The Department of Occupational Therapy offers a range of educational provision from undergraduate degree through Masters to PhD. Programmes are characterised by flexibility, choice and close connection with practice.

The professional signature of the department is the scholarship and research that has been carried out for a number of years in the area of work rehabilitation. We have established many external national and international links that enrich the curriculum and student experience. The other distinguishing feature of our occupational therapy courses is the educational guidance and support offered by our team.

Occupational therapy courses:

• BSc(Hons) Occupational Therapy (with exit awards in Psychosocial Interventions, Work Practice or Ageing and Wellbeing)
• MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration)
• PgC/PgD/MSc Occupational Therapy (Falls Prevention) 
• PgC/PgD/MSc Occupational Therapy (Employment Rehabilitation)
• PgC/PgD/MSc Occupational Therapy

Consultancy activity within department

Departmental staff undertake a wide range of consultancy activities including assessment of work capacity, accessibility issues, return to work case resolution, mentorship and work with older people concerning education for partnership working.  Dr Sheena Blair is the contact person in the first instance.

Research activity

The Department of Occupational Therapy has a research strategy with three current broad themes of work, occupational therapy professional education issues and effective practice.  Student projects at honours and MSc levels are also integrated into this research strategy, with academic staff supervising in one of these theme areas. 

There are 3 doctoral candidates currently registered in the department undertaking investigations in (i) job retention, and the efficacy of interventions for cognitive and perceptual impairments (ii) with adults with multiple sclerosis, and (iii) children with hydrocephalus.  The department has active links with Health QWest and the Departments of Psychology and Vision Sciences for supervision purposes of our PhD students.

Current projects which are externally funded include:

• A 12 month evaluation of the Condition Management Programme (Glasgow) in Job Centre Plus, Department of Work and Pensions £60k
• A 12 month evaluation of the Joint Integrated Occupational Therapy Service, Glasgow £40k (this is currently being negotiated)

The department is leading the development of a new Centre for Work and Health in the School of Health and Social Care which is intended, in part, to foster research activity in these areas by allied health practitioners, social work and related disciplines.

Lead Researcher and contact for the department: Professor Claire Ballinger

European activity

The department has been an active member of the European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education (ENOTHE) for 10 years.  Collaboration and support for the development of occupational therapy programmes has been undertaken with the Czech Republic, Armenia and the Republic of Georgia during this period.  Students from Spain and Sweden have undertaken placements in Scotland, supported by the department while staff have undertaken teaching visits to Greece.