Occupational Therapy Contracts: A Supplier's Guide

Occupational therapy (OT) sits at the intersection of health and social care, which makes its procurement landscape unusually broad. OT contracts range from hospital-based functional assessment to community reablement and local-authority home-adaptation services, commissioned by NHS bodies and councils alike.

The main OT contract types

• Reablement, short-term intensive support to restore independence after illness or hospital
• Home adaptations & equipment, assessment and provision, often council-led
• Hospital & community OT, functional assessment, discharge support
• Vocational rehabilitation, return-to-work OT for employers and insurers

Who buys occupational therapy

Because OT spans sectors, you will see it commissioned by integrated care boards, NHS trusts, and, very often, local authority adult social care teams. That means watching both healthcare portals and social care procurement routes.

Winning OT contracts

• Evidence independence outcomes and reduced onward care needs
• Show fast assessment turnaround, delays create discharge and hospital-flow problems buyers care about
• Demonstrate an integrated health-and-social-care approach
• Address the OT workforce supply challenge credibly

Finding OT tenders

OT services appear on Find a Tender, Contracts Finder and local authority portals, and on TED Europa in the EU. They share CPV codes with the wider allied health family, see the allied health procurement guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is occupational therapy health or social care procurement?

Both. OT is commissioned by NHS bodies and by local-authority social care teams, so relevant tenders appear across both routes.

What outcomes do OT commissioners look for?

Restored independence, reduced need for ongoing care, safe and timely hospital discharge, and fast assessment turnaround.