Context of change in community mental health occupational therapy: Part two

Abstract

This is the second part of a report on a study that used focused ethnography to explore an occupational therapist's role in a community mental health team. Following collaborative data analysis, it was found that the context of change was an important influence on the occupational therapist. The practitioner was trying to develop her role as a mental health worker and an occupational therapist in a multiprofessional team. The team was working within a changing organization, with little opportunity to explore the impact of change. It is recommended that further development of professional roles is a collaborative endeavour, involving all professions and the service users. Institutional ethnography is identified for future research, so that the relationships and influences throughout the entire mental health-care system can be explored. The effect of organizational change on the working lives of health-care professionals needs to be acknowledged and actively managed.