to retrain at 44 years old.

[wannabeeot]

I'm 44 and was made redundant in January; I've wanted a career change for some time. I studied for a second degree with the OU in Health and Social Care.

I have applied to do a Masters in Occupational Therapy, an area I've been interested in for some time. I did well in the interview but the course was oversubscribed so I am on a waiting list. I am now doing a part-time job as a support worker working with people with learning disabilities. While it is not an OT role I think there are lots of transferable skills between the two i.e patience, empathy, good listening, and problems solving skills. It has also been really eye-opening working with vulnerable people and hearing the stories of some of the people that we work with. Also, many of them have had input from OTs to help them navigate their lives.

It is unlikely a place will come up for September but I intend to get my application in as soon as the course is launched to hopefully secure a place for 2022. However, this will mean I was been 46 when I start (eek). I don't feel this age or look it and I'm reasonably physically fit.

So my AIBU is, am I unreasonable to ask for people's experiences of a career change later in life? Am I delusional?

Also, if there are any OTs out there I would love some advice on things I can do to prepare for a career in OT. If I have to wait until September 2022 I want to make sure my time is utilized as effectively as possible, I feel like I am stuck in limbo at the moment.

The cost isn't an issue but I'm finding it hard to get on the course

Do you have any experience working in healthcare? Even voluntary work or working nights in a care home could boost your application. I don’t know anyone who went into OT without some sort of medical background.

Is it just a degree or an apprenticeship degree, I will be 50 this year and applied to do a social worker apprenticeship, I don’t have the level 2 maths and English, so am restudying for those first to hopefully start the apprenticeship next year, it maybe a way of studying for you OT degree sooner.

OT and social work are two careers that are suited to retraining late, because they are relatively short courses (so the tuition debts aren't as high, and it's more manageable to deal with the loss of earnings while studying) and because they give you a professional qualification quickly with a high chance of getting work.
Not suggesting it's easy at all, but it's low risk compared to things like counseling, psychology or teaching where you've either got to do further qualifications to get a relevant job, or where younger graduates have the edge. I did SW and I knew a lot of OT students (we had some joint teaching for adult social care modules) and it was a very mixed age group.

@HikeForward

The cost isn't an issue but I'm finding it hard to get on the course

Do you have any experience working in healthcare? Even voluntary work or working nights in a care home could boost your application. I don’t know anyone who went into OT without some sort of medical background.

@HikeForward I'm currently working as a support worker with people with learning disabilities. Some have acquired brain injuries, autism as well as physical disabilities. I've also got a BA in Health and Social Care (First) and grew up with a disabled parent.

I'm also in my 40s (43) and I've been interested in a social work apprenticeship for a while but can't seem to find any employers offering around my way. Had to leave a degree I was studying in healthcare (ODP) after the 1st year just over a year ago due to having a major health scare just prior to starting the degree and suffering from debilitating PTSD which was increasingly triggered by attending my placements...didn't help they were at the same hospital I nearly died in. Have significantly recovered now and still very much want to work in healthy/social care still, but have realised my psychological limitations insofar as being in an acute healthcare setting.

Thought that was last chance saloon - but this thread has given me some hope!

@HikeForward

The cost isn't an issue but I'm finding it hard to get on the course

Do you have any experience working in healthcare? Even voluntary work or working nights in a care home could boost your application. I don’t know anyone who went into OT without some sort of medical background.

@HikeForward As I have a family I am limited to the Universities I can apply for as it needs to be one fairly close to home. I had an interview for the Masters and they said I had done very well but as the 25 places were already gone, I would be given a waiting list place in the hope someone drops out. They said that as long as I get my application in on the first day of launching for the next academic year, I have an excellent chance of getting on the course. Unfortunately, the next University that does OT is too far away to make it viable ( and they are full for September as well).

Do it op - my mum retrained as a independent Financial Advisor in her mid-40s after being a SAHM and has been very successful indeed; about to retire next year after what’s turned into a 20 year career!

Definitely not too late to start something new or retrain - good luck!

Please ignore @HikeForward and come and join the OT world.

Working in the community is amazing and OT can really change people’s lives for the better. I manage community services and the OT role is clearly understood and valued by people at all levels within health and social care.

@wannabeeot I qualified as an OT at 40 and also used to work in IT. My current role is rotational in an acute hospital and I love it. I did the 3 year undergraduate route and was not the youngest on the course.

The trust I work in has an integrated therapy service so we work along side physiotherapists doing similar roles.

In my role I am supporting patients with discharge to ensure they are able to manage safely when they get home. The doctors obviously decide when the patients are medically safe for discharge but they will listen to us if we say the patient is not currently safe to go home or they need reablement or equipment.

Oh and I only had volunteering experience when I was accepted onto the undergraduate degree. I then worked as a bank HCA and support worker for older adults with learning disabilities during my 3rd year.

@Ritasueandbobtoo9

Please ignore *@HikeForward* and come and join the OT world.

Working in the community is amazing and OT can really change people’s lives for the better. I manage community services and the OT role is clearly understood and valued by people at all levels within health and social care.

Thanks, @Ritasueandbobtoo9. I think it is sad that people don't realize the value of OT. I can safely say that when a relative was discharged after spinal surgery with fecal incontinence (caused by the surgery), severe depression and fear or what her life was going to be like, health professionals like OT's and Physio's were the people that made her feel like life was worth living again.

You’ll be 46 in 2 years time regardless of how you fill the next 2 years. Or you could be 46 and an OT.

@WhenTheDragonsCame.
I loved reading your story and it makes me feel very positive. I am currently working as a Support worker although some of the people we support also have high care needs so it can a times feel more like a caring role. In the short time that I have been doing it, I already feel that I've learnt a lot about and it is eye-opening to work in such as different setting after a life in the corporate world. I'm grateful that I am working for a very good company and the experienced Support Workers there are just brilliant at what they do, they care so much for the welfare of the people we support and it is heartwarming to see.

@HikeForward

I think if Doctors and Nurses don't understand what OTs do then it is probably because they don't want to so instead dismiss it as nonsense. My background is IT and I understood what an OT does

Out of curiosity, how would you define the OT role?

Doesn’t it change drastically depending on the setting?

My friend (an OT) said she measures for and orders wheelchairs.

The other said she assesses patients to see if they’re safe for discharge then informs the MDT, but also the MDT have the final say and don’t always listen to her opinion! Apparently social workers decide on the care package/rehab package so she just does the assessments to help them with their recommendations? (She’s in acute medical it may be different elsewhere).

The OT on our ward (and the one before her) has never attended an MDT or Professionals Meeting. She has chats with patients and writes up what they say. But there’s so much overlap with physio and social work and psychology it’s hard to figure out what the OT does. I don’t think it’s deliberate misunderstanding by other staff, more she’s a bit elusive and vague about her role or starts talking about OT models and frames of reference when asked. Sadly OT as a profession isn’t widely understood or taken seriously in all hospitals.

I’m sure it’s well respected in others, I just haven’t come across an OT who loves their job yet. My friend in acute medical is trying to use it as a springboard to get into management as apparently that pays better!

The problem is that it’s drummed into us at uni that we have to use profession specific language in order to establish our role, hence the models and things. Even the term occupational therapy isn’t very helpful, as occupation these days is generally taken as meaning work.

OTs are ultimately specialists in activity. We both use activity as a means of helping recovery (from physical or mental illness) and we find ways to adapt activities to enable people to engage in them, regardless of disability or illness. There’s a lot of theory that goes behind it but at its core is the idea that occupation (or activity) is crucial for health. The ways in which OTs work varies across settings but the core principles are the same.

The majority of OTs I have come across do love their jobs and although I have encountered occasions were it has been slightly misunderstood, it has always been respected.

OP, I’m just finishing a masters in OT so feel free to ask me any questions! For what it’s worth, nobody on my course has dropped out or failed, despite the challenges of covid! We’re all finishing at slightly different times because covid impacted when we could do placements, but everyone who’s already finished is now working, mostly as band 5 OTs and one as a band 4 OT assistant.

@wannabeeot the setting I worked in as a support worker sounds very similar to where you are. I found it very rewarding.

The roles within the different types of settings are very different. I felt early on that working in mental health wasn’t for me but other people on my course love it and wouldn’t do anything else.

My role isn’t for everyone either. It can be quite fast paced with focus being on facilitating discharge from hospital so our focus can be quite narrow compared to the community teams. Some OTs find this difficult as they want to be more holistic and that’s just not possible with limited time.

@wannabeeot it sounds like you have much more relevant work experience than I did before I started my training! One of the best things about the course is the placements. A great opportunity to try different areas of practice and see what might fit you. Some of my friends started the course with a very clear idea of what area they wanted to go into and stuck with that into their first qualified jobs, whereas others changed their minds throughout.

I had a career change in mid 40s when my librarianship qualifications had become devalued by the emergence of library science degrees at the new unis. I went back into education with the initial aim of doing a 1st degree and broadening my options. However I got a 1st in psychology and never returned to librarianship because I fell in love with academic work. Did my masters and doctorate while working pt at the uni then went on to lecturing and "visiting professor" in USA for 2 years. I had a 12 year career in academia before eventually retiring from employed work. I now run my own online business so I have had 3 completely different careers.

Its never too late to make a change if you have the motivation.

Just one caveat - being in education/training with much younger people is NOT the same as being with your own age group. I had no interest in going to the pub or clubs night after night. I socialised more with the tutors than my fellow undergraduates at uni and went to postgrad events even as an undergrad. I was later told I scared the life out of some of my younger contemporaries because I was sooo ambitious.

Fortunately, if I get on the course, I won't fail or drop out. It's not in my nature not to give something my all and see it through to the end.

This part of your response is quite disturbing, for a few reasons and makes me slightly worried for you.

It doesn't matter how hard you work or what your personality is there are many other reasons that could stop you reaching the end of your OT training/Masters.

I've had a very long term disability, I worked well with it and retrained at 50 for a totally new career. I'd already been through the OU system so was well equipped for work and studying together.

I took to my new career far better than I could have ever imagined so in year 5 started my masters in this very niche 'man's world' career. The masters was easy and fascinating and I'd planned a holiday as my own well-done me treat on completion.

I knew I could do it. I easily fit in my studying with working full time and truly loved it all.

Then I lost my sight (and later accumulated another serious health issue). My job couldn't be done without good vision - I lost my driving licence and was registered blind.

Who'd have thought eh? Little Miss Independent not finishing her course and losing her much loved work, and what helped define me, all in one fell swoop and there was nothing I could do to stop that happening.

I hope all goes really well for you, definitely go for the retraining, it's an amazing feeling if you chose the right career, but please be realistic, not everything goes as planned.

I'm starting my OT training in sept at the age of 42. Others at interview were both older and younger. Your current work experience sounds ideal, like you say, lots of transferable skills. I might also look at getting some hospital experience if I were you, either as a volunteer, HCA or OTA.

Have you consider applying for an undergrad course? It's a year longer but they may be more likely to have available spaces nearer the time if you are desperate to start this year. It's not quite as intense as the master course either.

Do it! I know someone aged 46 who’s starting a degree course at art school in September. He’s ridiculously excited about it.

You’ll have the best part of 20 years working life when you get your masters, it would be brilliant to do something so useful.

@Locc

Fortunately, if I get on the course, I won't fail or drop out. It's not in my nature not to give something my all and see it through to the end.

This part of your response is quite disturbing, for a few reasons and makes me slightly worried for you.

It doesn't matter how hard you work or what your personality is there are many other reasons that could stop you reaching the end of your OT training/Masters.

I've had a very long term disability, I worked well with it and retrained at 50 for a totally new career. I'd already been through the OU system so was well equipped for work and studying together.

I took to my new career far better than I could have ever imagined so in year 5 started my masters in this very niche 'man's world' career. The masters was easy and fascinating and I'd planned a holiday as my own well-done me treat on completion.

I knew I could do it. I easily fit in my studying with working full time and truly loved it all.

Then I lost my sight (and later accumulated another serious health issue). My job couldn't be done without good vision - I lost my driving licence and was registered blind.

Who'd have thought eh? Little Miss Independent not finishing her course and losing her much loved work, and what helped define me, all in one fell swoop and there was nothing I could do to stop that happening.

I hope all goes really well for you, definitely go for the retraining, it's an amazing feeling if you chose the right career, but please be realistic, not everything goes as planned.

I think you have slightly misconstrued my comments. At the age of 44, I have experienced loss and life has thrown me plenty of curveballs. My own mother was disabled when I was aged 12 so I am fully aware that life does not go according to plan. I lost a sibling at the age of 17. I've battled years of infertility and IVF. My comment about not giving up was in regards to effort and commitment. I will give 100% so there is no way I would give because the course was challenging or putting me out of my comfort zone or because I had not fully researched what I was entering into - basically, things that are within my control. Trust me, I am fully aware, perhaps more than most that some things in life are out of our control. So truly, no need to feel disturbed.

I did an OT degree there were lots of older people-don't worry
Could you apply for a job as an OT assistant may help your application?

I don't work in a OT related role but it's my OT transferable skills that got me to where I am (I'm in health and social care, band 7 salary range).

I've a sibling in his 40s doing an undergrad in OT - he's just really happy to finally have found the right track. Not too late! You'll never be this young again.

I will give 100% so there is no way I would give because the course was challenging or putting me out of my comfort zone or because I had not fully researched what I was entering into - basically, things that are within my control

It’s great you’re so determined and committed.

But keep in mind people don’t always fail through lack of research or determination, or any fault of their own. My friend (a former teacher) failed her OT Masters because she didn’t quite make the grade (despite giving it 100%!)

The Masters has (or at least had back then) a minimum pass rate for each assignment, assessed presentation and viva. I think it was 10% higher than the pass rate for the BSc OT course and she scored just under on the viva. As she’d failed twice she was kicked off the course (as many others had been before her). They gave her the option of transferring to a part time BSc but she didn’t want the extra years of study, with no guarantee of a pass at the end.

I’ve known some people ask for a secondment into OT, could that be an option? Eg get a job as an OTA and ask for a secondment so you don’t have to re-apply next year?

@HikeForward

I will give 100% so there is no way I would give because the course was challenging or putting me out of my comfort zone or because I had not fully researched what I was entering into - basically, things that are within my control

It’s great you’re so determined and committed.

But keep in mind people don’t always fail through lack of research or determination, or any fault of their own. My friend (a former teacher) failed her OT Masters because she didn’t quite make the grade (despite giving it 100%!)

The Masters has (or at least had back then) a minimum pass rate for each assignment, assessed presentation and viva. I think it was 10% higher than the pass rate for the BSc OT course and she scored just under on the viva. As she’d failed twice she was kicked off the course (as many others had been before her). They gave her the option of transferring to a part time BSc but she didn’t want the extra years of study, with no guarantee of a pass at the end.

I’ve known some people ask for a secondment into OT, could that be an option? Eg get a job as an OTA and ask for a secondment so you don’t have to re-apply next year?

Do you mean an OTA got onto the apprenticeship rather than doing the uni route? This is offered by some trusts but not all, yet. It's not possible to be "seconded" into being an OT; It's a registered profession.