Joint Position Statement on the Use of ‘Occupational’ as a Descriptor

This statement has been produced jointly by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and the College of Occupational Therapists (COT)

The joint statement addresses issues raised in a petition by an occupational therapist, supported by a number of occupational therapy colleagues, to the Health Professions Council (HPC) in 2009 regarding some physiotherapists’ use of the title ‘occupational physiotherapist’. The matter was subsequently raised by COT with the HPC to obtain further clarification.
 
The HPC has formally notified both COT and the CSP that it does not consider use of the title ‘Occupational Physiotherapist’ either to be a breach of article 39(1) of the Health Professions Order 2001 relating to protection of titles, or to be misleading about the specialisation held.
 
This statement sets out the COT and CSP’s joint stance on the matter in light of the response received from the HPC. It covers the following:

• physiotherapists’ and occupational therapists’ respective contributions to meeting patient/client and population needs, with a particular focus on occupational health, vocational rehabilitation and ‘fit for work’ initiatives
• use of titles and terminology in the context of protected titles, with a particular focus on ‘occupational’
• the organisations’ complementary expectations of their members’ professional conduct, informed by HPC feedback

The key points in this joint statement, produced by the College of Occupational Therapists (COT) and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP),

The HPC has affirmed the acceptability of health professionals on its register attaching descriptors to their protected title to clarify their particular area of specialism
 
The CSP and COT expect their members to describe themselves (including in attaching additional descriptors to their protected title) in ways that maximise clarity and minimise confusion for the recipients, consumers and purchasers of their services
 
Both chartered physiotherapists and occupational therapists have an increasingly valuable role to play in delivering services that are focused on the health and well-being needs and quality of life of the working population and those seeking to return to purposeful activity, and can make a significant contribution to meeting identified UK government priorities in this area.
 
Download Joint Statement on the Use of 'Occupational' as a Descriptor