Wanting to be an OT but most of the jobs require driving :(

[motherwithachild]

I would like to be an OT after a few years out of education.

After working in a hospital, I feel that it is the right decision for me.
However, I do not drive and when looking at the different jobs a lot of them require access to a car / driving license which I do not have either of them.
I do not want to learn to drive as I have a lot of anxiety about being behind a wheel after being involved in a car accident as a passenger which was not my fault so please do not recommend that I should learn :)
Even jobs working on wards require a driving license or access to a car not just community - about 97% of the jobs I looked at need a driving license and that was jobs all around the UK :(
Do you all think that I should continue to want to be an OT or not?
What do you all think about this?
I have applied for sept 2022 before the deadline may I add

Hi, I used to be an OT, did the job for ten years. I now work in the charitable sector and have done many varied jobs. For each job I use the many skills I learnt as an OT, it really is an excellent career, and can lead to exciting roles, not just as an Occupational Therapist.

I didn’t drive when I first started but was based in a hospital so it wasn’t really an issue. When we went on home visits, there was always another member of staff with me (either a physio or an OTA) and I always went with someone who could drive. I also worked in a hospital where the policy was to take taxis for home visits. I did however learn to drive and this opened the door to more job opportunities and I got my first senior post in a community based setting so driving round to patients houses in the community. Loved that job, I didn’t personally like working in the hospital. But it might be that, that suits you more. Do the job adverts say that driving is essential or desirable? When I worked on the wards, it wasn’t a requirement (ten - fifteen years ago). Is learning to drive a possibility?

As an OT student, you will have placements so will need to think about how you would get there and back everyday. Again I didn’t my drive at this point and relied on public transport to get to placements which wasn’t an issue at all.
I say go for it!!

Sorry, I’ve just re read and seen your part about not learning to drive. Apologies for putting in my post, I was distracted with making tea. Totally understandable but I feel shouldn’t put you off it as a career.

The OT’s I know all drive, I think it would potentially limit job opportunities not to be able to. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

I would however recommend getting CBT to deal with the anxiety around driving. It can be treated very effectively, even if you feel it is impossible.

Good luck whatever you decide.

In our hospital we all have to drive, it’s in our contract. They have taken on a few non drivers in my time there but all have been working towards taking their test.

I would still apply to study but be aware that you may struggle with placements depending on where you are based.

Have you ever sought therapy regarding your accident?

@ninjaturtlesmum

Hi, I used to be an OT, did the job for ten years. I now work in the charitable sector and have done many varied jobs. For each job I use the many skills I learnt as an OT, it really is an excellent career, and can lead to exciting roles, not just as an Occupational Therapist.

I didn’t drive when I first started but was based in a hospital so it wasn’t really an issue. When we went on home visits, there was always another member of staff with me (either a physio or an OTA) and I always went with someone who could drive. I also worked in a hospital where the policy was to take taxis for home visits. I did however learn to drive and this opened the door to more job opportunities and I got my first senior post in a community based setting so driving round to patients houses in the community. Loved that job, I didn’t personally like working in the hospital. But it might be that, that suits you more. Do the job adverts say that driving is essential or desirable? When I worked on the wards, it wasn’t a requirement (ten - fifteen years ago). Is learning to drive a possibility?

As an OT student, you will have placements so will need to think about how you would get there and back everyday. Again I didn’t my drive at this point and relied on public transport to get to placements which wasn’t an issue at all.
I say go for it!!

Driving is essential that's what most of them said. Thank you for your feedback :)

@TabithaTittlemouse

In our hospital we all have to drive, it’s in our contract. They have taken on a few non drivers in my time there but all have been working towards taking their test.

I would still apply to study but be aware that you may struggle with placements depending on where you are based.

Have you ever sought therapy regarding your accident?

Thank you. I have thought about therapy and may go to a therapist this year and then I may learn to drive afterwards if I feel ready

OP you may want to try hypnotherapy. A man I met while having it was having it because he had a fear of motorway driving. He said it had been very successful for him

Sorry but I cannot imagine many jobs would accept a non driver. Even if based in a hospital you would still travel for training or meetings and home visits are always a possibility. Equipment can be heavy and bulky. This week even outside of my patient work, I have had to drive to a uni about student placements, drive to collect PPE for the department and drive bloody cqc inspectors about. A non driver could not have done it.

Definitely still go for it! Yes, not driving may make placements more difficult and will limit jobs opportunities, but there are still roles that you can do. I’m clinic based and being able to drive isn’t in my job description. A lot can change in the 3 years it takes to qualify too!

My daughter is an OT and doesn't drive. She works in London so uses public transport. She does understand that she should take her driving test soon though

It is a problem as even ward jobs do often require home visits.

However it’s not essential at our hospital. One of our band 7s doesn’t drive and has no intention of learning. If an access visit is needed she would just take one of the rehab assistants that drives along with her. We often go in pairs anyway.

So it’s not impossible, but would definitely limit your options.

Hmm, not driving completely rules you out of community work. Physical heath ward work requires access visits and other tasks as PP have said. Other settings like SEN schools/colleges, prisons, mental health wards are more likely to accommodate you but it depends on you being interested in any of these areas, the settings being accessible by public transport and a job popping up just when you need one!

It could all work out, it's easy to say go for it & I'm all for encouraging people into the profession! But, you don't want to invest time and money on a qualification & then struggle to find a job you want.

100% try to address the anxiety around driving issue & look at settings outside of the NHS as part of your preparation for applying. It's worth it for such a brilliant and rewarding career 💚

It will depend a bit on where you live - you’ll be fine not driving working in a hospital in London (ward OTs do go on home visits, but either with somebody else, or you can easily use public transport).

Working in the community, or somewhere more rural with inadequate public transport, is likely to be tougher.

Is your anxiety medically diagnosed and long term? If so, your employer is required to make reasonable adjustments for your disability, since that is what it is.

@safariboot

Is your anxiety medically diagnosed and long term? If so, your employer is required to make reasonable adjustments for your disability, since that is what it is.

Medically diagnosed by an educational psychologist and I have had autism since the age of 3 :)

There are other allied health professions that overlap with OT but don’t require driving. What is it about OT that appeals to you? Maybe there’s something else that would be a better fit? There are so many interesting jobs out there - I’m an OT but I think I’d have been equally happy as a Prosthetist or Physio. Or a Speech Therapist.

@motherwithachild good luck with whatever you decide to do.

@StateOfTheUterus

There are other allied health professions that overlap with OT but don’t require driving. What is it about OT that appeals to you? Maybe there’s something else that would be a better fit? There are so many interesting jobs out there - I’m an OT but I think I’d have been equally happy as a Prosthetist or Physio. Or a Speech Therapist.

This is a good point. My DD is v v v short sighted and had a speech delay so we've had contact with a few different professions. I got the impression that being a paediatric speech therapist is A LOT of fun 😅 the orthoptists are cool too! There's literally LOADS of allied health professions to choose from.... but OT is the best 😉💚