Medical Health Questionnaire
Entry to some programmes of study at York St John
University requires applicants to meet non-academic
conditions. Where such conditions are routine, they are
specified in course literature and are part of the standard entry
requirements. One of these conditions is completion of a
Medical Health Questionnaire. These are undertaken to ensure
that applicants who are applying for programmes where they will
graduate with academic awards which also confer the right to
apply for professional qualifications and/or registration with a
professional body, are fit to teach or practice.
The Medical Health Questionnaire will be
sent to you if you are successful at the interview stage and
receive a conditional offer from York St John. Once completed
and returned, the Medical Health Questionnaire is scrutinised by
the University Medical Officer, who may contact your GP for further
information, and a decision is then made as to whether you are
considered fit and able to participate on the
programme.
Please be aware that acceptance for support by
the Disability Advice Team does not guarantee a place. They
do not assess your fitness to teach/practice.
The University is guided by the
professional standards and guidance on health matters provided by
the relevant professional bodies where applicable and by its
statutory duties under the Disability Discrimination Act.
Medical Guidance for Occupational Therapy Applicants
Occupational Therapy is a physically and
psychologically demanding programme and career. It is
important that occupational therapists are fully aware of the
safety issues that protect both the client and themselves.
Whilst you will be taught techniques that maximise safe practice,
it is important that you fully consider whether the duties of an
occupational therapist may exacerbate an existing medical or
psychological condition.
Please remember that our clients are aged between
0-100 and vary in size, weight and levels of independence.
The following examples will give you an insight
into some of the activities that an occupational therapist may be
required to perform:
- Assisting clients to stand, walk, sit and lie
down.
- Assisting clients to wash, bathe and
dress. Clients often need support when standing, or getting
in and out of the bath or shower, or on and off the
toilet.
- Measuring furniture and fittings within a
client’s home, e.g. stairs, toilets, wall space, cupboards, bed,
chairs, etc.
- Assisting clients in and out of a car.
Clients may need assistance to transfer from a wheelchair to a car
seat.
In the mental health area, you may be involved
with clients who are experiencing a variety of traumatic life
events, whose behaviour and/or mood is unpredictable, or who suffer
from enduring mental health problems. This can be extremely
stressful for the occupational therapist, who needs to be able to
provide consistent support and a balanced objective approach in
order to maintain the best standards of care for the client.
The occupational therapist needs to be able to separate any
personal difficulties from the professional needs of the situation,
therefore putting the needs of the client first.