Should I stick with current job or re-train as an OT?

[MumofBoys79]

Wise Mumsnetters, some advice please!

I currently have a great role. It's part time, rewarding, makes the most of my skills and I work with a truly lovely team of people. It's an NHS role assisting allied health professionals.

I took the job because I was thinking about re-training in healthcare. I thought it would be good experience and fit in with current childcare commitments. It has been and it does! However, there is little scope to progress without formal qualifications and my earnings are low.

My plan was to re-train in an allied health profession. I have applied for an Occupational Therapy course, interview soon.

Am I mad to leave such a family friend job with great colleagues to go and re-train at 42? I'm financially comfortable due to my partner's earnings. My eldest son has SEN so can be a bit full on. I do value time more than money, I'm not financially motivated.

However, I am conscious my earnings are low and I haven't fulfilled my potential career wise. I feel if I'm going to re-train it's now or never, no point sticking in my current role for another year or so.

Many thanks in advance for any words of wisdom you can offer!

Go for it! I pretty much did the same thing and no regrets and enjoy being an OT. It opens many more doors and opportunities than TA roles. Good luck.

I have been an OT for 32 years and have lived every job i have done. We are about to start apprenticeships which is a great route as you can work as OT assistant and train over 4 years so still get paid.

Wow, thanks both! That's great to hear it has worked out so well.

To be fair, in typing out the question, I started to realise I had to go for it. Sods law that I ended up in such a nice role, just before getting to this point.

An apprenticeship would be great, I have been looking out for an opportunity. I did see one previously but I wouldn't have been ready for it then.

Thank you x

Where are you in the UK? There are already apprenticeship routes out there, I’m pretty sure they’re about 2 years long, they’re about to start some more in the North West.

Do it. Brilliant job, very flexible and ticks all your boxes.

Go for it! I trained as a different allied health professional in my late 30's. The OT course seemed quite family friendly tbh, much more so that my course (which I did with two primary age children and I haven't regretted a minute of it).

The course and resulting job opportunities seemed quite family friendly from what I could gather from other students.

Thanks Ineedson. I'm in Greater London, I will keep a look out.

That's reassuring to know Queenfool. I also have two at primary school age. Curious to know what AHP you chose to do!

X

I did radiography.
It's a distant memory now, but I remember the OT friends I had did less placement and exams than me. Although I also got all the school holidays off so that was a big bonus at the time, even if I was studying!

It was definitely doable with primary children as long as you have good before and after school childcare, I enjoyed learning again and it's opened up a whole new world to me.

Op, the words 'I haven't fulfilled my career potential' is what stood out to me there! I was the same, no opportunity to advance my education at 16,three kids, useless husband, working 40+hours in low paid manual job. Hit 40 and thought it's now or never so saved like mad and went to uni at 43. Chose OT as felt the hours fitted better with my children than nursing and never regretted it for a moment😀 go for it👍

Absolutely go for it. Fulfilling your potential is important. Financial independence might one day become important. Lots of people change career path in their forties.

I am an AHP but not an OT but work with lots of OTs . Very family friendly job and lots of variety . I know quite a few OTs that have started training in their 40s. If you can get the placements close to home then go for it . I’m a similar age to you and actually thinking of retraining though as finding the NHS heavy going at the moment .

I retrained to be an OT. Qualified at 45. I started with 2 kids at primary school. I work office hours m-f so v family friendly. There are loads of opportunities for OTs and you can pretty much pick a role which matches your interests. I went straight into paeds when qualifying and I love it.

Current OT student here. I am 40 next year and not the youngest on my course. Average late 20s. Very few came straight from undergraduate courses and life experiences are highly valued in healthcare courses. I have two young children but we have a very helpful childminder who has them until 6pm if needed.

I know 2 people in OT work - 1 is an OT and one is an OTA. I think the OTA trained to do this in her early to mid 30s. Both of them really like their jobs but the OTA used to do contracts with various councils as more money that way. She eventually got a permanent job with a council.

Interesting re the OTA - she had no medical background whatsoever, just liked helping people, being out and about and got quite quickly into the job.

Do it!

Inwould if I could go back prekids. I could only manage part time now so cant do it and do feel the chance missed me by.

Thanks everyone for all your encouragement. It really does sound like a great option.

I had the interview for the course today. Won't find out for a couple of months. Although, to be honest, it wasn't my best ever interview performance. The questions were quite challenging. The decision may well be out of my hands now!

Thanks for all the encouragement - it's very much appreciated x

Good Luck

DD just finished her degree and qualified as an OT and loves it. There were a lot of older students on her course as well.
She is currently on rotation in Wales doing mental health She had to do a 1000 hours placement on her degree but it's a 9 to 5 job , although some places seem to going towards shifts.
She had decided to move back home in the summer and
thought it would take ages to get a new job, so started looking at what was out there and found a job in paediatrics, which she says is the hardest branch to get into and was surprised to get an interview within days and offered the job 2 days later!! She is coming home a lot earlier that we thought.

Well done! Let us know how you get on 😁👍

Hi

@MumofBoys79

I'm curious to know if you did the OT course?

I hope you are enjoying it.