What’s it like working as an OT?

[SalmonPinky]

I had an idea about 12 years ago that I’d like to retrain as an occupational therapist. I did two days work shadowing and loved it. Then another child came along, then when she was old enough lockdown, then a period of long term sickness in the family. I’ve been thinking again about it now that things are a bit more stable. I’ve worked supporting people with learning disabilities for about five years, but am in an office job right now. I will organise volunteering and work experience but wanted to get some first hand accounts of what working conditions are like now in the NHS. I feel like I’m pretty realistic about it but would like to hear OTs’ experience, please. Thanks.

Also I am old, nearly 50 now. 🙂

Hey I retrained in late 30s. Don’t worry about the age. About 2/3 the uni cohort weren’t straight from school and about a third were in there 30s, 40s 50s.

since qualifying I’ve worked in hospital (rotations) and would recommend that to anyone thinking of being a physical OT as a starting place. It was really busy, quite thin on the ground staff wise but I found it really supportive- you work together a lot as a team. There was very much the attitude of you can only do what you can do in a day, working your fixed hours and enjoying your time off.

I now work on social services, community assessing people to adapt their homes and give out equipment. The Hours are more flexible and I love the job, being able to book my visits/ paperwork days as I wish. However downside is it’s very individualistic, onboarding, support, training really poor. We are effectively sent a monthly caseload and then left to deal with it. But I think that is the place I work for rather than everywhere. It’s a shame really as it’s really tainted it for me.

In both jobs it’s really great to work with people, and offer them solutions to some of their difficulties. Some of the simplest equipment can really have a big impact.

some Of the services are incredibly stretched and that can be difficult to work in. There seems to be pretty high turnover. Other professionals don’t understand our role (you get called nurse, physio, occupational health). And sometimes what we can offer just isn’t enough so it can be sad.

But there are so many jobs, possibilities etc .

Yoive obviosuky thoight about it for a long time. Good luck whatever you choose.

Ps before I did the degree I worked for a bit as a therapy assistant. Might be worth looking out for those jobs? X

Thank you inabubble, that’s really helpful. It’s the staff shortages and resource shortages I am worried about really. When I worked with people with learning disabilities I was trying to support them with housing, social services assessments etc and it was such a slog to get anything for people, and that was several years ago. But I did love finding out people’s values and priorities and helping them push for what they wanted. The pay there goes nowhere though, whereas OT has lots more opportunities and potential for earning more as time goes on. I have looked at therapy support roles, but they always ask for experience working in health, which I don’t have, so I’m not sure if they’d consider me. I’ll have another look though, then I’d get a better idea of what it’s like. Thanks again.

Ah yes good luck. I think staff shortages etc are the same everywhere in the public sector. I’ll be honest I found teams quite used to it and just go with doing what they can.

I did learning disability support before the therapy assistant role so don’t let that put you off applying for those roles. Also your local council would have OT assistants so that might be worth a look.

Good luck. 🤞