Job prospects for paediatric occupational therapists joining the NHS from abroad

[TwoYearsToo]

What is the situation at the moment for occupational therapists looking for a first/ new role?

Coming from abroad with three years post qualification experience, qualifications recognised and native speaker English (one English parent), is there a high demand for pediatric occupational therapists, or is it very difficult to find a role?

Depends a lot of the area you want to settle in.
But you should be fine.

Look on the NHS Jobs website and see what’s listed

Job listings don't give any kind of picture of the number of applications each role receives (could be hundreds) nor whether the roles are advertised for regulatory reasons but actually invariably filled by internal applicants or for entry level by placement students.

Thanks. I'd heard that although it's listed on the government website as a shortage occupation with up to 40% of roles unfilled, that wasn't reflected in hiring due to budget freezes. Similar stories about nursing. Just wanted to hear from people with current experience.

There are jobs in London, we only had 2 applicants for a paeds OT in our team, mat leave has been hard to cover with 0 applications on some rounds. That is a good way to get in as those of us with substantive contracts just wouldn't leave for a temp role.

Lots of nhs posts are frozen in Wales

it’s tough. our amazing newly qualified OT in my team (works for us part time while doing the course) has only managed to find a part time post with a long commute. Most Nhs trusts have huge gaps in staffing but no budget to recruit so very few jobs advertised