The introduction and evaluation of an occupational therapy assistant practitioner

Abstract

Background and Aim: This paper describes the introduction and evaluation of an extended role occupational therapy support worker, called an ‘occupational therapy assistant practitioner’. Methods and Results: The evaluation took place within a single health care trust and involved focus groups with four groups of stakeholders: assistant practitioners; their supervisors; managers; and service users. The evaluation identified a lack of access to appropriate training; ambiguous supervision and accountability relationships; and a lack of a clear career direction for qualified occupational therapists, creating uncertainty about which aspects of their job they should be ‘giving away’. Conclusions: There is a need to clarify career structures and accountability relationships between existing and new staff members and ensure that appropriate training is available to support staff in their new roles.