Enhanced Clinical Practitioner - Level 6
Occupational therapy
This occupation is found in the health and care sector. Enhanced Clinical Practitioners are qualified health and social care professionals who are working at an enhanced level of practice with specific knowledge and skills in a field of expertise. They manage a discrete aspect of a patient’s care within their current level of practice, which will be particular to a specific context, be it a client group, a skill set or an organisational context. This is in contrast to Advanced Clinical Practitioners who have developed their knowledge and skills to an advanced level of practice and would manage the whole episode of a patient’s clinical care, from the time they first present, through to the end of the episode.
Skills and knowledge
To become an Enhanced Clinical Practitioner in Occupational Therapy you will need:
- exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
- tact and patience
- active listening and the ability to identify patient needs and difficulties
- ability to work effectively in a team
- a strong sense of empathy
- ability to work in a multicultural environment
- optimism, enthusiasm, and ability to motivate others
- high levels of creativity, initiative, and responsiveness
- adaptability and flexibility
- ability to transform simple ideas into workable goals
- organisational and administrative skills
- critical and intuitive
- good understanding of human anatomy
- professional and trustworthy
Qualifications
You need an approved Degree in Occupational Therapy. Enhanced Clinical Practitioners must be registered with either one of the statutory healthcare regulators, Social Work England or with one of the following accredited voluntary registers: The Academy for Healthcare Science, Register of Clinical Technologists or Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists. They must undertake revalidation processes or audit of their continuing professional development where these apply.
Career progression
Once you’ve qualified, you’ll have annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) check-ins, where you will discuss your career aspirations and plan how to achieve them, so you’re always moving forward. You’ll be encouraged to join the Royal College of Occupational Therapists where you’ll gain professional indemnity coverage and a trade union membership. You’ll also be able to specialise in areas such as elderly care or paediatrics. You could move into research or education, and there are opportunities overseas. Or with experience, further qualifications and training, you could apply for more specialist and senior posts.
Advanced Clinical Practitioner - Level 7
An Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Occupational Therapy works at an advanced level across all four pillars of advanced practice at master’s level. Advanced Clinical Practitioners are experienced clinicians who demonstrate expertise in their scope of practice. Advanced Clinical Practitioners manage defined episodes of clinical care independently, from beginning to end, providing care and treatment from the time an individual first presents through to the end of the episode, which may include admission, referral or discharge or care at home. They carry out their full range of duties in relation to individuals’ physical and mental healthcare and in acute, primary, urgent and emergency settings (including hospitals, general practice, individuals’ homes, schools and prisons, and in the public, independent, private and charity sectors). They combine expert clinical skills with research, education and clinical leadership within their scope of practice. Advanced Clinical Practitioners work innovatively on a one to one basis with individuals as well as part of a wider team. They work as part of the wider health and social care team and across traditional professional boundaries in health and social care.