{"id":7513,"date":"2026-01-08T14:59:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:59:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/?post_type=resource&#038;p=7513"},"modified":"2026-03-02T09:45:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T14:45:16","slug":"practice-tips","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/resources\/practice-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Practice Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">Practice Tip of the Week Archive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Look for a new tip shared every week on our social media channels: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CollegeofOTs\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CollegeofOTs\/\">Faceboo<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CollegeofOTs\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CollegeofOTs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">k<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/collegeofots\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/collegeofots\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/college-of-occupational-therapists-of-ontario\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/college-of-occupational-therapists-of-ontario\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also watch our practice tip videos on COTO&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLnonQnHTt4DDPMd2HqfNgynfuIKR_pNYJ\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLnonQnHTt4DDPMd2HqfNgynfuIKR_pNYJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"accordion-stack-wrap \">\n    <div class=\"accordion-stack\" >\n        <div class=\"accordion-stack-inner\">\n\n    \n\n    <div class=\"accordion-details has-fade-in-up block_af75f4101030a6103bf6f295a031d052\" data-open=\"false\" >\n        <div class=\"accordion-summary\" id=\"summary-block_af75f4101030a6103bf6f295a031d052\" aria-controls=\"content-block_af75f4101030a6103bf6f295a031d052\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\">\n            <div class=\"accordion-title\" >2026<\/div>\n            <div class=\"accordion-toggle\">\n                <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"27\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 100 100\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                <rect x=\"45\" y=\"20\" width=\"8\" height=\"60\" fill=\"black\"\/>\n                    <rect x=\"20\" y=\"45\" width=\"60\" height=\"8\" fill=\"black\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div><!-- .accordion-summary -->\n        <div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"content-block_af75f4101030a6103bf6f295a031d052\" aria-labelledby=\"summary-block_af75f4101030a6103bf6f295a031d052\" >\n            <div >\n                <div class=\"accordion-content-inner\">\n\n<p><strong>Client-Centred Care<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Review&nbsp;goals&nbsp;regularly with clients. Care plans should evolve with their progress and needs. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Documentation and Records<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Document the consent conversation\u2014it\u2019s not just the signature on a form. It shows respect, understanding and accountability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Good documentation explains not only what you did, but also why. Clear reasoning supports safe, accountable practice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Complete your notes as soon as possible after sessions. Timely records are more accurate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Practice Standards and Competence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are you assigning tasks? Provide clear instructions, training, and oversight. You remain accountable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Professional Conduct and Ethics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Avoid dual relationships such as additional financial, personal, or professional roles with clients, whenever possible. If they can\u2019t be avoided, address them transparently and ethically.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mistakes happen. Acknowledge them honestly, take corrective action, and learn for the future.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Professional Wellness<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Self-care is professional care. Protect your wellbeing to provide safe client care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After\u202fdifficult situations, debrief with\u202fyour\u202fpeers. Reflection helps build resilience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n    <\/div><!-- .accordion-details -->\n\n\n\n\n    \n\n    <div class=\"accordion-details has-fade-in-up block_a110ad3fd3783361a30fdc657359ae9b\" data-open=\"false\" >\n        <div class=\"accordion-summary\" id=\"summary-block_a110ad3fd3783361a30fdc657359ae9b\" aria-controls=\"content-block_a110ad3fd3783361a30fdc657359ae9b\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\">\n            <div class=\"accordion-title\" >2025<\/div>\n            <div class=\"accordion-toggle\">\n                <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"27\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 100 100\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                <rect x=\"45\" y=\"20\" width=\"8\" height=\"60\" fill=\"black\"\/>\n                    <rect x=\"20\" y=\"45\" width=\"60\" height=\"8\" fill=\"black\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div><!-- .accordion-summary -->\n        <div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"content-block_a110ad3fd3783361a30fdc657359ae9b\" aria-labelledby=\"summary-block_a110ad3fd3783361a30fdc657359ae9b\" >\n            <div >\n                <div class=\"accordion-content-inner\">\n\n<p><strong>Client-Centred Care<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Listen actively\u2014clients are experts in their own lives. Collaboration begins with listening. Understanding your client\u2019s perspective helps create meaningful, effective goals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Documentation and Records<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Write clinical notes as if your client may read them. Respectful, professional language matters. Professional documentation reflects the care you provide. Always write with accuracy and respect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid uncommon abbreviations in client files. Clarity ensures safe communication between occupational therapists and their clients.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Professional Conduct<\/strong> <strong>and Ethics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Always obtain informed consent before starting care. Consent is an ongoing process, not a one-time signature. Clear communication builds trust and ensures clients understand their care every step of the way.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Think twice before posting on social media. Client details should never be shared online, even indirectly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be cautious about accepting gifts. Even small tokens can create real or perceived conflicts of interest. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Professional Wellness<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Facing a tough practice case? Seek supervision or mentorship. Support strengthens competence\u2014the Practice team at COTO provides consultations. You\u2019re not alone in navigating complex situations. Reach out when you need guidance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n    <\/div><!-- .accordion-details -->\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div><!-- .accordion-stack -->\n<\/div><!-- .accordion-stack-wrap -->\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Practice Tip of the Week Archive Look for a new tip shared every week on our social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. You can also watch our practice tip videos on COTO&#8217;s YouTube channel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"wp-custom-template-sidebar-page","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":""},"resource-audience":[],"resource-topic":[],"resource-type":[],"class_list":["post-7513","resource","type-resource","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/7513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resource"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/7513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8104,"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/7513\/revisions\/8104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"resource-audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-audience?post=7513"},{"taxonomy":"resource-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-topic?post=7513"},{"taxonomy":"resource-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-type?post=7513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}