Occupational Therapist

What does an occupational therapist do? The four main branches of occupational therapy are physical rehabilitation, learning disabilities, mental health and social care. Occupational therapists help people overcome physical, social and psychological problems arising from illness or disability. The therapy is designed to restore or maintain a patient’s ability to perform daily tasks, helping them regain their independence and adapt to any disability. A patient’s difficulties may be the result of age, illness, injury or mental disabilities.

Ultimately, occupational therapy aims to prevent the disability affecting daily tasks wherever possible. The recommendation of special tools such as hand rails and chair lifts, as well as counselling, are just a few of the ways in which an occupational therapist can aid a patient. The work of these therapists is immensely varied. They might work with patients for a few months or one session, and that can be within the NHS, private practices, the prison service and special education. No two patients’ needs are ever the same; it could be a case of encouraging someone with depression to take up a hobby or teaching someone recovering from a stroke to dress themselves. You could specialise in burns and plastic surgery, paediatrics, stroke rehabilitation or spinal injury service, to name a few areas.

What qualifications are needed? There are many courses in occupational therapy throughout the UK. Tuition fees are often covered for UK and EU students, since there is a shortage of therapists, and you can apply for a Department of Health bursary. To complete a degree, all students must carry out a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised work in practical placements in hospitals, GP practices or community centres. These can be undertaken over the three years of the course, often over the summer break, but also within term time. Some universities, for example, have a very practical-based course that combines behavioural sciences with placements in people’s houses and residential care homes, to give students a feel for both the theory and the practice of the therapy.

What about personal qualities? To become an occupational therapist you need to have a real interest in helping people to solve their problems. It is important to be patient, friendly and tactful. You need to be willing to take on a scheme where you will be expected to direct your own learning and undertake personal research. The therapy itself is often slow when working in patients’ homes, but what may seem a minor achievement – such as getting in the bath – can represent a huge accomplishment for a patient.

What specific careers can you go into? Employment and promotional opportunities are excellent, since there is a shortage of occupational therapists. All who graduate are recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), so there are opportunities to work abroad. Demand for therapists in the UK is high, with experience and postgraduate study, paths into research and management all possible.