All Change? The Role and Tasks of Community Occupational Therapists in Scotland

In November 1994, the Scottish Office commissioned a short study of occupational therapy in Scotland. It aimed to examine the structure, scale and outputs of the service and the role of occupational therapy in the context of community care. A variety of methods was employed.

The total number of posts for occupational therapists has increased recently but a critical shortage of support posts remains. Staff recruitment and retention are not problematic, In contrast to the situation south of the border. Occupational therapists still spend most of their time on equipment and adaptations. Authorities have been developing a range of strategies for tackling this problem, but more are needed.

The Involvement of occupational therapists in care management is at an early stage. Practitioners are working with a more diverse range of clients than before, and some have greater opportunities to utilise their wider skills. Most have compjex extended networks for collaboration, although links with home care and health colleagues are often underdeveloped. Hospital discharge is a problematic area.

The findings Indicate the need for occupational therapists to become better Integrated within community care teams, for more authorities to consider developing a unitary workforce straddling social services and health agencies, and for the deployment of occupational therapists to a wider and more Imaginative range of settings.