AH2S08 - Professional, Legal and Ethical Issues in Occupational Therapy 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: AH2S08
Module Title: Professional, Legal and Ethical Issues in Occupational Therapy
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Allied Health and Chiropractic
Faculty Sub Group: Occupational Therapy
Module Leader: Abigail Stephens, Sally Scott-Roberts
Module Team: Zoe Williams, Bethan Kent, Filipa Machado
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100249 - occupational therapy
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

To enable the student to develop, evaluate and apply knowledge of the professional, legal, and ethical issues to occupational therapy practice.

Content Summary

Exploration of embracing risk to enable occupational choice to facilitate person-centred practice.

Occupational justice, locally, nationally, and globally. Decolonising thinking.

Geonomics and genetics testing and the implications of ‘knowing’ on occupational choice and participations.

Exploration and application of professional codes, including decision making, accountability and the duty of candour.

Exploration of local and national policies and procedures and how these impact and shape practice (including, but not limited to, complaints, confidentiality, consent, data protection, diversity and inclusion, ethics, health and safety, risk management and safeguarding).

Professional, legal, and ethical concepts and principles applied to research and evidence-based Occupational Therapy practice. Consideration of ethical dilemmas throughout the life cycle.

Reflect on and debate topics including those that are seen to be challenging or contentious. Promoting occupational justice and challenging inequalities to access enabling occupations participation

Recognising, and preventing discrimination and promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion within Occupational Therapy practice, including the choice not to participate. How access to services differ when crossing boarders.

Understand equality legislation and how this applies to own practice.

Recognise the characteristics and consequences of barriers to inclusion, including for socially isolated groups and discuss ways to actively challenge these barriers, supporting the implementation of change wherever possible.

Political awareness and developing influencing skills in values-based, compassionate leadership as an occupational therapist in the 21st Century.

Principles of vulnerability and safeguarding, deprivation of liberty, protection and safeguards and their application across the life cycle.

Autonomy, advocacy, empowering and supporting individuals’ choice, informed consent, facilitating decision making.

The importance of gaining informed and valid consent and ensuring confidentiality of all mediums, including the security of written and digital information.

A consideration of compassionate leadership and Malcomess Care Aims Framework in practice in context of equality, diversity, and inclusion framework.

Courageous conversations when advocating for self and others.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 10
Tutorial 10
Practical classes and workshops 6
Independent Study 100
Directed Study 45
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 4
Formative Assessment - Independent 10
Groupwork 15
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Analyse the legal, ethical, and professional concepts underpinning safe and effective Occupational Therapy practice.
LO2 Apply a detailed knowledge of legal, ethical, and professional concepts to Occupational Therapy practice

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Care Plan 1 A case study encountered in practice that appraises and applies relevant legal, ethical, and professional issues in occupational therapy practice. 0 3000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Care Plan 1

Reading List

Dimond, B. (2010) Legal Aspects of Occupational Therapy. 3rd edn. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

Equality and Human Rights Commission (2019) What are Human Rights? https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/human-rights/what-are-human-rights

Equality and Human Rights Commission (2018) Understanding equality. What is equality? https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/secondary-education-resources/useful-information/understanding-equality#:~:text=Equality%20is%20about%20ensuring%20that,of%20their%20lives%20and%20talents.

General Medical Council (2017) Confidentiality: good practice in handling patient information. Manchester: GMC.

Great Britain. Parliament (2018) Data Protection Act 2018. London: Stationery Office. Available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents/enacted

Great Britain. Parliament (2014) The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. (SI 2936). London: Stationery Office. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/14/contents

HCPC: Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics. https://www.hcpc-uk.org/globalassets/resources/standards/standards-of-conduct-performance-and-ethics.pdf

Health and Care Professions Council (2013) Standards of Proficiency: Occupational Therapists. https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/standards-of-proficiency/occupational-therapists/ London: HCPC.

Herring, J. (2020) Medical Law and Ethics. 8th edn. Oxford: Oxford University press.

Mandelstam, M. (2019) Safeguarding Adults and the Law: An A-Z of law and practice. 3rd edn. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Mandelstam M. (2021) Manual Handling in Health and Social Care: An A-Z of law and practice. 2nd edn. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Mental Health Foundation (2019) Mental capacity. London: Mental Health Foundation. Available at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/m/mental-capacity

Royal College of Occupational Therapy (2021) Professional Standards for Occupational Therapy Practice, Conduct and Ethics. London: RCOT.

Royal College of Occupational Therapists (2018) Embracing Risk; Enabling Choice: guidance for occupational therapists. London: RCOT. Available at: https://www.rcot.co.uk/sites/default/files/RCOT%20Embracing%20Risk%20FINAL%20WEB_0.pdf

Royal College of Occupational Therapists (2018) Keeping Records: Guidance for occupational therapists. 4th edn. London: RCOT. Available at: https://www.rcot.co.uk/practice-resources/rcot-publications/downloads/keeping-records

Sakellariou, D. and Pollard, N. (eds.) (2016) Occupational Therapies Without Borders: Integrating justice with practice. 2nd edn. Edinburgh: Elsevier.

Rahman, S. and Myers, R. (2019) Courage in Healthcare: a necessary virtue or warning sign? Los Angeles: Sage.

Townsend, E. A. (2012) ‘Boundaries and bridges to adult mental health: Critical occupational and capabilities perspectives of justice’, Journal of Occupational Science, 19, pp. 8-24.