Work Situation of Psychiatric Occupational Therapists in Sweden: Differences Between County Council and Municipality Employees

Abstract

Since a psychiatric reform came into effect in Sweden in January 1995, municipalities have been responsible for the care of people with psychiatric illness who are no longer supposed to be in need of continuous medical care. In particular, the responsibility for assistance in independent or supported living and meaningful daily occupations was assigned to the municipalities. This reform implied that, among other professionals, occupational therapists were employed by the municipalities to meet the needs of these individuals. This study compared the view among Swedish psychiatric occupational therapists employed in county councils and municipalities regarding how the care was planned and organized, duties and work tasks, theories and models used, co-operation partners, availability of clinical supervision, quality assurance work and job satisfaction. Most differences found in this study between county council-employed and municipality-employed occupational therapists indicated that the municipalities used their occupational therapists to meet the assignment given by the psychiatric reform, or they were logical consequences of the distinct organizations. However, there was no difference in favour of the municipality group as to use of methods related to housing or vocational occupations. These results indicated that the municipalities did not fully use the qualifications of their occupational therapists to meet the clients' needs for assistance in independent or supported living and meaningful daily occupations.