Occupational Therapist Employment Contract UK

Responsibilities reflected in the contract

• Assess functional ability and occupational needs.
• Agree practical goals and intervention plans.
• Recommend equipment within delegated authority.
• Document assessments, consent and outcomes.
• Coordinate discharge and multidisciplinary handovers.
• Maintain registration and professional competence.

A realistic working scenario

A home assessment identifies an unsafe transfer and a major adaptation that cannot be supplied immediately. The therapist agrees interim risk controls, documents the functional evidence and routes the funding recommendation through the authorised panel.

Outputs to agree

• occupation-focused functional assessments
• practical intervention and equipment plans
• reviewed goals, risks and discharge arrangements

Records and evidence

• Functional assessment.
• Goal and intervention plan.
• Equipment or adaptation recommendation.
• Risk, review and handover.
• Clinical notes.
• Assessment records.

Reporting relationship

Typically reports to Clinical Lead, Therapy Lead, Service Manager or Practice Manager. Confirm the employer's actual reporting structure in the builder.

Authority and escalation

• The therapist determines professional recommendations within competence but cannot promise funding, structural work or equipment outside the employer's approval and supply process.
• Obtain approval before committing expenditure, changing contractual commitments or making regulated or staffing decisions outside the assigned role.

Tools and systems

• Clinical systems.
• Patient record systems.
• Therapy or diagnostic equipment where authorised.
• Secure clinical communication tools.
• Incident reporting systems.

Workplace context

• Clinic, therapy, diagnostic, community or approved patient-facing areas.

Training and certification

• Complete employer-required safeguarding training.
• Complete employer-required health and safety training.

Contract priorities

• registration and supervision
• home and community travel
• equipment and handling competence
• funding and recommendation boundaries

Information the employer should prepare

• the patient group and service pathway
• the hospital, community or home settings
• the equipment and adaptation authority
• the caseload and appointment pattern
• the lone-working and travel arrangements
• the registration and supervision provisions