Massachusetts Occupational Therapy Supervision and Delegation 

Supervision Definitions

Direct Supervision. A process by which a supervisor is on the premises and available to provide supervision in the form of aid, direction, and instruction when procedures or activities are performed.

Supervisor. A person who holds a current unrestricted license issued by the Board authorizing such person to practice the same discipline as the supervisee(s). A supervisor possesses skill, experience or education in excess of that possessed by the supervisee(s). The supervisor is responsible for the standard of services performed by the supervisee(s) and shall have knowledge of the patients/clients receiving treatment from the supervisee(s) and the issues/problems involving such treatment. A supervisor must co-sign all treatment documentation of a temporary license holder, as set forth in 259 CMR 3.03 and 5.04.

Supervision. A process by which two or more people participate in joint effort to establish, maintain and elevate a level of performance. Supervision requires the physical presence of all parties at regularly scheduled supervision sessions. Supervision is structured according to the supervisee's qualifications, position, level of preparation, depth of experience and the environment within which the supervisee functions.

Responsibilities when Supervising/Delegating

Adequate supervision of occupational therapy assistants and occupational therapy aides requires, at a minimum, that a supervising occupational therapist perform the following:

• Provide initial evaluation;
• Interpret available information concerning the individual under care;
• Develop plan of care, including long and short term goals;
• Identify and document precautions, special problems, contraindications, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation;
• Select and delegate appropriate tasks in the plan of care;
• Designate or establish channels of written and oral communication;
• Assess competence of supportive personnel to perform assigned tasks;
• Direct and supervise supportive personnel in delegated tasks; and
• Re-evaluate, adjust plan of care when necessary, perform final evaluation and establish follow-up plan.

Citations

259 CMR 3.00

259 CMR 3.02