What Is Occupational Therapy?
What Does An Occupational Therapist Do?
Occupational therapists (OTs) are allied health professionals who work with clients of all ages and disabilities to enable them to live as independently and safely as possible. Occupational therapists support individuals who are affected by injury, illness, disability, or long-term health conditions — enabling them to carry out the everyday activities, including personal care and domestic tasks, education, work and leisure.
This guide explains who can benefit from occupational therapy, and how to access occupational therapy services through the NHS, statutory services or private practice.
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Book NowWhat Is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession focused on helping people to participate in everyday activities, often referred to as “occupations”. These activities include personal care, household tasks, work, leisure and socialising with others.
Occupational therapists work with individuals to:
• improve their physical and cognitive function
• adapt activities or environments to suit peoples needs
• provide rehabilitation after injury or illness
• support long-term condition management
• recommend meaningful activities or occupations to promote well being
The ultimate aim of occupational therapy is to maximise independence, increase confidence, and improve quality of life.
What Does an Occupational Therapist Do on a Day to Day Basis?
The role of an occupational therapist is varied and highly individualised. No two clients — or working days — are the same.
Occupational Therapists may be using remedial activities to improve physical strength or cognitive function such as simple exercises and games specific to the individuals needs or assessing people for suitable equipment such as a wheelchair or stairlift. The day to day role of an occupational therapist varies greatly depending on the client’s needs and their lifestyle.
Common occupational therapy activities include:
• carrying out functional assessments within the individual’s home or work environment
• analysing what parts of the activity the individual has difficulty with and providing solutions to compensate for loss of function
• setting realistic, client-centred goals
• providing meaningful therapeutic intervention
• recommending equipment or environmental adaptations
• supporting individuals to return to work or education
• liaising with healthcare teams, employers, insurers, and families
Occupational therapists look beyond a diagnosis and focus on how a condition affects a person’s ability to live their life.
Who Can Benefit From Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy supports people across a wide range of situations and conditions. The Rehab Team specialise in the following clinical areas:
• Adults With Trauma Injuries:
Occupational Therapists help individuals recover after accidents, fractures, or complex trauma injuries, ensuring that individuals return to independence at home and at work.
• Hand and Upper Limb Injuries:
Specialist occupational therapists provide hand therapy and splints/orthosis to restore joint range of movement, grip strength, and improve hand dexterity following injury or surgery.This will also include functional assessment and recommendations for aids and equipment to compensate for any permanent loss of hand function.
• Burns and Scar Management:
Occupational therapy plays a key role in burn rehabilitation, including scar management, facial camouflage, measuring for pressure garments, splinting to prevent joint contractures and help people to regain independence.
• Amputation and Limb Loss:
Occupational Therapists support individuals following amputation by focusing on daily living skills, mobility and recommending housing adaptations to maximise their independence in their home environment. Prosthetic rehabilitation, energy conservation techniques and residual limb care are also addressed to ensure the individual is fully able to manage with these life changing conditions.
How to Access Occupational Therapy in the UK:
In the UK, occupational therapy services are available through the NHS, statutory servicesand private providers.
NHS and Statutory Services:
NHS and other statutory services are accessed via GP or hospital referral and are free at the point of use. However, waiting times and eligibility can vary depending on location and clinical priority.
Private Occupational Therapy:
Private Occupational Therapy services are used by individuals, insurer companies, solicitors, employers, or case managers, either alongside or instead of NHS care.
Access to a private occupational therapist is via:
• self-referral to a private occupational therapist (a list of registered occupational therapist can be sourced through the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (www.rcot.co.uk)
• an insurer, solicitor, employer, or case manager
Private occupational therapy can be particularly helpful if you require specialist input, timely intervention, or therapy delivered in your home or workplace.
Private occupational therapy offers:
• faster access to assessment and treatment
• flexible appointment times
• multiple treatment sessions as appropriate
• home, workplace, or community visits
• comprehensive reports for insurance or medico-legal purposes
What Happens During an Occupational Therapy Assessment?
An occupational therapy assessment focuses on understanding how a person’s condition affects their ability to carry out everyday activities.
A typical assessment may include:
• discussion of daily tasks, routines and responsibilities
• observation of functional tasks (i.e. personal care or cooking)
• standardised physical and/or cognitive assessments
• environmental assessment (home or workplace)
• identification of risks or barriers to independence
• recommendations for rehabilitation or support
• identifying aids, equipment and/or housing adaptations
Following an assessment, the occupational therapist will encourage the individual to identify their own therapy goals based on what is important to them. These goals are broken down to smaller more manageable goals that can be measured through the therapeutic process.
The occupational therapist will then develop a tailored intervention plan, that may include remedial therapy sessions, introducing specialist aids and equipment (such as wheelchairs, hoists or adapted cutlery), bespoke splinting for joint protection, exercise tolerance, energy conservation and fatigue management. Throughout the therapeutic process, the occupational therapist will provide written reports and regular evaluations to measure performance.
Where Do Occupational Therapists Work in the UK?
Occupational therapists work across a wide range of settings, including:
• hospitals
• community health services
• clients’ homes
• workplaces
• educational settings
• private clinics
• residential care homes
• rehabilitation centres
Many private occupational therapists work across multiple settings to ensure therapy is delivered in real-life environments where it is most effective.
When Should You See an Occupational Therapist?
You may benefit from occupational therapy if you:
• are struggling with everyday tasks after injury or surgery
• have difficulty returning to work following illness or trauma
• are experiencing reduced mobility, strength, or coordination
• need support managing a long-term condition
• require advice on equipment or adaptations
• need functional assessment for insurance or legal purposes
Early involvement of an occupational therapist can significantly improve outcomes and prevent further complications or dependency on others.
How Occupational Therapy Supports Independence.
Occupational therapy is not just about recovery — it’s about enabling people to live independently and return to the activities that they enjoy. Occupational therapy can reduce the need for a care package and positively improve someone’s quality of life.
Through practical strategies, rehabilitation, and problem-solving, occupational therapists help individuals:
• regain confidence
• adapt to change
• reduce reliance on others
• participate fully in meaningful activities
This holistic approach is what makes occupational therapy such a valuable part of rehabilitation and long-term support.
Final Thoughts
Occupational therapists play a crucial role in supporting people to overcome physical, cognitive, and environmental challenges. Whether through the NHS, statutory services or private practice, occupational therapy is a specialist healthcare provision to enable individuals to regain greater independence which will intern improve their quality of life.
If you would like to speak to an occupational therapist about referring a client for an occupational therapy assessment and rehabilitation, The Rehab Team provides expert occupational therapy services across the UK. All our occupational therapists are registered with the Health Care Professional Council (HCPC), hold professional indemnity insurance and have been fully vetted, including enhanced DBS checks.
Written by: Nicola Lawson
Specialist Occupational Therapist, HCPC Registered
The Rehab Team Ltd