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What occupational therapists offer

Occupational therapists bring diverse skills to primary care. 

They provide new expertise to primary care teams to ensure patients get fast access to the right care at the right time.

Occupational therapists are clinically trained to work holistically with patients with physical, mental, and social needs. 

Using health population approaches, occupational therapists offer bespoke services for specific patient groups that is proactive and preventative.

Occupational therapists can help GPs target the biggest causes of reduced life expectancy in primary care. 

They can work across the life span with patients with heart disease, COPD, stroke, diabetes, dementia, mental illness, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, cancer, learning disabilities, palliative care, obesity and smoking.

I didn’t really know what an OT did - now I do, I can’t do without one…I thought it was just handrails and toilet aids. I didn’t realise it was so holistic.

A general practitioner

We’ve worked with others to create a presentation and leaflet that introduces occupational therapy in primary care. It includes what occupational therapists do, their impact, views of GPs and patients and what support they need.

Occupational therapists' skills

Occupational therapists carry out physical and psychosocial assessments that consider health and home management, education, work, leisure, and social participation. They formulate plans for therapy including differential diagnosis of conditions impacting on health, functional ability and activity levels. Occupational therapists proactively work in partnership with patients to find solutions that improve health and activity levels. 

Their interventions are practical, realistic and goal orientated. They adapt activities to help patients stay active in their everyday lives.

I think it's brilliant. I would go as far as to say it’s the best thing I’ve done. I feel really proud of the service. I think it fulfils an unmet need.  – General Practitioner

We’ve worked with others to create a job description for a primary care occupational therapist to support recruitment. We’ve also described the capabilities needed. This includes the skills, behaviours and knowledge required.

Who occupational therapists see

Occupational therapists see three main patient groups in primary care.

Frail older adults

  • Use of frailty indexes to identify people needing a proactive approach.
  • Rapid crisis response to prevent hospital admission or to speed discharge.
  • Assessment and interventions to ensure people can cope at home, including support for carers.
  • Short term rehabilitation interventions and referral onto specialist services if indicated.
  • Use of digital and assistive technology to ensure safety at home.

People with mental health problems

  • Risk assessment for acute distress.
  • Personalised care plans for self-management.
  • Patient activation to achieve personal goals.
  • Social prescribing, and signposting or referral onto recovery support and services.

Working age adults with health and work difficulties

  • Vocational rehabilitation.
  • Use of fit note for sick pay.
  • Tailored, specific advice about workplace modifications.

They work with patients with reduced functioning and social isolation; frailty and dementia; mental health or cognitive problems; vocational and workplace problems; children with developmental delay; high intensity users; neurodiversity; people with chronic pain; and fatigue; people recovering from injury or with life limiting illness.