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!

You will have to complete further study to become qualified in sensory integration- it’s not a part of OT training. It’s a further masters level course. You’d need to pass at least 3 modules to become a practitioner.

OT looks like a really good job - apart from the green trousers! I did some work experience with the OTs before Covid. There’s no university around here that does the 2 year Masters course though and with a baby on the way it doesn’t seem like the best time.

I know the NHS pays for the course itself but what money do you get whilst you learn?

I'm looking to retrain as OT but I have a mortgage and a 3 year old.
Is it possible to do part time work still as well as uni days and placements?

It's a great job and the range of opportunities are pretty wide. I would say to do a bit more research before you apply though. If you end up on placement in an acute setting you'll potentially be changing pads and catheter bags and doing washing and dressing assessments.

It's the same as the speech and language therapists, a big part of their work is dysphagia/swallowing/eating. Most people don't seem to realise this!

@ DuchessofHastings1

Masters - No contribution from the NHS. You pay for the course yourself.

Undergraduate - £9k-ish tuition fees. Can claim for £5k grant from NHS.

Apprenticeship (if you can find one) - Salaried job and NHS pays for course I think!

The only apprenticeships I’ve knowing of have been offered within hospitals/schools to people already working as OT assistants. For those considering OT as a career it might be worth looking for a job as an OTA to gain some experience first. I’ve known several OTA’s who have gone on to complete OT degrees.

That is a very good point @wendyleen thank you!

I retrained mid thirties, qualified a year ago. My previous masters was in a humanities subject over ten years before I started the OT course but I didn't have to do an access course. I did have a few years experience as a support worker tho but not in healthcare. Paeds is very competitive to get into in my region and I didn't even get a placement in it. As PP have said you'll need to do further accreditation in SI if you want to use that as it's not taught at uni. On placement or after qualifying you could find yourself feeling more like a social worker or a cleaner or a healthcare assistant or a physio assistant than an OT until you find your feet & your professional voice. There are lots of part time/flex OT jobs in my region but these will usually want someone with at least 2 years NHS experience even for Band 5 as often the support isn't there. I feel well supported as a 5 in my NHS trust but it is a massive learning curve even after qualification. My main advice would be to make the most of your placement opportunities at uni and try to get as wide a scope of experience as possible because you could find your niche in an unexpected place.

What is the pay like when newly qualified and what can it go up to?

@Confusedcabbage

It follows nhs agenda for change (obviously if you are nhs)

Each band has a range of pay called pay points and you start at the bottom and progress within your band each couple of year so for example you start as a band 5 but if you were a band 5 for 6 years you would reach the max amount

Band 5- newly qualified is 24,907 to 30,615

People start as a 5. People tend to move on from a 5 after about 18 months in general. Obviously some move on quicker some stay as a 5 for years. In my trust you have to complete a year as a 5

Band 6 depending on where you work this may be a deputy ward manager post, or just a senior ot post.

31 365- 37,890

Band 7.
In my experience most clinicians are around a b6. In some areas band 7s are ward managers, clinical specialists and are still clinical. In my area a band 7 is a management role that's non clinical

38,890- 44,500

There are bands above that but in my experience unless you are senior management and non clinical as an ot you tend to be 5-7

The roles attributed to each band can vary wildly for example someone I qualified with climbed in 5 years ish to a band 8, but the equivilant of her role in my team would only be a 6.

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/working-health/working-nhs/nhs-pay-and-benefits/agenda-change-pay-rates

You obviously might also get payments for working antisocial hours, high cost living allowances (if you are in london) and forensic leads if you work in forensic services

However as a 9-5 nhs worker that's the typical wages.

I work for the local authority the pay starts at 29,000 but and now I get 36,000 but I had to do additional competencies to get there. I love my job so much but I've got to the point where I have become so specialised, Im ready for something else but have little experience of hospital work. All my roles have been community based; wheelchair therapist, Adult servicesand now Paeds. I have been in this job since 2011. We are due to move soon ans the commute will be impractical. I don't know what is next, my job is like dead mans shoes.

@DuchessofHastings1

There are part time courses, are you looking to do a bsc or masters?

To get paid while you train then I have friends that worked for a year or so as an ot assistant in nhs trust or social services and then applied for training via the Trust. Usually this involves a caveat that you return to work there for a set time!

Each university will offer a different course lay out. For example my course only had 3 placements (6 weeks, 12 weeks, 14 weeks) if I remember rightly while others had more placements that were shorter. My placements involved non shift work but were up to and hour and a half from my campus. They did try to be flexible for those that had commitments but an hour commute each way was common

We also had 9-5 days in uni 3 days a week ish. Obviously that's different with virtual learning now

The jobs that tended to work well for people were zero hour jobs where lots of work could be picked up in summers, and in non placement times eg care jobs. You could also pull back around dissertation times.

Part time normally gives you more fixed times around days on/off

@kick78

Usually courses would expect some form of healthcare work experience or work experience with vulnerable groups eg children with learning disabilities

Placement wise you will have to complete a range of placements eg a mental health, physical etc. You can request things but they do it to give you a range so i would expect to have something like a hospital placement, older adults etc.

The learning is also very generic to prepare you for the range of roles you could go into from forensic mental health to building adaptation to hand therapy to peads. In my course we had very limited children specific learning, so expect to learn lots of anatomy and physiology, neurology, physical illness. Thats not a bad thing because it gives you a well rounded training but if you have a specific interest can be frustrating

You're not too late. You could use the year to get a job (maybe part time) in a relevant role, TA in a SEN school perhaps?

I work as a social care OT, but in adults not children's. Although I work closely with the children's OTs too and we all love our jobs!

Good luck 💚💚💚

Has anyone done the 4 year part time BSc in OT? I was wondering how many days were spent in Uni and what happens when you have a placement? Would the placement be full time?

@Hairyfairy01

Can't help you in terms of study hours but when I've had students on that course it has been full time placements ( minus a half day study)

Thank you Moorhens, that's useful to know.

Can I just point out that the training that allowed OTAs to qualify was abolished? Apprenticeships are slowly being reintroduced but it depends on where you live.

There are a couple of Facebook groups for qualified, current & prospective OT students that are welcoming and informative even if someone is just considering the profession.

@wendyleen

Useful to know! I recently encountered someone on a social care one, but didn't realise it wasn't as widely available anymore

At my uni the 4 yr part time students all did the placements fulltime but spread over the 4 years as most were working or had childcare issues. In terms of academic terms, they were in attendance 2 days a week (some of these were distance learning). FT were in 3 days at uni.

Wow, not a lot of difference in Uni hours between the FT and PT course then. My issue is I already work as an band 4 Generic therapy assistant and would need to keep working at least some hours to live. However I can't see my work agreeing to have me 'off 'for 8/10 weeks when I'm in placement. It simply wouldn't suit the service need, so is understandable. I could probably work on bank but hours aren't guaranteed and would be at a lower banding and in a different setting.

Sorry not to come back to this sooner, but although I’m not an OT, I am an Academic Registrar who has responsibility for AHP programmes, including OT. I am in Scotland, though, where the process is a bit different (4 years UG/2 years PG - both pre reg programmes). If anyone thinks I can be of help/answer queries, just shout!!

@Hairyfairy01 I obviously can't speak for your Trust, but in mine there are a few TAs who study part time and the Trust is fine to let them go on placement as required, so it is possible. But I appreciate it's probably not the same everywhere, sadly. Could you do bank and set your own hours?