To quit being an Occupational Therapist

[Cozytoesandtoast00]

Anyone made a change? If so, what do you do now working part-time?

One of my friends was a Speech and Language Therapist and now works for the CCG in a commissioning role so quite senior. It sounds like a complete and utter ball ache though!

What are you trying to escape?

Not sure this should be in AIBU?!

Oh no, I’m an occupational therapy student! Can I ask why you want to quit?

stressedoutpa
I suppose I can't keep up. There are staffing issues. But I only work 3 days a week!
riotlady Don't be put off by me!
I've worked as an OT for years, in many areas and i've enjoyed most of it.
Just bored with it now I suppose. That sounds terrible but I want a change.
Something easier! 😂

In my mind OT was the ideal career! Ikm an ex teacher and keep wondering if I can retrain (cant locally!) OT friends are part time, have control over their day, flexible working, make a difference...

If you're bored can you try a different branch of OT. Therr seems so much variety within it...?!

I would love to train as OT i have daughter who has autism and would love to help her!

Hmm... what band are you?

Outside of NHS and public sector it is very hard to find a part-time job that pays well. Just look on the Employment and Back to Work boards. Most people who have secured something have been with their organisation for a while and are a 'known quantity'.

What are you good at? What do you like?

KneelJustKneel
I suppose it is an ideal profession in theory if you have the staff to cover the case-load.
A change in another area may be a good idea. Thanks

Oh dear, this was something I’d thought of doing as an escape route from teaching!!

Not a good move??

Band 6.
I'm quite well paid in Neuro, but that's not the issue. Will keep looking....

I hear you OP!
Sometimes I love my job (also part time OT) but the expectations of families, the endless paperwork, red tape, funding battles...

I’d like to do a job where I can switch my brain off for a while!

Sorry to be a doom monger but I think workload is a major gripe of most staff everywhere these days.

Good benefits and pension with the NHS. I would start looking there first.

Could always try another area of OT? Council? Charity? Not-for-profit?

Uni lecturing? You could try a couple of guest lecturing sessions?

Are you hospital or community based?

fedup21
Oh please don't be put off. I've had an amazing career over 20 years.
OT is very flexible and rewarding and autonomous in practice.
Just feel like a change and a slower pace.
Maybe something completely different from healthcare...

I've worked in commercial environments with horrendous workloads and very family unfriendly attitudes to work life balance. Don't assume that the grass is greener!

DH works in the NHS and I would say, he, and other NHS friends have a better balance than a lot of my private sector friends.

I have always thought that working for a GP practice would be great. How about these newish roles, community based, around social prescribing. Working with people to ensure their life has meaningful activity they can access to promote health and wellbeing and reduce hospital admissions. Can't remember title of job but likely to increase in availability as part of current national agenda. See recent OT news.

TightPants Exactly!
I work in a community setting in London.
Will have a search in the areas suggested... Thanks!

That sounds like a great role vdbfamily

MidsomerBurgers that scares the hell out of me!! 😂

I really wish I could retrain!!

Can you look at another area of OT? It is such a varied career!

Sorry - internet problems delayed my post and I can see that my suggestion has already been made

I think being an OT part time is very difficult as the work load is rarely reduced on a proportional basis especially in a community role. I would love to go part time but my work load wouldn't change.

Slightly different situation, but I left OT after the birth of my second never to go back, then a change of circumstances resulted in me doing my return to practice, I thought long and hard but there wasn't anything else I could pick up relatively quickly and earn the same (I am the sole earner)

Maybe look at a change of role, maybe an emerging role. If I got bored of my niche I would really consider student support at a university. However if you have neuro experience, could you look into private work?

Chicken my ds has autism, I don't think I could work with it as a major part of my job, I need to be able to step out of it, though my home experience can improve my practice when working with the occasional families that I do. I don't know enough to be of much help to him though.

I hopefully qualify as an OT in 1.5 weeks (one more assessment to go!). I can totally see how you do get warn down though. I was a primary school teacher for many years previously to retraining. Sometimes a change is what is needed.

I have an OT job to start in June but originally I was looking at going in to the third sector. So many jobs I found suit the OT skillset perfectly.

Maybe have a look at charityjob website to see if there is anything? Not sure how it compares to a band 6 salary though?