Retrain as an Occupational Therapist at 43?

[kick78]

I’ve always been interested in OT and I’m really considering applying for a MSc in Occupational Therapy. However I have some doubts based on the following:
-The chances of getting onto a course (I got my first degree more than 10 years ago in Marketing)
-My age (I will be even older when I finish), -Studying and doing the 1000hrs of placement (I have 2 DC),
-I’m only interested in paediatric (My understanding is that there are less opportunities than in other areas)
Even if I manage to study, what are my chances of finding a job? Also, what is the job like on the daily basis, therapy vs paperwork? Are flexible or part-time positions available? Thank you!

I’m a paediatric OT.

Plenty of OT’s retrain in their 40’s so I wouldn’t worry about that! There are definitely jobs in paediatrics and mines very flexible with compressed hours but I suppose it will depend on where you live.

I only ever wanted to work in paediatrics but the best advice I was given as a student was to do a basic rotation first. Paediatrics is highly specialist in comparison to a lot of other areas and it’s barely touched on in most OT degrees. It’s much easier to develop basic clinic skills whilst working on say an acute ward. Some band 5’s do come straight in to paediatrics and can be really successful but in my experience they do really put the hours in. I worked a lot of extra hours initially, still often do far more than I should. Lots of paperwork (50/50 in reality but on paper most services would say clinical 80/70 and admin 20/30). You are also constrained by what services are commissioned to do not what parents/others would like you to be providing, which can be very frustrating but I do love the job. It’s never boring and lots of variety - which is both what makes it great and harder than other areas.

@Fifi234 Thank you so much for your reply, very helpful. Would position in the NHS vary greatly from, let’s say, schools? And would the NHS be a typical entry route? Also, If I was to do some work experience before (might have missed the deadline for Sept application, so could do some work) would it be more useful to work with children (in school for instance) or work in health care?

My NHS position is largely school based (seating, fine motor, sensory) some community and occasional clinic (DCD assessments, hand splints).

There’ll usually be entry positions in social services (aids and adaptations), school and independent/private sector positions. The last two are often sensory based. NHS services rarely provide Sensory Integration Therapy but this is often what special schools and private roles are for. Most schools/private organisations would offer to facilitate SI training in some way.

I’m SI trained now (although this is not offered by my service) but I am glad I worked generally in peads first before doing the training just because there’s a lot to learn! Saying that if that’s what you’re interested some people do go straight down that route.

Probably healthcare as you will most likely have more exposure to OT but you could make either work. I went in to OT straight from school so had only really done some volunteering with children with disabilities and two days shadowing in adult services. It may be worth seeing if any unis are still accepting applications and what they want. It’s usually shadowing but opportunities may be hard to come by atm so they may accept you doing research, speaking with OT’s in different roles.

My mum retrained as an OT at 40 and really enjoyed her new career. This was about 28 years ago now though! I’m now 43 and considering retraining. Whenever I do career option quizzes Occupational Therapist is always suggested for me, funnily enough. I would imagine you’d probably regret not going for it more than going for it. Also it’s possible that you might discover new areas you would consider working in during training. Even if not I would think it’s definitely still worth pursuing. Good luck!

Just to add my mum got a job working with adults with learning difficulties first to help her route into the course ( I think she worked in that role for about a year ) She’d been an SAHM before that point though

I re trained as an OT in my late 30s with a HR background! I also did the masters and remember having a big wobble at the start of the course when faced with the rest of the cohort who were in their early/mid 20s and could devote all their time to the course. I had two very young children.

My course leader had a long chat and said I wasn’t aiming to have the best masters marks I aiming to be an OT so to pass was good enough. That really helped and in the end i structured my time like an almost full time job and didn’t worry too much if I got lower marks than some others. We are all OTs now!

I love my job and would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. Use the course to look at all areas as it is such a varied career! There is a shortage of OTs generally so if you fancy something others than paeds you should have loads of jobs to apply for.

I am an OT and retrained in my late 30s with 5 DC and having been a SAHM. I don't work in paeds (I thought I wanted to but fell in love with neuro) but I have found life experience is a huge advantage. On my course most people were about 35 with lots older and younger. Some were 50s. I find it so rewarding and interesting and you have a lot of autonomy. However the first couple of years can be stressful! And sometimes it is hard seeing people suffering with life changing injuries or terminal illness. But if you can make a difference , no matter how small, it is amazing. I would go for it!!!!

There seems to be plenty of jobs currently. I have always worked 3 or 4 days as have my 2 best friends from the course. However as a band 5 most jobs are fulltime. At band 6 there seems more part time roles.

I work as a Senior OT. ( graduated in my early 20s a looooong time ago ) and have also supervised students in their 30s and 40s . It’s a great profession . Have you thought about applying for OT Tech roles to see if you can get in service training ( although that would take significantly longer to qualify ) I would say try to get ( or make ) your own Band5 rotation . I always knew that I wanted to work in AMH. When I qualified I also worked In orthopaedics, stroke rehab and various community and hospital based mental health services. Band 5 posts are a great opportunity to get experience in a range of clinical fields before you decide to specialise

@Fifi234 Sensory Integration Therapy is actually what I’m after, but obvs happy to pick up skills in other areas. I guess my main concern now (if I can still apply and get a place for Sept) is, how am I going to manage placements with 2 kids and a husband’s unpredictable working schedule

I retrained as an OT at 39 - now work in a community LD team. It is a fab career, and life experience is a definite bonus.

I had a paeds placement on my course which was fab, but as an ex primary school teacher I needed to get away from school. My best friend on the course (late 30’s) only a wanted to do paeds and she has rose successfully though the ranks and loves it!

I regret giving myself to the nhs. Was badly bullied. I worry for other mature health students going in if I'm honest.

Sorry if that's me being a damp squib!

Wow! Thank you @Dawlynjen @SandlakeRd @Hugglepuff3 @AutumnColours9 it’s really inspiring to hear your stories! I just don’t know how I will manage placements or full-time work. I’ve been staying at home or working part-time for the past 6 years as we don’t have family close to help and husband works random hours! I could wait one more year when my youngest goes to school, but I thought it was already late now.

Consider other AHP too. Speech therapist here. Love it nearly twenty years in. Paediatric post more available and flexible working is the norm. I didn't know about OT at school leaving age. I'd have enjoyed it but equally loved SLT

OT is ace. I am a Paediatric one. Just do it.

Yes, do it.

I'm older than you and completed my first degree so long ago I am going the undergraduate route.

A few things about your post strike me.

• With the masters course, you might find that you need evidence of recent study (to A level standard).
• What experience do you have in terms of OT? Not a criticism but it doesn't sound like an awful lot from what you have posted (unsure of prospects, therapy/admin balance, entry routes, etc.).
• Don't limit yourself to paediatrics just yet. The sensory stuff will just be part of your job and there are lots of different settings you could potentially work in.

You will struggle to get work experience at the moment. I'm not even sure if the NHS allows shadowing when things are normal. Getting a job as a band 2 or band 3 therapy assistant would be your best bet.

Also, degree apprenticeships are slowly being phased in but these are generally four days work and one day at uni (for three years).

You could do a part-time masters.

I have also seen part-time Band 5 OT rotations advertised recently.

Not me, but I did an Access to Nursing course and there was a lady in my group who must have been almost 50 who went on to be an OT.

You will need to get a move on if you want to apply for Sept entry, the UCAS date has just been extended but only until 29/01/2021.

My partner at the time worked shifts and away and I ended up a single parent. I waited till mine were nursery and school age which made it a lot easier and I used school breakfast clubs. Placements were I think 6 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks and 10 weeks. But they are spread out and you can do 4 days one week 5 days 2nd week as get half study day a week.. I only had a major childcare issue one placement as I had to leave at 6am and childcare didn't open until 7 30am. Lots of people on the course had similar issues. I swapped one placement as it was too far. It is worth struggling for a few years and we got all the uni hols off too. Uni weeks we were only in 2 or 3 days and often finished early. So it is not as bad as it first seems. Just the placements are a challenge but I looked at it in terms of days. Eg 4 week placement is only 18 days minus the study. It flies by. I was given advice to just go for it and worry about it when faced with something!! So glad I did it as now have a rewarding career and can support my kids on my own and find flexible work (I used to be a care worker with zero flexibility and crap pay).

I was only in uni one and a half days a week. I had two 10 week placements and one 8 week one.

The good thing about uni work is that it can literally be done at any time of the day. I put the children in nursery and studied during the day but could easily have structured it differently.

The good thing about OT is that is generally more family friendly hours. My placements were all 9-5 ish mon-fri and the uni were supportive when allocating placements. The furthest I had to travel was half an hour. As an educator I am also flexible so if you have a Nursey/after school place hopefully you may be able to manage.

@wendyleen Got my degree (Marketing) over 10 years ago, hopefully won’t be an issue. No experience, just passionate about it after seeing the great results with my son’s SPD.

@Serin Really!? I sent an email earlier to the admissions office, but I I’ll just apply then! Thank you

@SandlakeRd @AutumnColours9 Thank you, makes me feel more relaxed about placements

It does depend on the university but ten years isn't recent study. Also, some of them want you to have a relevant undergraduate degree.

The undergraduate deadline is end of Jan. Masters is later I think.

Have you just decided to do this on a whim?!

What area of the country are you in? A number of institutions (including mine) are going September & January intakes for pre-reg masters programmes at present.

@wendyleen I’ve only found out about OT 4 years ago while living in Dubai. Unfortunately there are no courses there, so just decided to get into Education, worked in admissions and got closer to the inclusion team, SLTs and OTs doing entry assessments. Now we are back and thought about it again.

@HollaHolla just outside London