Occupational therapists work with individuals of all ages and groups who are restricted from participation in occupations due to a mismatch between the environment and the person’s abilities. People may experience restriction of daily occupations due to impairment of body structure or functions and factors in the person’s environment: physical, social, attitudinal or legislative. Other citizens without impairment may also be restricted in their opportunities to engage in occupations due to environmental factors, experiencing occupational deprivation (for example refugees, minority groups).
Occupational therapists work in health and social areas in public and private institutions like hospitals, rehabilitation centres and nursing homes as well as in private practices, the community, schools, organisations for public health and companies for assistive technology.
In some countries in Europe occupational therapists can be registered as specialists in for instance paediatrics, mental health, elderly and hand therapy.
Whereas in some countries citizens have direct access to occupational therapists in other countries one needs a referral. The total number of occupational therapists per 100 000 inhabitants increases from south to north and from east to west Europe; the European average more than doubled during the last 25 years.
Wataalamu wa kazi hufanya kazi na watu wa umri wote na vikundi ambao wamezuiliwa kushiriki katika kazi kwa sababu ya kutofautiana kati ya mazingira na uwezo wa mtu. Watu wanaweza kupata kizuizi cha kazi za kila siku kutokana na uharibifu wa muundo wa mwili au kazi na sababu katika mazingira ya mtu: kimwili, kijamii, mtazamo au kisheria. Wananchi wengine wasio na ulemavu wanaweza pia kuwa na mapungufu katika fursa zao za kushiriki katika kazi kwa sababu ya sababu za mazingira, wakipata ukosefu wa kazi (kwa mfano wakimbizi, vikundi vya wachache). Wataalamu wa kazi hufanya kazi katika maeneo ya afya na kijamii katika taasisi za umma na za kibinafsi kama vile hospitali, vituo vya ukarabati na nyumba za uuguzi, pamoja na mazoezi ya kibinafsi, jamii, shule, mashirika ya afya ya umma na makampuni ya teknolojia ya kusaidia. Katika nchi fulani za Ulaya, wataalamu wa matibabu ya kazi wanaweza kusajiliwa kama wataalamu wa, kwa mfano, pediatrics, afya ya akili, wazee na tiba ya mkono. Wakati katika baadhi ya nchi wananchi kuwa na upatikanaji wa moja kwa moja kwa wataalamu wa tiba ya kazi katika nchi nyingine moja inahitaji rufaa. Idadi ya wataalamu wa matibabu ya kazi kwa kila wakazi 100,000 huongezeka kutoka kusini hadi kaskazini na kutoka mashariki hadi magharibi mwa Ulaya, na wastani wa Ulaya umeongezeka zaidi ya mara mbili katika miaka 25 iliyopita.