Thinking of going to Uni to study either Social work or occupational therapy or.....

[3andnomore]

Health & Exercise.

Well, with teh last one I have no clue at all, under what possible funding it would go, lol!
However, with Social Work and Occupational Health Therapy the funding of the actual studys seems to be covered either by NHS or that Social Work Body, is that right?
If you get accepted into the course, does that mean you will definately get the ocurse funded?
Also, would it be madness to even contemplate full time study at my age (37)?
I am a Nurse, btw...but not registered anymore, and well I trianined in Germany anywya, so completely different system. I truely don't fancy Nursing at all anymore...and by what I have read, etc... I really think that Nursing has become even harder then I remember it....and I think I would just be far to scared to do it, not feel prepared at all and well, teh return to Nursing courses seem to be well few across teh country now, which to me shows that they don't want to encourage more NUrses back into Practice...

I feel if I could now study, I owuld get far more out of it and well, dispite it being more difficult to study around family commitments, I just would be committed more to it.

I could not afford Uni (course fees)...but as I haven't really worked the last few years (only some relief work as and when, so, we are not reliant on my wage or anything), I think as long as it would be funded we would be o.k....

The Uni I am considering is the University of Northampton...anyone gone to it...is it good, etc...?

Anotehr thing that I would enjoy to study would be dietetics...but it doesn't look like they are offering that...

Well, any thoughts welcome...

BTW. Social Work and Occupational Therapists seemed to be needed in this area a lot...especially Peterborough has always OT Jobs going, and SW Jobs are all over Northamptonshire...so, I assume either would be good things to study. Not quite sure about Health&Excercise...but the course description does look fabulous.

Oh one thing that freaks me out, is the whole essay issue...english isn't my first language, and not sure I would be up to scratch...hm...

sorry so long and rambly!

as a qualified SW I'd like to add that IMO the work is more interesting than OT, but you are more likely to have to work late. OT seems far more flexible. Do you have a specialism in mind?

Well....at the moment I do work in a residential care setting with young people...and I do enjoy the work, but in a way I think I might like to work either with Families or with the elderly!

ooooh they are the 2 i am trying to decide over. i am going to try and get some work experience to see which i prefer before i apply.

Well, SW jobs with children and families are plentiful in most areas, as I'm sure you can guess. There are also some good senior practitioner opportunities that are really well-paid. But because of the nature of the work there's loads of unplanned working late, which isn't ideal when you've got children (I am having a nightmare fitting my on-calls in, though I don;t work in Children and Families).

I work in Adult Mental Health services, in the same office as OTs, and always very at their ability to leave at 5pm! It's something to think about if you will be using formal childcare.

You didn't have to pick a specialism when I trained, and I think it's the same now, so one good thing about SW is that you can work with so many different client groups. If you already have a nursing qualification I'm sure you'll find the training is manageable.

I agree with WW about the placements though - they are quite full-on, and so limit the amount of paid work you can do.

I'm a physio and I work in a close team with SWs and OTs. Our SWs are overburdened with paperwork/computer work, do often work late and have much less face to face time with clients. I wouldn't say OT is less interesting work, but as with any similar field, it depends what area you specialise in.

Liquidclocks is an OT mumsnetter, haven't seen her around for a while though.

thanks a lot for all your thoughts...and maybe seeing if I could shadow and OT and Social worker for a bit might help me decide...

Childcare wise...btw I would be finished studying, if I get in next September, my youngest would be 7 and my oldest 14....so, slowly but surely childcare issues would become less...and dh would, by then also be out of the Army and hopefully in a more regular job, so, he oculd take more of the childcare on as he is now.
One of the reasons I think it would be good to do it now, studying, is...that I only work on bank relief basis anyway, so, we would not really miss an income as such...!

I shall make some calls this week about the shadowing...I suppose it might be a good think that I have a CRB certificate that is good for another 2 years....

I lived with a girl who did OT (at Northampton) and she seemed to really enjoy her course. She did say that a lot of people apply to do OT that can't get onto physio courses so there is a certain amount of competition. Apparently you can work as a OT auxilary, you help do the assessments, washing, dressing, cooking for people but you have to be supervised by a qualified OT (she found out about this after spending her gap year working in a bakers ! It might be an idea to see if this is an option open to you if you're not 100% decided which course you want to pursue - you could do it for six months or a year and then decide.

Bookworm, yes you can work as a Occulational Therapy technical trainer...which is OT support worker....and I have actually recently applied for a Job as that...not heard anything yet...but of couse that would give me a real good idea...

Meant to be starting my first essay!! Keep coming on this site instead.
Thought I would give you the web address for the ot site. There is a good section where ot students discuss the course etc. Site is www.cot.org.uk .
Saw last post about ot assistants. If you got that job,alot of nhs authorities will pay you your wage and uni costs while you do the degree. Doing the degree whilst working as an ot assistant I think takes 4 yrs instead of 3. I met a few ladies doing it that way when I went out shadowing with an ot.

thanks for the link!
And yes, if I got a Job like that, then indeed there seems to be funding to doing part time course that way....

if you want to work as an ot assistant do you have to have any qualifications or experience? and where would one find out about such jobs?

nappyaddict....there aren't necessarily any qualifications you need, they do expect a generally good educational standard (whatever that is) and do seem to prefer some experience working within the health or social care field.

Jobs are advertised in Newspaper Job sections or on teh NHS careers website.
It always seems to be called
OT Technical Trainer...

well...have found out a bit more about teh funding thing in general...and also been looking at some other courses, etc....oh the choice is endless...
will actually put on another thread, as with some courses, I jsut don't have an creative enough mind to imagine how they actually transfer into the working world, lol!

Just wanted to say that I went to the Open day at teh University and it was an exciting day....went of Social work course though, mainly to do with teh person representing it, however, will apply for the OT course, the lady was amazing and even more amazing was, when I asked about the general and m personal chances to be taken on in that course (due to not that many uni's offering it, wondering about prescription rate to ratio....) she basically told me, that with my previous experiences and Qualification she would take me on teh course under the condition that I do a study skills course (which will show I am still able to work at degree entry level as well as giving me skills in esays writing, etc...), she told me she can't see how they wouldn't invite me for an Interview and how I wouldn't do well in that....so, very positive really!
It was funny, because when I signed into teh Helath departement, I put down OT/Social work and the girl there said, oh I just knew you were putting your name down for that, you just look like that sort of person lol...wondering now what those people are meant to look like, other then like me, of ocurse, rofl)
Anyway, am very excited...althoguh the one that represented the early childhood studies honours degree really sold that one to me, as well...she was a fabulous speaker, so passionate and lovely too....but OT it will be for me

Brilliant - all sounds really positive! Let us know how the interview goes .

Am now trying to get through the registration form on the UCAS website....sigh...what a nightmare...probably not helped by the fact that any education I have taken (many years ago) was all in germany...argh...

And as for the Personal Statement....just completely lost with that Just no idea what to write....especially as I decided to go for the OT and the Social Work course afterall, and see what happens, basically...but means that it is a bit more difficult to write this personal statement, sigh!

Went to a Study Skills for academic success course...which is very interesting and hopefully will help me to study next year....if I ever get this aplication send off, lol...

I met a fab OT on my mental health placement- she was such a valuable part of the mental health team.

Good luck to you!!!