How to be a better OT

Struggling to write long, complex OT reports without working unpaid hours? Or finding that your funding requests keep getting knocked back? Discover 5 essential principles to streamline your report writing, manage referrer expectations, and clearly articulate your client's support needs. Episode Summary: In the Series 2 premiere of the How to Be a Better OT podcast, host Clare Batkin moves into a brand-new series focused on solving the most requested clinical topics. Kicking off with report writing – a vital skill for OTs working in the NDIS, aged care, and private practice – Clare shares 5 key tips to elevate your reports. Learn how to clarify the "functional why," gather robust multi-source data, write clear impairment-focused descriptions, format for busy readers, and apply the PEO model to your own writing routine. Key Takeaways: - Clarifying Purpose & Expectations: Why you must understand why an FCA or AT report is needed and how to manage referrer expectations when available funding hours are limited. - Information Gathering That Makes or Breaks Your Report: Why relying solely on client interviews isn't enough. Discover how to incorporate carer feedback, MDT reports, and creative functional observations. - Describing Function Clearly: The 4 critical elements every description must include (data source, quantification, assistance needed, and risks). Learn why NDIS reports require an impairment-focused approach over strengths-focused language, and why the word "independent" should be used with extreme caution. - Formatting for Busy Readers: How to make 15+ page reports skimmable for NDIA planners using section subheadings, hyperlinked tables of contents, dot points, footnotes/endnotes, and an executive summary. - Applying the PEO Lens to Your Writing: How analysing your Person factors (working in short bursts vs. half-day blocks), Environment factors (office body-doubling vs. quiet work-from-home days), and Occupation factors (brain-dumping function before writing recommendations) can eliminate writing overwhelm. Links & Resources Mentioned: - Freebie Tutorial: Watch the YOTT Tutorial: NDIS Report Writing in the Learning Library or via YouTube and see visual examples of how to describe your clients function. - Freebie Download: Access the Executive Summary Example Template from the Learning Library. - Blog Post: Read the guide on applying the PEO Approach to Report Writing. - Course: Enrol in The OT Guide to Completing a Functional Capacity Assessment online course. - Course: Learn how to capture and report capacity building progress in the online course Measuring Outcomes to Prove Our Value. - Deep Dive: Access functional assessment tutorials inside the Connector Membership or Skills for OT CPD Bundle. - Template: Purchase the white-labelled FCA Report Template. - 1:1 Support: Book a private 1:1 report review or Zoom consultation directly with Clare. If you found these report writing tips helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a colleague! Be sure to tune in next time for Episode 2 of Series 2, where we will cover how to choose and use standardised assessments across any clinical setting. 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!

Want to become a more confident, competent occupational therapist but don't know exactly where to focus your learning and professional development? Episode Summary: In this debut episode of the How to Be a Better OT podcast, host and "Your OT Tutor" founder Clare Batkin introduces her mission to make professional development simple, practical, and worth it for OTs. Clare shares her 17-year journey through diverse clinical settings and unveils her signature framework: The Foundations of OT Success. Whether you are a student, a new grad, or an experienced clinician, this podcast will help you develop the core skills you need to excel and love what you do. Key Takeaways: - Meet Your Host: Learn about Clare's diverse 17-year OT career, spanning from acute ICU to community NDIS, and how her passion for clinical education led to the creation of Your OT Tutor. - The Foundations of OT Success: A high-level breakdown of the core skills every OT needs, from "Thinking like an OT" and "Being an OT Detective," to solving problems that change lives. - The Missing Link in OT Education: Discover why Foundation 1, "Empower Yourself," is the crucial first step for providing the energy and brain space needed for developing as an OT. - A Sneak Peek at the Podcast: Find out what to expect in Series 1 ("How-To" guides for core OT skills) and Series 2 (Clare’s take on hot topics in the OT world). Links & Resources Mentioned: - Take the Free Self-Reflection Quiz to identify your learning priorities based on the Foundations of OT Success - Access the free Your OT Tutor Learning Library, featuring over 100 resources for OTs and allied health professionals - Connect with Clare and sign-up for her LinkedIn newsletter here - Join Clare on Echo, the new social media platform exclusively for allied health professionals - If you found this introduction helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow OT who wants to grow in their career! 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!