Careers: Occupational therapist

Do occupational therapists work with children?
Although the job title sounds as though it might relate to adults, “occupational” refers to skills involved in everyday living, not just employment.

The College of Occupational Therapists’ children, young people and families specialist section is one of the largest of its specialist groups, with more than 600 members.

Occupational therapists work with children and young people who have difficulty with the functional skills necessary for everyday life and help them to become independent.

What kind of settings do occupational therapists work in?
A wide variety of settings including hospitals, child and adolescent mental health services, children’s centres, community services, schools and other educational institutions, independent practice, learning disability services, local authority health and social care, wheelchair services and the voluntary sector.

They may also visit children and young people in their homes. Shona I’Anson, chair of the College of Occupational Therapists’ children, young people and families specialist section, says: “A high percentage of children’s occupational therapists work in the NHS. But there are more and more private paediatric occupational therapy providers, as NHS cuts lead to parents wanting more and sometimes being willing to pay.

“There are also posts that are paid for by the education sector and social services employ occupational therapists who work with children in their homes.”

What qualifications and training are required?
Occupational therapists must hold a pre-registration qualification, currently offered by 31 UK universities. This is generally a BSc in occupational therapy, although postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees are also available. Most courses last three years, although there are also accelerated two-year courses and part-time four-year courses. Qualified occupational therapists must register with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Student occupational therapists may get the chance to work with children and young people as one of their placements, but specialisation tends to take place after graduation, says I’Anson. “There are a few areas where newly-qualified staff are coming in to paediatrics, but usually they build up more general experience first.” She recommends potential paediatric staff to build up “extra-curricular” experience with children and young people through voluntary work, for example in a youth club.

What are salaries and hours like?
According to the College of Occupational Therapists, salaries in the NHS range from Band 5 at £21,176 to Band 8b at £55,945 for more experienced roles, and this is generally mirrored in local government and the voluntary sector. Occupational therapists work an average of 35 to 37.5 hours a week, usually Monday to Friday during office hours, but there is an increasing number of posts that cover evenings and weekends.

What is the jobs market like?
Increasingly competitive, as cuts take effect, says I’Anson. “There doesn’t tend to be as much turnover in paediatrics as in other areas, but there are jobs there,” she adds. According to the college, many new graduates are finding successful employment in the charity sector, where they are able to “apply their occupational therapy philosophy in new areas of practice”.

What skills do therapists need?
They need to be patient, practical, creative and a good communicator, to enjoy helping people and solving problems, and must want to help people optimise their quality of life.

What would a typical day look like?
The work is varied, but a day’s activities could include training school special educational needs co-ordinators; ensuring a special school’s facilities are accessible; meeting an IT manager to access specialist equipment for children; meeting a family to discuss a teenager’s individual education plan; and carrying out a home visit to a baby recovering from brain surgery.

Occupational therapists work with a range of other professionals including physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, child and adolescent mental health teams, teachers and social workers.

Are there any other roles in this area?
Occupational therapy support staff, such as assistants, technicians or support workers, usually start with little or no formal training. Training can happen on the job, but there are also formal qualifications available. Some support workers work exclusively within occupational therapy; some work as generic staff with a number of professions such as nursing and physiotherapy.


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