Inherent requirements for Occupational Therapy

1

Occupational therapy is a profession that is governed by codes, guidelines and standards (opens in a new window), where occupational therapists are both accountable and responsible for ensuring safe and professional behaviour in all contexts.

2

Student demonstrates knowledge of, and engages in ethical behaviour in practice.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• Compliance with the codes, guidelines and standards facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people with whom they engage. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all

4

Adjustments must ensure the codes, guidelines and standards are not compromised or result in unethical behaviour. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

• Complying with medico-legal requirements relating to informed consent, privacy and confidentiality with client information in academic and clinical settings
• Demonstrating ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour

1

Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in this role.

2

Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and clinical environment, which may at times be challenging and unpredictable.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. Occupational therapy students will be exposed to health care and disability contexts in which they will encounter human suffering, and will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these events objectively and professionally

4

Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and clinical settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

• Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback
• Coping with own emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with individuals in the clinical setting

1

Occupational therapy is a profession mandated by legislation (opens in a new window) to enable the safe delivery of care.

2

Student demonstrates knowledge and compliance with Australian Law and professional regulatory requirements and standards, which dictates the scope of occupational therapy practice.

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• Knowledge, understanding and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements and standards are necessary pre-requisites to clinical placements, to reduce the risk of harm to self and others
• Compliance with the Australian Law and professional regulatory requirements and standards ensures that students are both responsible and accountable for their practice

4

Adjustments must be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

• Complying with the requirements for student registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• Complying with the policies of clinical facilities e.g. uniform requirements

1

Effective and efficient verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to provide safe delivery of care.

2

Student demonstrates:

• Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences
• Ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner
• Ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation
• Timely clear feedback and reporting

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others develops trusting relationships
• Communication may be restricted to verbal because of physical limitations of the individual (e.g. injury, disease or congenital conditions)
• Speed and interactivity of communication may be critical for individual safety or treatment
• Timely, accurate and effective delivery of instructions is critical to individual safety, treatment and management

4

Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure safety and appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

• Participating in tutorial, simulation and clinical discussions
• Establishing rapport with clients during occupational therapy management and responding appropriately to requests from clients, supervisors and other health professionals, in the clinical setting
• Giving clear instructions to clients, carers or team members within the clinical setting

1

Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to occupational therapy and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic and non-judgemental.

2

Student demonstrates:

• Capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues
• Consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours
• Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic and professional relationships
• Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes trust in academic and professional relationships
• Being sensitive to individual and/or cultural differences displays respect and empathy to others develops trusting relationships
• The ability to observe and understand non -verbal cues is essential for safe and effective observation of client symptoms and reactions to facilitate the assessment and treatment of clients

4

Adjustments must enable the recognition, initiation of or appropriate response or/as well as initiation of effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

• Recognising and responding appropriately to cues in the academic environment
• Recognising and responding appropriately to cues in the clinical setting

1

Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental occupational therapy responsibility with professional and legal ramifications.

2

Student demonstrates the capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances.

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• Construction of written text based assessment tasks to reflect the required academic standards are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter for professional practice
• Accurate written communication, including record-keeping and client notes which meet legal requirements, is vital to provide consistent and safe client care

4

Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and clinical environments. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

• Constructing an essay to academic standards
• Constructing client notes, reports and information sheets in a timely manner that meets legal and professional standards

1

Consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide safe and effective occupational therapy management.

2

Student demonstrates:

• Capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information
• Ability to process information relevant to practice
• Ability to integrate and implement knowledge in practice in a timely manner

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• Safe and effective delivery of occupational therapy management is based on comprehensive knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately

4

Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

• Conceptualising and using appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items
• Appropriately applying knowledge of theory, research evidence, policies and procedures in the clinical setting

1

Competent literacy skills are essential to provide safe and effective occupational therapy management.

2

Student demonstrates:

• Ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages
• Ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information
• Capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in a scholarly manner

3

• The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to ensure safe and effective assessment, treatment and delivery of care
• The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental for safe and effective delivery of care

4

Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

• Conveying spoken instructions to a client accurately and effectively in a clinical setting
• Paraphrasing, summarising and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions
• Producing accurate, concise and clear occupational therapy documentation which meets legal requirements

2

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in occupational therapy to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of occupational therapy care

4

5

Exemplars:

• Recording accurate measurements in client notes
• Prescribing adaptive equipment that correctly meets client measurement requirements e.g. wheelchair prescription

1

Adequate visual acuity is required to provide safe and effective occupational therapy management.

2

Student demonstrates sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of skills.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to demonstrate the required range of skills, tasks and assessments to maintain consistent, accurate and safe care of self and to others
• Visual observations, examinations and assessment are fundamental to safe and effective occupational therapy practice

4

Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

• Observing and detecting subtle changes in posture, movement and the ability to perform functional activities during assessment and treatment
• Safely operating electronic equipment e.g. splinting equipment – heat guns and splinting pans

1

Auditory ability is required to provide safe and effective occupational therapy management.

2

Student demonstrates sufficient aural function to undertake the required range of skills.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• Sufficient auditory ability is necessary to monitor, assess and manage an individual’s health needs consistently and accurately
• Auditory assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective occupational therapy practice

4

5

Exemplars:

• Detecting care requests by calls for help or activation of a call bell
• Engaging appropriately to a client's responses during an assessment

1

Sufficient tactile ability is required to perform competent and safe occupational therapy management.

2

Student demonstrates sufficient tactile function to undertake the required range of skills and assessments.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• Sufficient tactile ability is necessary to monitor, assess and detect clients' physical characteristics and act on any abnormalities detected to provide appropriate occupational therapy management
• Tactile assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective occupational therapy practice

4

5

Exemplars:

• Detecting changes in circulation, e.g. temperature
• Palpating joints, muscles, and soft tissues, and detecting anatomical or movement abnormalities

1

Occupational therapy is a profession that involves physical demands and requires gross motor function.

2

Student demonstrates the ability to perform gross motor skills to function within the scope of practice.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• Sufficient gross motor skills are necessary to perform the required level of care. Tasks that involve gross motor skills include lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, twisting and bending. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others

4

5

Exemplars:

• Maintaining own and client's balance, while providing client support, when transferring and mobilising individuals in a safe manner
• Evaluating clients, in a safe and effective manner, who have varying physical capacity, who are positioned on plinths and hospital beds, on mats on the floor, on chairs and when standing

1

2

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• Sufficient fine motor skills are necessary to perform the required level of care. Tasks that involve fine motor skills include being able to grasp, press, push, turn, squeeze and manipulate various objects and individuals. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others

4

Adjustments must facilitate functional effectiveness, safety to self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

• Performing assessment techniques, e.g. evaluation of hand sensation and joint movement
• Performing treatment techniques, e.g. fabricating splints, demonstrating use of adaptive equipment, demonstrating fine motor tasks during activities of daily living

1

Occupational therapy practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to meet individual needs over time.

2

Student demonstrates:

• Consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time
• The ability to perform repetitive activities with a level of concentration that ensures a capacity to focus on the activity until it is completed appropriately
• The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period of time

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement:

• Sufficient physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide safe and effective occupational therapy management

4

Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a required period. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

• Participating in tutorials and lectures
• Providing consistent occupational therapy management over a negotiated time frame while on clinical placement