Occupational therapist jobs

Occupational therapists are trained to assist patients in overcoming both physical and mental challenges that have been brought on by sickness, accident, aging, or handicap.

What exactly is the role of an occupational therapist? Common employers | Education and experience requirements | Essential skill sets

Occupational therapists work with children as well as adults who have a wide variety of requirements. These requirements can range from patients requiring assistance in readjusting to life after major surgery to elderly people who require home modifications such as stairlifts in order to continue living independently in their own homes. They provide individuals sound guidance and workable solutions that make it possible for them to lead lives that are complete, gratifying, and independent. Occupational therapists, often known as OTs and commonly abbreviated as OTs, have a variety of specific responsibilities that change depending on the location in which they work, whether it a hospital or the community.

On the other hand, some of the more typical duties of the position are as follows:

carrying out patient evaluations of their physical, communicative, interactive, and cognitive abilities

arranging and giving therapy as well as activities that are suited

offering guidance and making arrangements for assistance for clients, family members, and caregivers

carrying out general administrative responsibilities such as preparing reports, making phone calls, keeping records, and collecting case notes

maintaining communication with healthcare providers, family members, caregivers, and other professionals, as well as keeping them informed

arranging further therapy and conducting an assessment of the results

evaluating the effectiveness of therapy at multidisciplinary case discussions and meetings

providing guidance to individuals on how they may take a new approach to routine activities

modifying the settings in which individuals live and work, whether at home or elsewhere

The typical types of businesses that use occupational therapists

NHS trusts

Departments of Social Services Provided by Local Authorities

Homes for the elderly and other residents

Places that provide day care and health services

GP practices

Prisons

Industrial organisations

Online, in newspapers, via recruitment agencies and employment services, and on websites like Occupational Therapy Jobs and the website of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists are some of the places where openings for occupational therapist jobs are listed. You may also search for available positions on the websites of individual NHS trusts and the NHS jobs website.

Qualifications and experience are expected of applicants.

In order to work as an occupational therapist, you are required to become registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and in order to become registered, you need to earn a degree in occupational therapy from an institution that is recognized by the HCPC, either as an undergraduate or as a postgraduate. On the HCPC website, you may find a list of approved degrees.

It takes between three and four years of full-time study to get an undergraduate degree in occupational therapy. You are often need to have two or three A levels or their equivalents, in addition to five GSCEs with grades ranging from A to C, one of which must be in English language, mathematics, or science. Courses leading to a postgraduate diploma or master's degree in occupational therapy normally last for two years and universities often need previous healthcare experience as well as an undergraduate degree in a related field.

If you are currently working in a senior occupational therapy support capacity and your company is prepared to support your further education, there are also certain courses that may be completed on a part-time basis. Workers who provide assistance for occupational therapists are also referred to as occupational therapy assistants on occasion. They work alongside occupational therapists. The qualifications needed to become an occupational therapy support worker are not predetermined in any way.

Competencies necessary for a career as an occupational therapist

Patience

Determination

Enthusiasm

Superior abilities in both interpersonal and spoken communication

A desire to interact with others on a personal level.

Good teamworking skills

the ability to locate and implement viable solutions to challenges