Any Occupational Therapist or a Social Workers here?!

[RebeccaBunchLawyer]

Hi guys,

I really hope someone can give me an idea for my next career step; either from personal professional experience or their opinion, if that makes sense.

So as not to bore, I am an ex teacher approaching 40, who needs a new focus/career step. I hate doing teaching so really can’t entertain using my teaching qualification, but I also have a film degree (slightly useless I imagine but it was close to a 1st), years’ of experience in the care industry and with people with learning disabilities and I loved /love it.

I want a job where I am a.) being a help to others, b.) have no real prep work- like in teaching, c.) I am busy and working hard but not too stressed out or overwhelmed, and d.) sorry- money. I don’t need to be rich, but I need to live and require a job with prospects for promotion and salary increases etc.

I am leaning towards Occupational Therapy and Social Work training. Both would be more or less 2 years’ training. Does anyone have any helpful advice at all? Blunt and honest is fine too.

I really need to progress in my career/life, and currently work as an OAP companion, which I adore doing but it is neither a permanent option nor a mortgage getter/payer!

No advice but I'm a nurse wanting to move into occupational health. I've heard it's the way forward!

I can tell you a bit about social work.

Being a social worker is as full-on as teaching, to be honest. You might lose the marking & planning, but you'll have a lot of paperwork and endless meetings as well as your core work with children/families/your client group.

The statutory nature of your responsibilities will also add an emotional stress you won't have experienced as a teacher (in my opinion! - you have to be accountable for every decision you make and evidence it...it can get incredibly wearing, incredibly quickly). You'll need to be very resilient. Social workers burn out at the same rate if not more so than teachers, in my experience.

Pay scales are also similar to teaching. Moves upwards tend to involve masses more responsibility for only slightly more money.

i'd think very carefully about it.

No idea about OT, but it looks interesting...

a.) being a help to others, b.) have no real prep work- like in teaching, c.) I am busy and working hard but not too stressed out or overwhelmed, and d.) sorry- money

Look VERY carefully at Social Work - a) you may be helping but don't expect people to see it that way - lots of abuse and suspicion, B)prep work for court, for reviews, for placement moves, pathway planning, C) - seriously? Stress is huge in most SW roles D) money is okay but the hours are long

Thanks, Whatever and ghosty; any input is gratefully received and a big help!

And Ledderwoman, I am sure that the course head would be v interested in your application as they apparently love nurses!

I'm 41 and gave up social work approx 12 months ago, the job that I left was nothing like the job I started in. So much paperwork, arguing for every bit of support for people, people left at risk in their own homes. I could write a book about the negative things and at the end got very little job satisfaction because I didn't feel I was making life any easier for people. I genuinely don't feel that the training prepares you for the job, there are just so few resources

Sorry to hear that, Oopsy. How long were you in the job for, and did you end up in a similar job or completely different one?

Do you need a similar salary to teaching or can you earn less?
There are roles within children and families that are not for qualified social workers. You get direct access to the children, can make a difference, but don't have the same stress as the social workers. But, obviously, are not paid the same.

I am an ex primary school teacher in my second year of retraining as an OT. I personally feel it is an amazing match for my skill set. OT is all about using occupation to bring about meaningfulness is people’s lives. Workload wise it is incomparable to teaching, I have just finished 10 weeks placement full time and my workload out of my core hours is minimal. My previous training in teaching means I am a quick and creative thinker and that is a bonus in OT. I haven’t seen IT’s working excessive hours on any placement - though appreciate that I haven’t covered all possible areas OT’s work in so this may not be the case for everyone.

I would heartily recommend it to ex teachers (and well anyone really!). The skill sets are so well aligned!

I'd recommend getting a job as a social work assistant, or an occupational therapy assistant if you are serious about changing.

I worked in adult care and social work assistants did a lot of the same stuff a social workers, but generally less complex/safeguarding...although lack of resources meant that they often did more than they were meant to. I don't work due to ill health at the moment, but I had got to the stage where the lack of resources was driving me to despair. I could see what people needed, and were eligible for, but the services that we could provide for the money were terrible e.g. nursing homes I wouldn't put a dog in let alone a human. In the past I'd got a great deal of satisfaction from my job, but it was hard going before I stopped. Hopefully the govt will start funding social care properly at some point and things will get better...

What about Speech and Language Therapy?

I am an OT who works in social care (so a lot of social work colleagues) I would say as a general rule the social workers are more stressed than the OTs but that might just be the case where I work and I would say that neither are low stress - diminishing resources, increasing workload, unreasonable people etc etc! However it is very rewarding on the whole and OT is so broad you could find yourself in a completely different sector to me and have a very different experience. Best of luck with whatever you choose.

Play therapist working with children and adolescents, Its a good wage too or alternative therapy pracitioner.

I’m an OT in an nhs hospital and I’m definitely stressed and overwhelmed!!

Expecting to work in the current NHS and not feel like this is probably unrealistic for any role...

I’m a band 7 team leader so have a managerial role as well but I would say all of my team, even the assistants are rushed off their feet & stressed... we have lost a lot of staff recently as people cave under workload pressure & demands!

I also do a lot of work at home & never finish on time! I do love my job though when I see the difference we make to patients

Hi I am an Occupational Therapist. I love my job, and really think we make a difference. There are loads of opportunities, as you train to work with people with physical, mental health and learning disabilities, with adults and children, refugees, homeless people, in prisons or schools, in a and e, housing, I could go on.
I think Occupational Therapy will become more sought after in the future, as one of the areas in which we work is in the community ensuring people can live their lives in the way they choose as safely and independently as possible, therefore reducing risk and keeping people out of hospital.
I currently work in a community team, specialising in neurological conditions. To say it is rewarding is a cliche, but it is. I work alongside physios, nurses, SALTs and psychologists. I have previously worked with people with learning disabilities. The pay is okay when you get to senior levels, which you can do fairly quickly.

I was a social worker for 17 years. I've actually gone back to working as a carer and am really enjoying it. I've had to make a lot of lifestyle changes but am getting some job satisfaction again. At some point I will look at retraining but am just enjoying it right now.

I am also an OT in social care (hi Big Red Boat )

I would agree it is a very rewarding career and there is a good match with a teacher’s skill set. My social work colleagues seem to have less job satisfaction. There is paperwork and stress but you will find that in any job.

There is immense pressure on resources at present but I do think this will put the focus on OT to facilitate independence in occupation performance. In many ways it is an exciting time for the profession!

Thanks so much for all these helpful replies; haven’t time to read all this sec, but so interesting, and LeoTimmyandV and dangermouseisace, your experiences are fascinating. Will read properly later, thanks!

My advice is to become an OT specialising in Sensory Issues and Autism. There are barely any in the country who can help me with my 11 year old Aspie who can't cope with noise at school.

There is definitely a skills shortage in the UK even if you are prepared to pay privately!

I'm an ot in an nhs hospital! I generally like my job. Like any, it has pressures and stress coming from the top and budgets definitely impact on what we can do. However it is satisfying, seeing patients achieve goals, set up discharges and ultimately getting people home from hospital. There's so many areas you can work in if you have an interest in one area or another. Where I work there are limited opportunities for progression if that would impact on you!

Assessment Team Childrens Social Care - Social Workers spend about 15 of their time with families the rest in meetings and typing up everything. Direct Work is done with Family Support Workers who get paid about 19k.

The thresholds are sky high so no nicer/calmer cases come through they are closed straight away and schools are expected to sort them or health visitors.

Long term sickness is high, long hours are normal. Demanding workload emotive subjects. Timescales are tighter and tighter with caseloads going up.

Not a role many last in, so many come in wanting to make a difference and the reality is they are abused by service users and managers, lack of funding means the support that so many need just doesn't exist.