To quit being an Occupational Therapist

[Cozytoesandtoast00]

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

I am part time in the community and my caseload is proportional to my working hours. There are more part timers than full timers in my team!

leo All the best with your last assessment and the start of your career.

sand I must have been unlucky then. I know for certain I would still have the same amount of work to do in less hours in my current job. But that comes with being a sole worker.

I was just going to suggest an alternative but not keen on someone wanting an easier life, to be honest.

I have an OT job to start in June but originally I was looking at going in to the third sector

What’s the third sector, @LeoTimmyandVi?

If you have been an OT for 20 years then you must have a hugh amount of experience. One of the lovely things about OT (and I am one too!) is that you can just change direction completely. If you currently work in community, you could try inpatient on a ward. Or mental health, or an LD team, or a admission-avoidance role, or in prisons. Or maybe paeds? Or specialise in another area eg take on more Moving and Handling training and become a trainer for other staff?

It is true what an earlier poster days - not many places offer you the opportunities to be part time and still progress. All our Band 7s are part time, as are the physios. And a lot of us B6s and some of the B5s too.

Are there any secondment opportunities within your employers? That could be a good way of trying something different whilst keeping the security of your job.

I am an OT working in the third sector in a social prescribing role. I love my job. It's flexible and our remit with patients is huge - we really can support people in anyway they need. However GP's etc are beginning to recognise the value of social prescribing and we are always hectic. My job involves working with patients, supervising staff, promoting the service and supporting with funding bids and meetings. However the salary is poor and is barely mid band 5 equivalent.

I dream of being an OT. I am an RMN looking on in envy at my OT colleagues. It always seems such a varied and interesting job.

Would you consider a move in to mental health? The hours OT's work in the Trust I work for are very flexible and the OT's are much more self governing than nurses get to be.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Very helpful.

I'm not keen on working in mental health to be honest. I find it hard to detach after work..

Would you consider working privately? I'm sure there would lots of work doing private sensory assessments etc for kids not meeting nhs criteria.

Really useful advice KirstyJC
I shall use it! Thanks

Paediatric work in sensory integration? Quite specialist but there are some private practices in London. My son loved his sessions.

Fedup21 - third sector is charities and social enterprises

Thanks for the good wishes for the assessment all - so ready for it to be over now!

I'm not paediatric trained Mummyshark2018
I think there is significant need for paediatric OT'S working privately...

*paediatric

Ex OT here I now work for a charity (in disability) and find my OT skills very valuable.

How do you find those king of jobs?
jellybeanteaparty

*kind!

So nice to see so many OT's here! I'm also a part time one... I struggle with the expectations on me... Carry a full clinical caseload just expected to fit it into my part time hours. I frequently dream abouty escape route but realistically I wouldn't do much else! When you get a good case with a good outcome you remember why you're doing it!

carmelsundae
That is very true. So many rewarding days!

Where do you live OP. Private OT charge a fortune in my area (SE).

Sorry i’ve Just seen you’re not paediatric trained.

Another OT here!

I've always worked in non-traditional roles because I'm mega passionate about our transferable skill set to most areas. I currently work as a "Children's practitioner" (the job title I applied for) but title myself an Occupational Therapist as I'm maintaining my hcpc in this role. The role is for a national children's charity, I work with looked after children and get to use all my OT skills but also learn a lot from the team of social workers and play Therapists too. I really enjoy being the only OT, I feel my skills are valued and appreciated and I get to really promote the value of what we do.

I would agree with previous posters, have a think about what you wanna do. What are you passionate about, what parts of the role do you enjoy, your profession is so varied and skill set so broad you could look outside the box and have a change of direction :)

Another OT here too. I was entirely worn down in my previous job with a local authority, was so bored with admin and meetings so I branched out into independent practice. There are lots of agencies around who can sort out getting work for you if that’s a concern. Case management is another option. Medico legal work? Sales rep for equipment company? Your skills will be in demand. I haven’t looked back, and nor would you 😊