What Managerial Skills Do Newly Graduated Occupational Therapists Need? A View from Their Managers

Ninety-four occupational therapy managers, representing a response rate of 59%, completed a questionnaire examining perceptions of the relative importance of various managerial skills for new graduates in occupational therapy. The set of skills perceived to be the most important related to the management of future planning and skills; within this set, time management, prioritising work tasks and planning goals for a work team were emphasised. The second most important set of skills related to organisational practices, such as being an advocate for the department/unit, and the third most important set of skills related to team leadership skills. Just over half of the occupational therapy managers who responded (55%) agreed that managerial skills should be taught at undergraduate level. The implications of these findings for curriculum development in undergraduate occupational therapy courses are discussed.

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