Professional competencies required by occupational therapists to facilitate the participation of persons with mental disability in work: A review of the literature

Article type: Review Article

Authors: Mavindidze, Edwin^{a; b; *} | van Niekerk, Lana^a | Cloete, Lizahn^a

Affiliations: [a] Division of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Stellenbosch University. Francie Van Zijl Dr Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa | [b] Department of Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Edwin Mavindidze, Division of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Stellenbosch University, Francie Van Zijl Dr, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town 7505, South Africa. Tel.: +263 78 378 2862, +263 73 385 1997; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Unemployment rates are generally higher among persons with mental disabilities who experience many barriers and challenges that limit their participation in work and employment. Occupational therapy can play a key role in promoting participation and engagement in work by persons with mental disabilities. OBJECTIVE:This review sought to identify the barriers and facilitators to work participation for persons with mental disabilities globally in comparison to Zimbabwe, and to identify the competencies related to work practice in occupational therapy curricula internationally and regionally. METHODS:A narrative literature review was conducted using the SALSA (Search, Appraisal, Synthesis and Analysis) framework which informed retrieval and analysis of articles published between 2012 and 2018. RESULTS:Fifty-one out of 227 articles were selected to inform the review. A synthesis of the literature provided insights and ideas on facilitators and barriers to work for persons with mental disabilities and the competencies related to work practice in occupational therapy curricula. CONCLUSION:Barriers to participation in work for persons with mental disabilities are real. However, occupational therapists from different contexts have a variety of competencies to facilitate participation in work. There is a need to develop work practice competencies particular to the Zimbabwean context.

Keywords: Barriers to work, knowledge, skills, professional attributes, work practice

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203229

Journal: Work, vol. 66, no. 4, pp. 841-848, 2020