organising and delivering care for older people with mental health problems (Challis et al., 2014). In particular, the work reported here aimed to identify i/ who occupational therapists in CMHTs for older people see; ii/ the nature of their role; and iii/ how they perceive this, including their job stress and satisfaction. Method The data utilised in this paper relate to four discrete research activities. First, a national survey of CMHT managers collected information on team membership and roles. Second, a caseload audit in nine CMHTs enabled identification of the service users supported by occupational therapists (as opposed to other practitioners). Third, qualitative interviews with five occupational therapists provided a detailed account of their roles, responsibilities and experiences. Finally, a survey of nearly 300 CMHT practitioners collected information on a range of psycho-social characteristics of their work (including job demands, controls and social support) and job satisfaction, facilitating comparison between professional disciplines. Standardised measures were used within the caseload audit and practitioner survey where feasible. The caseload audit employed the Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index with categories collapsed into four groups using conventional thresholds (independent high or total dependence) (Mahony and Barthel, 1965). The – practitioner survey included elements of the Job Content Questionnaire (Karasek, 1979) relating to measures of co-worker and supervisory support, job demands and
organising and delivering care for older people with mental health problems (Challis et al., 2014). In particular, the work reported here aimed to identify i/ who occupational therapists in CMHTs for older people see; ii/ the nature of their role; and iii/ how they perceive this, including their job stress and satisfaction. Method The data utilised in this paper relate to four discrete research activities. First, a national survey of CMHT managers collected information on team membership and roles. Second, a caseload audit in nine CMHTs enabled identification of the service users supported by occupational therapists (as opposed to other practitioners). Third, qualitative interviews with five occupational therapists provided a detailed account of their roles, responsibilities and experiences. Finally, a survey of nearly 300 CMHT practitioners collected information on a range of psycho-social characteristics of their work (including job demands, controls and social support) and job satisfaction, facilitating comparison between professional disciplines. Standardised measures were used within the caseload audit and practitioner survey where feasible. The caseload audit employed the Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index with categories collapsed into four groups using conventional thresholds (independent – high or total dependence) (Mahony and Barthel, 1965). The practitioner survey included elements of the Job Content Questionnaire (Karasek, 1979) relating to measures of co-worker and supervisory support, job demands and
Article_Final_for_NIHR_June_2016.logged.docx