The Capability Framework for occupational therapists working with people with pain outlines a series of capabilities (knowledge, skills and attitudes) for occupational therapists practising across a range of service settings.

The capabilities are grouped in four key domains:

• Knowledge of pain and pain management systems
• The therapeutic process and guiding principles
• Assessment and planning
• Occupational-focused interventions and therapeutic strategies

The framework describes how these capabilities differ across the career stages of foundational, intermediate and senior practitioner to recognise how skills, knowledge and behaviours develop over the course of a person’s career, as they gain experience and build expertise.

The framework can be used to:

• Support self-reflection and decision-making about your practice
• Help identify areas for skill improvement relevant to your service setting
• Set expectations at different career stages
• Advocate for the role of occupational therapy in the working with people with pain.