We are celebrating Occupational Therapy Week, 4-10 November 2024. To help showcase the profession, here’s a handy Q&A guide to all things OT.
Occupational therapy plays a vital role in health, social care and society. It enables people to manage their health and care needs and to do the occupations that they want, need and like to do.
An occupation is any activity that supports physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Occupational therapy is a solution to many of the UK’s health and care needs and should be positioned in communities to focus on prevention and early intervention.
Q&A
Occupational therapy plays a vital role in health, social care and society. It enables people to manage their health and care needs and do the occupations that they want, need and like to do.
An occupation isn’t just your job or activities of daily living – it’s any meaningful activity that supports physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Occupational therapists consider all aspects of an individual and their environments and work with them to create a plan to reach their goals.
Occupational therapy is a solution to many of the UK’s health and care needs. By prioritising prevention and early intervention, occupational therapists help people manage their health and reduce the frequency and need for crisis interventions and care services.
By helping people live well for longer, occupational therapy saves money and reduces pressure on health and social care services. Within integrated health and care systems, occupational therapists can deliver better outcomes and create a more sustainable system for all.
The occupational therapy workforce is often positioned in communities, embedded within a range of different services. You can find occupational therapists within your NHS teams, local authority social work services, and your GP practice.
By working proactively with people where they are, OTs can empower people to manage their changing needs and reduce pressure on the wider health and care system.
