Occupational Therapy Week 2021
Have you ever wondered what occupational therapy is? Where do they work and what do they do?
For Occupational Therapy Week, we’re sharing some information on the profession and how you can become an occupational therapist.
Did you know that across Nottinghamshire Healthcare, we employ 275 Occupational Therapists (making up 40% of our Allied Health Professional workforce)?
Where do they work?
One fifth work in Forensics, with the rest being split almost equally between Mental Health and Community Health services. They work across the board with a wide range of children, young people, adults and older adults with a range of needs around mental health, neuro-developmental disabilities, and physical health.
“I liked the idea of working in a high secure hospital because it is a unique setting which involves working creatively to facilitate sessions. It also offers the opportunity to make a real difference to patient’s lives and can provide a great sense of job satisfaction, particularly when patients reach a point whereby they are able to move onto other services” – Lisa, High Secure Occupational Therapist
What do they do?
Occupational therapy aims to improve health and wellbeing through enabling participation in occupation (the activities, roles and routines of everyday life). Occupational therapists recognise that engagement in meaningful occupation can promote good physical and mental health, assist recovery and help people achieve personalised outcomes such as being able to care for themselves, engage in work and leisure activities, and participate within the community.
“To be able to influence and support a person to successfully motivate and engage in activities meaningful to them gives me the biggest thrill as an Occupational Therapist” – Deborah, Senior Occupational Therapist
Who do they work with?
Occupational Therapists work collaboratively with individual service users and carers to enable them to “live life their way”. Occupational therapy provides practical support to enable people to facilitate recovery and overcome barriers that prevent them from doing the occupations that matter to them. To do this they consider:
- The person, in terms of hopes and wishes, needs and abilities
- The occupations that a person needs and chooses to do
- The environment and how this facilitates or hinders occupations
“My career as an Occupational Therapist has taken me somewhere I never imagined and I love it! It’s challenging, but rewarding to know we are working together with Nottinghamshire Fire Service to keep our community health and safe in their homes” – Rebecca, MHSOP Occupational Therapist
How can I become an Occupational Therapist?
To become an occupational therapist you will need to study an approved pre-registration programme to gain the necessary occupational therapist qualifications. Most UK courses are BSc degrees, although postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees are also available. All pre-registration courses combine both practical placements and academic study. All programmes will leave you eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and entitle you to practice. Find out more here: www.rcot.co.uk/about-occupational-therapy/become-an-occupational-therapist/how-become-occupational-therapist.
The Trust also recruit to degree level apprenticeships in occupational therapy, however these are only open to internal applicants so that we can support the development of our own staff who currently work for the Trust. We have already supported 5 occupational therapy apprentices who are at various stages of their training.
“As an apprentice, I am constantly learning and gaining new skills. I am challenged every day to put into practice this powerful profession, and I love solving problems and being creative in how we improve the lives of those we work with” – Lucas, Apprentice Occupational Therapist