The mental health capability framework proposes a series of capabilities that occupational therapists practising in mental health settings should seek to achieve at different career stages.

The intention of the framework is not to create additional hurdles for practitioners as OTA recognises mental health practice is within the scope of all registered occupational therapists. Instead, the framework is intended to enable individual occupational therapists to make decisions about where to focus their development activities, and managers and employers to make decisions about the areas of capability development they should be providing for their staff. It is likely that some mental health settings will find it difficult to offer development opportunities across all areas of capability development, particularly opportunities to build experience in the practical application of training with clients and their families and informal support networks. However, this should not be seen as a downside of the framework. Instead, it should be seen as means of helping individual practitioners to identify potential developmental gaps, and for employers, managers, and business owners to consider whether there may be opportunities to expand their own services in order to represent more wholistic mental health practice.

Download the Mental Health Capability Framework.