What Happens in an Occupational Therapy Workplace Assessment
If you’ve never referred an employee before, it’s completely normal to ask:
“What actually happens during an occupational therapy assessment?”
Understanding the process helps you feel confident and ensures your employee gets the most from the support.
What is a workplace assessment?
A workplace assessment looks at how an employee’s health, physical or mental, is affecting their ability to do their job.
The goal is simple: to identify practical ways to support them to stay in or return to work safely and effectively.
Step 1: Referral and initial information
The process starts with a referral.
You’ll typically provide:
Basic employee details
Reason for referral
Any relevant background information
This allows the occupational therapist to understand the situation before making contact.
Step 2: Employee assessment
The occupational therapist will speak directly with the employee, usually via video call or phone.
This conversation explores:
Current challenges at work
How their health is impacting day-to-day tasks
What support they feel they need
It’s a supportive, confidential discussion focused on practical outcomes.
Step 3: Work-focused analysis
The therapist will assess:
Job role and responsibilities
Workplace demands
Barriers to performance or return
This is where occupational therapists add real value, linking health with actual job requirements.
Step 4: Recommendations and report
After the assessment, the therapist writes the report. Return Well checks it, and your employee then reviews it and can ask for factual corrections before consenting to its release.
You receive it once that is done, usually within 5 working days of the assessment. The report typically includes:
Clear summary of findings
Practical workplace adjustments
Return-to-work recommendations (if applicable)
Guidance for managers
All recommendations are designed to be realistic and actionable.
Step 5: Implementation
You can then:
Put adjustments in place
Support a phased return to work
Use the report to guide conversations with the employee
In some cases, follow-up sessions may be recommended.
Is the process confidential?
Yes. Employee discussions are handled sensitively, and reports focus on:
Functional impact
Workplace recommendations
Personal clinical detail shared in confidence is not included.
Why it works
Occupational therapy assessments are effective because they focus on:
Practical solutions, not just diagnosis
Real workplace context
Early intervention
Clear communication
Therapists are also regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), ensuring professional standards.
When should you arrange an assessment?
You don’t need to wait for long-term absence.
Assessments are most effective when:
Issues are emerging
An employee is struggling at work
Someone is returning after absence
Managers need guidance
Make the process simple
We make it easy to arrange occupational therapy workplace assessments across the UK.
Fast referral process
Access to vetted professionals
Clear, practical reports
If you want the detail on when an occupational therapist is the right clinician, and what an assessment costs, see occupational therapy workplace assessments for employers.
Submit a referral today or get in touch to learn more.