Occupational Therapist – Healthcare Rehabilitation

A leading healthcare and rehabilitation organization in Abu Dhabi is seeking Occupational Therapist to provide comprehensive assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation services to adult and pediatric patients with physical, neurological, developmental, and cognitive conditions. The successful candidate will manage a diverse caseload, develop individualized treatment plans, and work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to maximize patients’ independence, functional abilities, and quality of life.

The role requires strong clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, and the ability to deliver patient-centered care across hospital, rehabilitation, and home care settings while ensuring compliance with UAE healthcare regulations and professional standards.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Care

• Conduct comprehensive occupational therapy assessments for adult and pediatric patients with complex rehabilitation needs.
• Develop individualized treatment plans based on evidence-based practice and patient-centered rehabilitation goals.
• Deliver occupational therapy interventions to improve functional independence in daily living, mobility, cognition, sensory integration, and upper limb function.
• Assess, implement, monitor, and evaluate therapy outcomes while modifying treatment plans as required.
• Provide rehabilitation services in hospital, rehabilitation, and home care environments.
• Utilize advanced clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills when managing complex patient cases.
• Assess patients requiring adaptive equipment, assistive devices, splints, wheelchairs, and environmental modifications.
• Recommend appropriate equipment and home adaptations to improve patient safety and independence.
• Conduct risk assessments related to equipment use, transfers, mobility, and manual handling.
• Educate patients, caregivers, and families regarding rehabilitation techniques, adaptive strategies, and home exercise programs.
• Provide emotional support and counseling to patients and families adjusting to new or chronic disabilities.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation, treatment records, progress notes, and discharge reports.

Patient Safety & Quality Care

• Deliver care in accordance with evidence-based occupational therapy standards and UAE healthcare regulations.
• Ensure safe therapeutic practices during patient assessment, transfers, positioning, and rehabilitation activities.
• Identify, report, and manage clinical risks and adverse events.
• Participate in clinical audits, quality improvement initiatives, and patient safety programs.
• Monitor treatment effectiveness and recommend service improvements where appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with infection prevention, health and safety, and clinical governance policies.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with physicians, physiotherapists, speech therapists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and rehabilitation teams.
• Participate actively in multidisciplinary meetings, case conferences, and discharge planning.
• Communicate patient progress effectively with healthcare professionals and caregivers.
• Coordinate rehabilitation goals with patients, families, and community support services.

Leadership & Supervision

• Mentor and supervise junior occupational therapists and rehabilitation staff.
• Support performance evaluations, clinical supervision, and staff development activities.
• Assist less experienced therapists in prioritizing patient care and managing clinical workloads.
• Provide expert guidance on equipment prescription, manual handling techniques, and rehabilitation planning.
• Lead educational sessions, workshops, and in-service training programs for clinical staff.

Equipment & Rehabilitation Planning

• Assess patients for assistive technologies, mobility aids, adaptive equipment, and environmental modifications.
• Coordinate equipment recommendations and installation while ensuring patient safety.
• Conduct manual handling assessments and recommend safe transfer techniques.
• Advise healthcare teams on rehabilitation equipment selection and appropriate usage.
• Monitor outcomes following equipment provision and make necessary adjustments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited institution.
• Valid DOH/DHA License or DOH/DHA Eligibility as an Occupational Therapist.
• Active professional registration/license from home country.
• Minimum 2 years of clinical experience in occupational therapy within a hospital, rehabilitation, or home healthcare setting.
• Experience treating adult and pediatric rehabilitation patients is highly preferred.
• Certification in manual handling, neurological rehabilitation, or assistive technology is an advantage.