A survey of the work of occupational therapists in inpatient mental health services

With recent changes in the delivery of mental health services articulated in the National Service Framework for mental health (Department of Health (DoH) 1999) and the Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide (DoH 2002), occupational therapists, in common with other mental health professionals, will need to specify their role and the therapeutic contribution they make to inpatient care. The occupational therapists’ position paper for those working in mental health recommends that therapists seek to clarify their role and the ways in which they interface with other professionals, and establish a robust evidence base for the interventions they provide (Craik et al 1998a). To date, there is remarkably little research on the role of occupational therapists in inpatient settings or on the types of interventions they provide. This paper seeks to redress this imbalance by highlighting the current role of occupational therapists, as perceived by therapists themselves, within inpatient settings. The aims of the study were to: ■ produce a demographic profile of occupational therapy staff ■ identify the skills and interventions used by occupational therapists ■ identify difficulties encountered by occupational therapists ■ and recommend ways in which these might be overcome.