Occupational therapist

Specialist providing various forms and techniques of occupational therapy in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients. His or her main tasks are to prevent the onset of a chronic condition or permanent disability, to compensate for loss of function and to help patients adapt to life in the hospital and non-hospital community. In the course of therapeutic activities, the occupational therapist works together with the patient on a variety of manual work such as gardening, wickerwork, knitting, sewing, metalworking, woodworking, plastics, etc. He teaches patients to use basic rehabilitation equipment to facilitate activities of daily living and develops independent living skills.

The education lasts 2 years (4 semesters) and is provided on a full-time basis.

Code (digital symbol of the profession): 325907

Synthesis:

Provides various forms and techniques of occupational therapy in the process of treatment and rehabilitation of patients, with the aim of preventing the onset of a chronic condition or permanent disability, compensating for loss of function and adapting to life in the hospital and non-hospital community.

Professional tasks:

  • establishing psychotherapeutic contact with the sick person and creating a psychotherapeutic and sociotherapeutic environment, in order to recognise and meet the needs of the sick person, taking into account health, psychological and social factors;
  • planning an individual and group therapy programme, adapted to the patient’s needs, characteristics and habits and medical recommendations;
  • carrying out various forms of therapeutic interventions: workshops, day care, cultural-educational and artistic activities, physical education exercises (recreational, sports);
  • carrying out gardening, wickerwork, knitting, tailoring, metalworking, woodworking, plastics, etc., together with the patient during the therapeutic activities;
  • teaching patients how to use basic rehabilitation equipment, e.g. self-care equipment to facilitate activities of daily living, and developing independent living skills;
  • conducting observations of the patient’s reactions to the occupational therapy and communicating the results to the person in charge of the therapy (e.g. reporting to the doctor cases of arbitrary withdrawal of the mentally ill patient, deterioration of his/her condition or suicide attempts);
  • interacting with the patient’s rehabilitation team (e.g. administering therapy as ordered by the doctor, consulting with the doctor on the course and results of therapy);
  • maintain secrecy regarding the diagnosis and treatment methods towards the patient and the patient’s family (provide information only with the consent of the doctor responsible for the patient’s condition);
  • observing health and safety regulations applicable to certain types of activities and fire regulations, in order to ensure maximum safety for the patient.

Additional professional tasks:

performing managerial and organisational functions (e.g. organising and running an occupational therapy workshop or department).