Allied Health Professions: disclosure guidance

2 Roles And Responsibilities

Sheppard and Frost^[1] stated that vocational rehabilitation is becoming an increasingly common area for Occupational Therapists, helping people to identify physical, social, psychological, behavioural and cognitive strengths and potential barriers to entering or resuming work. Using their understanding of an individual's functional abilities and the work task requirements, Occupational Therapists are able to provide job matching, skill development and individualised environmental support^[2]. Occupational Therapists use many assessment tools such as the occupational performance history interview^[3], occupational self-assessment^[4], the volitional questionnaire^[5], worker role interview^[6], the work environment impact scale^[7] and work behaviour inventory^[8].

2.1 Occupational Therapy Role

The Occupational Therapist will work collaboratively with an individual, using their expertise in assessing the impact of their mental health condition / learning disability on function. This process supports the individual to understand their rights and how this may affect their ability to achieve their employment goals with their existing disabilities. Occupational Therapists have relevant core skills and can access relevant guidance to assess barriers to working, agree vocational goals in partnership with the patient and multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

Occupational Therapists will use assessment tools to identify strengths and barriers to employment. Supportive interventions can then be planned collaboratively with the client. Interventions can range from minimal guidance to those requiring more intensive interventions, specialist services, supported employment or vocational rehabilitation.

Machingura and Lloyd^[9] suggest some of the aims and goals of interventions may be to introduce activities relevant to the skills and abilities required to engage in work such as improving social skills, time management and interview skills. Other interventions may include increasing participation in activities, developing coping strategies to anticipate and manage actual and potential barriers for day to day living and establishing work related routines.

It is important to note that it is not only the Occupational Therapist that will carry out the roles described in this document. Anyone supporting individuals with criminal convictions and mental health conditions/learning disabilities into work, volunteering or education should find this document of use.

2.2 Occupational Therapist role in considering reasonable adjustments

Occupational Therapists can support the employer and employee to consider the impact of their illness on work and how any impact can be managed and overcome through reasonable adjustments to the workplace. Using a holistic approach Occupational Therapists are able to suggest adjustments to existing equipment and environmental circumstances as well as recommending specialist equipment based on individual needs. Occupational Therapists can also liaise with employers to explain the client/employee's perspective to the employer, but also, by seeking to understand the business situation, can assist in understanding what recommendations may or may not be feasible^[10].