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Do you need to complete an OT self-care assessment for your client, but you’re not sure where to start or what needs to be covered? Discover how to use a non-standardised self-care assessment to uncover your client's true capacity and support needs.

Episode Summary: In this episode of the How to Be a Better OT podcast, host Clare Batkin breaks down one of the absolute pillars of adult occupational therapy: the non-standardised self-care assessment. Focusing on showering, toileting, dressing, and grooming, Clare explains how observing these routines provides invaluable insights into how a client's physical, cognitive, sensory, and psychological impairments impact their overall functioning. She shares her strategic planning process, tips for navigating hospital ward and community logistics, the "Pause, Prompt, Praise" framework, and how to translate your observations into solid recommendations for home equipment, support packages, or rehabilitation.

Key Takeaways:

• The "Why": Learn why a self-care assessment is about much more than just whether a person can wash; it's a powerful tool to understand baseline function, safety for discharge, and functional cognition.
• Strategic Planning: Discover why you should assess tasks in the way the client normally performs them, and how to choose the right amount of tasks to assess depending on your client’s capacity.
• Hospital vs. Community Logistics: Learn how to book assessments with ward nurses to avoid scheduling clashes, and how community OTs can manage limited funding by using "dry runs" or simulations.
• The Pause, Prompt, Praise Framework: How holding back and allowing safe mistakes reveals true cognitive capacity, and how to deliver graded prompts (from non-specific to direct) to keep the assessment going.
• Tips from the Field: Why you always need at least four towels for a hospital assessment, and how to stay dry when you dare to give the patient full control of a handheld shower hose.
• Standardised vs. Non-Standardised: Why popular tools like the FIM or Modified Barthel Index are actually scored using your non-standardised observations, rather than being completely separate tests.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Deep Dive: Access the full recorded webinars on self-care assessments, functional cognitive assessments and functional mobility assessments, along with clinical reasoning guides, and documentation examples by joining the Connector Membership.
• Freebie: Access more than 100 clinical resources in the Free Learning Library.

If you found this step-by-step guide to self-care assessments helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a colleague! Be sure to tune in next time for the final episode of Series 1, where we will cover how to work collaboratively with support workers.

Want to continue learning with Clare? Here are your options:

• Check out my FREE Learning Library full of resources and courses
• Sign-up for one-on-one or group training and support
• Book a time for a chat to see how I can help
• Sign-up for a Your OT Tutor membership
• Follow me on social media – vist my Linktree for the links you need!

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Do you freeze up when you need to give a clinical handover, or find yourself jumping back and forth and fumbling your words? Discover how to use the gold-standard ISBAR framework to deliver logical, concise, and highly effective handovers to nurses, supervisors, and multidisciplinary teams.

Episode Summary: In this episode of the How to Be a Better OT podcast, host Clare Batkin tackles a critical communication skill that is guaranteed to pop up in every single clinical caseload: the clinical handover. Clare demystifies the jargon and introduces the widely respected ISBAR framework. She shares practical, real-world examples, ranging from a busy hospital ward shower update to an OT supervision session, and breaks down the five most common communication roadblocks that students and new grads face, offering targeted, actionable strategies to overcome them.

Key Takeaways:

• Why Handover Matters: Learn how structured clinical handovers ensure continuity of care, protect patient safety, drive team collaboration, and clearly establish clinical accountability.
• The ISBAR Framework Decoded: A step-by-step walkthrough of the Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation framework.
• Real-Life OT Examples: Hear exactly how ISBAR sounds in practice, with a ward handover for Mrs. Jones and a community OT supervision scenario for Mrs. Williams.
• Overcoming 5 Common Roadblocks: Practical communication strategies for OTs who struggle with medical jargon, perfectionism, introvert shyness, speaking in a random order, or being too long-winded.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Freebie download: Join over 3,300 clinicians and download the Clinical Handover Template and Cheat Sheet in the Free Learning Library.
• Interactive Practice: Join the Connector Membership to access monthly "practice your skill sessions" where you can role-play clinical handovers in a safe, supportive space.
• 1:1 Support: Book a private clinical supervision session directly with Clare to help navigate your unique placement or workplace communication challenges: [Insert Link Here].

If you found this guide to clinical handovers helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow OT! Be sure to tune in to the next episode when we will be shifting our focus to another foundational OT skill: how to complete a self-care assessment.

Want to continue learning with Clare? Here are your options:

• Check out my FREE Learning Library full of resources and courses
• Sign-up for one-on-one or group training and support
• Book a time for a chat to see how I can help
• Sign-up for a Your OT Tutor membership
• Follow me on social media – vist my Linktree for the links you need!

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Do you feel overwhelmed by the high stakes of managing pressure injury risks? Discover the key principles of pressure care to make an immediate, life-changing impact in your occupational therapy practice.

Episode Summary: In this episode of the How to Be a Better OT podcast, host Clare Batkin breaks down a topic guaranteed to pop up on most clinical caseloads: pressure injury risk management. While pressure care is a massive field, Clare delivers an "in a nutshell" guide covering what pressure injuries are, how to conduct thorough risk and functional assessments, how to select the right assistive technology (AT), how to deliver targeted client education and what you need to evaluate. Whether you work in a hospital or community setting, you’ll be able to apply the principles covered in this episode.

Key Takeaways:

• Pressure Injuries 101: Understand how injuries occur and about the stages of injuries, and how the simple garden hose analogy can help you explain this to clients.
• The assessment process: Learn about the standardised screening tools like the Waterlow scale, and how a PEO approach to a function-focused non-standardised assessment is essential to understand how pressure injuries may develop for your client.
• Assistive technology prescription: Hear an overview of the obvious cushion and mattress options, as well as a reminder about how other equipment also has a part to play.
• Targeted Client Education: Discover why you must never skip explaining why pressure injuries occur before asking clients to change their behaviour. Revisit the RALFEY framework to ensure you provide the right information at the right time in the right way.
• Ongoing Evaluation: Why evaluation is an ongoing clinical responsibility, not just a discharge task. Learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of your assessment process, education and assistive technology prescription using a mix of standardised and non-standardised approaches.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Tool / Guide: Access the international Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Injuries (available in full and quick reference formats).
• Free Webinars: Watch the collaborative webinars with Unicare Health on Beds, Pressure Care Mattresses, Commodes, and Pressure Care Myths in the Free Learning Library.
• Deep Dive: Watch the full one-hour webinar on Managing Pressure Injury Risks (featuring the step-by-step Mrs Taylor case study), plus resources on the RALFEY Client Education framework, by joining the Connector Membership.
• Advanced Learning: Access the recordings on 24-Hour Positioning and AT Outcome Measures (including the QUEST 2.0 and PIADS) in the Your OT Tutor Journal Club or get even more help in the Alliance Membership.

If you found this podcast helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow OT! Be sure to tune in next time when we will be shifting our focus to an essential communication skill: how to deliver an effective clinical handover.

Want to continue learning with Clare? Here are your options:

• Check out my FREE Learning Library full of resources and courses
• Sign-up for one-on-one or group training and support
• Book a time for a chat to see how I can help
• Sign-up for a Your OT Tutor membership
• Follow me on social media – vist my Linktree for the links you need!

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Do you rely solely on pen-and-paper screening tools like the MoCA to assess your clients' cognition? Discover why observing real-life activities is crucial, and learn a step-by-step process for conducting effective non-standardised functional cognitive assessments.

Episode Summary: In this episode of the How to Be a Better OT podcast, host Clare Batkin dives into non-standardised functional cognitive assessments. Clare explains why observing a client completing a functional task, like making a cup of tea or going to the hospital newsagent with a specific goal in mind, often provides better insights into their real-world safety and independence than standard screening tools. She walks you through a step-by-step process covering how to choose the "just right" activity, set up the environment, run the assessment using the pause, prompt, praise framework, and effectively document your findings to support clear and safe recommendations.

Key Takeaways:

• The "Why" Over Pen-and-Paper: Learn why functional assessments reveal the true interaction of cognitive, physical, and sensory deficits that screening tools might miss.
• Choosing the "Just Right" Task: How to select an activity that is relevant, safe, and challenging enough to reveal difficulties without overwhelming the client, complete with case studies (like Mrs. Smith's showering assessment and Jon's meal prep).
• Strategic Preparation: Discover how to modify tasks for physical limitations, manage environment logistics, and even embed memory tests into your pre-assessment setup.
• The Pause, Prompt, Praise Framework: A breakdown of how to run the assessment by holding back to allow problem-solving, delivering graded prompts (from general to explicit), and offering the right kind of praise to keep clients engaged.
• Documentation and Recommendations: Tips for using data collection templates, choosing between step-by-step or subheading documentation styles, and translating your clinical findings into actionable recommendations for NDIS planners and hospital discharge teams.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Deep Dive: Watch the in-depth on-demand webinar on functional cognitive assessments, plus get documentation examples and tutorials on self-care and standardised cognitive assessments by joining the Connector Membership.
• Advanced Learning: Access specific recordings on how to conduct and write recommendations for meal preparation assessments, including how to overlap assessments with capacity-building therapy, by joining the Alliance Membership.

If you found this step-by-step guide to functional cognitive assessments helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow OT! Be sure to tune in next time when we will be talking about how to effectively address pressure injury risks, from identifying risks to making practical recommendations.

Want to continue learning with Clare? Here are your options:

• Check out my FREE Learning Library full of resources and courses
• Sign-up for one-on-one or group training and support
• Book a time for a chat to see how I can help
• Sign-up for a Your OT Tutor membership
• Follow me on social media – vist my Linktree for the links you need!

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Are you taking your patients on home visits without a clear plan, or wondering if you really need to use a standardised home assessment tool? Discover how to conduct efficient, safe, and goal-oriented home assessments, whether you are facilitating a hospital discharge or doing a community review.

Episode Summary: In this episode of the How to Be a Better OT podcast, host Clare Batkin breaks down exactly what goes into an occupational therapy home assessment. Clare explains the different formats a visit can take, from taking a patient home from the hospital, to conducting access-only visits, and even using telehealth. She walks you through a step-by-step process covering crucial pre-assessment risk planning, prioritising your room-by-room observations, and formulating practical recommendations that actually align with your client's long-term goals.

Key Takeaways:

• Choosing the Right Format: Learn how to decide between an in-person visit with the client, an access visit without the client, or a telehealth assessment using photos or video walkthroughs.
• Safety First: Discover why you must complete a home visit risk assessment before every visit, establish clear boundaries with your workplace, and always "park like a getaway driver".
• Room-by-Room Priorities: A breakdown of exactly what to look for at the access points, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living room, keeping your client's energy levels and specific functional goals in mind.
• Standardised Assessments: The pros and cons of using structured tools, and a look at the differences between the Westmead Home Safety Assessment and the HOME FAST screening tool.
• Making Recommendations: Why you must consider funding resources, prognosis, and long-term housing plans, and work collaboratively when making your recommendations.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Freebie: Watch the short video on home visit risk assessments and download the prompt sheet to create your own checklist in the Free Learning Library.
• Tool: Access the long and short versions of the Westmead Home Safety Assessment
• Tool: Access the HOME FAST (Home Falls and Accident Screening Tool) for client self-assessment or the clinician version.
• Deep Dive: Get the full home assessment recorded webinar, downloadable worksheets, and a tutorial on when and why to do a home visit by joining the Connector Membership.
• Advanced Learning: Join the Alliance Membership for further advanced clinical content, resources, and on-demand webinars.

If you found this step-by-step guide to home assessments helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow OT! Be sure to tune in next time when we will be switching from assessment to intervention and covering our next core skill: how to prescribe assistive technology.

Want to continue learning with Clare? Here are your options:

• Check out my FREE Learning Library full of resources and courses
• Sign-up for one-on-one or group training and support
• Book a time for a chat to see how I can help
• Sign-up for a Your OT Tutor membership
• Follow me on social media – vist my Linktree for the links you need!

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Are you tired of handing out generic education pamphlets that your clients never actually use? Discover how to move beyond the basic handout and deliver client education that results in meaningful change.

Episode Summary: In this episode of the How to Be a Better OT podcast, host Clare Batkin tackles a topic relevant to every OT clinical caseload: how to provide effective client education. It’s not just about rattling off information to tick a box; it’s about providing the right information, at the right time, and in the right way to empower your clients as active decision-makers. Clare introduces her signature RALFEY framework to help you evaluate client readiness, adapt your language, and ensure your clients truly understand and apply your recommendations.

Key Takeaways:

• The RALFEY Framework: A step-by-step acronym (Readiness, Amount, Language, Format, Evaluation, You're Not Done Yet) designed to help you structure impactful education sessions.
• R is for Readiness: Learn why you must think about what type of information your client is ready for before jumping into it.
• A is for Amount: Consider how much time you have and how much your client will be able to process.
• L is for Language: Discover how co-designing examples with clients ensures your education is culturally relevant and matches their health literacy.
• F is for Format: Why you should challenge your "autopilot" written handout approach and explore creative options like using videos, podcasts, or even sticking QR codes directly onto a client's splint.
• E is for Evaluation: Understand the danger of simply asking, "Do you have any questions?" and consider alternatives such as practical demonstrations and gamification.
• Y is for You’re not done yet: This is all about the evaluation that happens after the session is done, so you continue to improve your approach for your current and future clients.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Freebie: Access Annette Tonkin’s guide on working with clients with preconceived ideas, as well as over 100 other free resources in the Learning Library.
• Deep Dive: Get the full client education tutorial and download the step-by-step worksheet by joining the Connector Membership.
• Advanced Learning: Learn how to navigate conflicting goals and motivate hard-to-engage clients in the Alliance Membership.
• Tool: Gamify your group education sessions and test client knowledge using Kahoot.

If you found this breakdown of the RALFEY framework helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow OT!

Be sure to tune in next time when we will cover what an OT home assessment actually involves, whether you are facilitating a safe hospital discharge or conducting a community review.

Want to continue learning with Clare? Here are your options:

• Check out my FREE Learning Library full of resources and courses
• Sign-up for one-on-one or group training and support
• Book a time for a chat to see how I can help
• Sign-up for a Your OT Tutor membership
• Follow me on social media – vist my Linktree for the links you need!