating aids in their daily activities.

  • Create individual treatment programmes

    Develop treatment programmes to suit each individual patient, helping patients achieve more independence and confidence in their daily lives.

  • Accept own accountability

    Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.

  • Use computer programs to improve patients' skills

    Use specialised computer programs to help patients improve skills they use in their daily lives, working on decision-making, abstract reasoning, memory, sequencing, coordination, problem-solving, and perceptual skills.

  • Manage healthcare users' data

    Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) are treated confidentially.

  • Advise on environmental alterations

    Advise on environmental alterations in the home and workplace to accommodate patients, such as wheelchair accessibility.

  • Record healthcare users' progress related to treatment

    Record the healthcare user's progress in response to treatment by observing, listening and measuring outcomes.

  • Communicate effectively in healthcare

    Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.

  • Provide assistive technology

    Provide persons with assistive technology to enable them to perform activities more functionally.

  • Assist healthcare users achieve autonomy in everyday activities

    Assist healthcare users to achieve autonomy in all types of activity, like dressing, cooking, eating, and using a computer.

Optional knowledge and skills

provide early intervention therapy to infants employ foreign languages in care employ foreign languages for health-related research osteopathy mechanotherapy manage occupational therapy students first aid disorders affecting self-awareness assist in performing physical exercises ensure proper appointment administration pedagogy bobath therapy assist children with special needs in education settings

Common job titles

  • Occupational therapist
  • Occupational therapist - in pt
  • Occupational therapist - op day rehab program
  • Occupational therapist - multiple positions
  • Occupational therapist (inpatient neuro-rehab/general medicine)
  • Occupational therapist (clc/general medicine coverage)
  • Clinical reviewer - ot