Any occupational therapists out there? Career advice please

[solongandthanksfor]

I'm thinking about re-training as an OT.

My youngest will start school next year, and I wouldn't be applying til 2012. How many contact hours of study a week approx. was it, and how much self study?

Also, the big question, is it fulfilling?

I have a degree (not in a relevant subject), but I do have semi-relevant w/exp, tho' I recognise I'll have to check out entry requirements to degree courses.

Thank you anyone who can give me a bit of inside info.

Hi solongandthanksfor

I'm an paediatric OT. There are a number of ways to do the training. There is the normal course of 3 years (full time) which involves practice placements as well as study at college (this is the same for all 3 options). There is an accelerated route of 2 yrs which as far as I'm aware doesn't have the big uni holiday's. Then there is the part time option of 4 yrs.

It's been a while now since I trained but my memory was that some uni's were more self directed learning than others, but that may well have changed.

Any other info just shout and I'll help if I can. The other place to look is the college of OT webiste for more info and support.

Hope this helps and good luck

Oh sorry forgot the bit about is it fulfilling.

It's a pretty good job, things are bit tough in the NHS at the moment with changes and money cuts but the job security has been pretty good. The job is really diverse so good chance of finding an area that suits and interests you.

Hi solongandthanksfor,

I'm also a Paediatric OT!

lizE09 is right about the training options. I think some unis also offer an "inservice" option - ie you could work part-time as, say an OT Assistant, and study the rest of the time. I think some employers may also help you out with the cost of your training also - although I think financial burdens on NHS Trusts/Social Care depts. may have affected the number offering this more recently. Worth an investigate though if you're interested.

Your degree being in a semi-relevant field won't matter. I've supervised postgrad students in the past who've had all kinds of past careers - librarians, actors, radio broadcasters!

I think OT is such a versatile qualification to have. It gives you the opportunity to work in so many areas - paediatrics, forensics, orthopaedics, with older people, in mental health, with homeless people - basically with anyone who's experiencing difficulty with tasks of everyday life. Employment opportunities seem to continue to be good (touch wood!)- NHS, Social Services, Education, provate schools, private healthcare companies are all still recruiting and there's also the option of private practise when you feel confident enough.

Family-wise, it's a brilliant career. There are lots of options for flexible working - compressed hours, flexi time, split weeks, term-time working etc. I'm going back to work on Thur (yikes!) after a year's maternity leave. My boss was amazingly supportive about me reducing my hours from 5 days to 3 days. She's had kids herself, so she's been there done that and this is pretty typical of what happens in most OT departments it seems.

I find it a v fulfilling career - although there are snags. Not everyone "gets" what OT is about, even other medical profs and this can mean that people who need us don't always find out about us in time. We are working hard to address this though.

Anyway, give me a shout if you want more info. It's a GREAT job.

NMM

NMM & Liz
Thanks so much for your helpful advice. Got distracted this week, and forgot to check to see if there'd been any replies, so sorry for delay.

I do wish I'd thought of it earlier. I always seem to do 'helping' type jobs, but got frustrated by my last one (careers adviser) because the administration seemed to get in the way of helping clients. I'd really like to engage my brain again; my worry is how to cope with ft study again with two kids at school.

Where I live, I'm pretty certain only option is ft degree course. Do you know anyone who re-trained having had to look after a family as well? (don't mean financially, dh works, but I do a lot of the other stuff as he works long hours).

Oh, another question I just thought of: do you need any ability at biology? I think some courses require this - I haven't studied science for soo long, I'd need to refresh.

Oh, and another question(sorry!) if either of you are still out there...

nosy, really, but wondering why both of you became OTs? What was it that appealed to you about it?

thanks so much!

Hi solongandthanksfor,

Just seen this thread. I retrained as an OT at 30 (7 years ago) on a full time 3 year course. I had an 11 month old at the start of the course who was in nursery full time for the terms. I had long holidays with him which was nice though.

Money was an issue for us as I couldn't work as well - course was fairly intensive with lots of self-study, although I did fit most of it in during the 9-5 day in the breaks between lectures. DH didn't earn much so we were heavily reliant on the student loan and bursary! With the course and the baby, I had no time to work as well but I did find having breaks during the days at uni meant when I did spend time with DS1 I was a lot more chilled - I got more stressed out during the uni holidays than term time!

I had GCSE biology (from 16 years previously) and this was fine, although I had to really study hard in physiology and anatomy - which I enjoyed so wasn't a problem.

It is totally doable with young children - loads of other parents were doing it on my course.

And what appealed to me was that I didn't find my old job (marketing) fulfilling and wanted to do something interesting that didn't involve sitting at a desk all day. I remembered a careers evening at school which had included OT and so started looking into it again. I was attracted by the variety of the work - I work in acute hospital with care of elderly people, a friend works in mental health service, another with homeless clients, one with SS, another is a paed OT..there are so many options.

The job market isn't brilliant so I think you often take the first job you can find, which sometimes means working in an area that might not be your first choice, but once you get the experience you find more options open up.

Go for it!!

Hi Kirsty
Thank you so much for telling me about your experience. I also find a non-office based job appealing - I find offices a bit stifling.

One of my worries is that I won't be up to scratch with the science. If I'm honest, it wasn't my best subject at school. Altho' I guess that might have changed if I have the motivation to understand it now.

I'm going to contact my local uni who do OT to find out what I'd need in terms of qualifications to access the course.

Thanks!

Hi

There was quite a few on our course that had a family at home and were retraining - I wasn't one of them but if my memory serves me correctly things like local placements were offered to students with a family first. I think the colleges work quite hard to be family friendly. Saying that the students I've had on the accelerated 2 year course have said how tough going it was so maybe the 3 or 4 yr course might be an better option - you also want a bit of a life .

The science side of things does come into play but I found college really supportive. I struggle with written stuff due to dyslexia - which funnily enough they identified ( I just thought I was a bit of doughnut ) but I found it much easier at college as it applied to things directly rather than thinking about flowers and chemicals, which I had no interest in - if that makes sense. It was really quite logical in the end so long as you learn the names of things.

I became an OT due to not getting the grades to become a physio. really glad I went down the OT route now. It's got so much diveristy and I've ended up working as a behavioural specialist orginally in child and adolescent mental health but more recently in physical paeds.

Good luck with the retraining - it'll be hard work but I reckon us mum's aren't scared of that and if anyone can we can

Hi there,
Just wanted to agree with other ladies, I work as an OT part time (Well going back after child no 3 after maternity leave in next week or so!). I think it is a fulfilling job and I am looking forward to getting back in there, although juggling childcare may be tricky at first! I trained before having children as a mature student and there were many parents on the course and they were the most organised out of us all! I struggled with science at school and just had to study harder on those bits!
Good Luck!