Changed career to retrain + start over?

[BlueRaspberry7]

I'm seriously considering a career change from a senior comms / marketing role to occupational therapy or psychology. I have a child with SEN - now thriving - and would love to work with families and children in this area.

This would mean giving up pros (decent pay, freedom to work remotely and during school hours) and cons - mainly feeling deeply unfulfilled in my area of work and not at my best mentally due to isolated WFH pattern and constant client management and feedback.

Would really like to hear from those who've made a similar switch, positive or negative experiences.

How did you manage training costs/ loss of income if you had mortgage responsibilities?

I went from primary teaching to occupational therapy retraining at 40. I work in community learning disabilities and have a very flexible, hybrid and creative role with the benefits of autonomy but loads of support when needed.

I was the last year to train under the bursary (for which I am very grateful!). I managed well on this along with supplementary weekend bank work in the local mental health trust. My days at uni were 4 days more or less around school hours but placements were full time with little wiggle room. However, you know at the start of the course when placements will be do plenty of time to plan ahead.

I would recommend some shadowing if your local trust allow it as OT roles vary massively - I was never in yo physical health OT work and was able to focus on mental health and LD in my placements.

If I was considering it now I would look for an OT apprenticeship - band 4 pay for 4 years and then no tie in to stay with your employer once qualified but a guaranteed Band 5 job if you do stay. I became a band 6 after 2 years qualified so good pay for an interesting and valuable job.

Apprenticeship roles are a bit light on the ground currently and likely to be competitive but more are rolling out all the time. OT is a profession where life experience and being able to ‘walk a mile in someone’s shoes’ is really valuable which lends itself well to mature students.

@LeoTimmyandVi your current role sounds fantastic, it sounds like you made the right choice - thanks so much for your tips re: shadowing and apprenticeships.

What area of psychology were you thinking of? Both educational and clinical psychology are immensely competitive.

www.aep.org.uk/information-applications-initial-training-england

www.clearing-house.org.uk/system/files/2023-08/Number%20of%20places%20for%202023%20entry.pdf

@BlueRaspberry7 - just wanted to say that I so admire you for considering this career change, and for being willing to walk away from the money to do something that geuinely helps other people. Respect!

I wish you all the best.

I changed career but nothing that would remotely help you except to say that never regretted it for even a minute. I went from teaching to farming. So from a steady income & fairly steady routine to the vagaries of weather, animals, bureaucracy.
Clarkson’s Farm gives some idea. 😂

I tried something similar and after 5 years Id had enough of the nightmare public sector environment lack of funding, lack of support. I've now moved back to a corporate role but HR based using my comms experience. I enjoy it a lot actually. Could that be an option, do a Org Psyc masters maybe part time? Giving up wfh with a sen child is really hard too.

Really helpful to hear everyone's experiences, thanks.

@SuperGreens congrats on finding your ideal role eventually. Doc you have to do any additional training to move into HR-based role? Can I ask what the role is that involves comms?

Really like the suggestion of studying part time for a masters - but I think for organisational psychology it would be many years of training following a masters.

I’m a mature student who has just graduated in OT. Look up the Learning Support Fund (basically half price tuition fees and a bit of money towards childcare). PM me if you want.

@Redlorryyellowlorryblue congrats on graduating and thanks for the offer of messaging - I will.