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Posted on 2 Nov 2020

This year Occupational Therapy week, run by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), aims to inspire people from all backgrounds to choose occupational therapy as a career.

Did you know that across Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust we employ 251 Occupational Therapists (making up 37% 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.

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. 

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.

If you want to know more contact your local OT – they will be delighted to discuss!

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: https://www.rcot.co.uk/about-occupational-therapy/become-an-occupational-therapist/how-become-occupational-therapist

A degree level apprenticeship in occupational therapy is also available to staff who currently work for the Trust. At Nottinghamshire Healthcare we are a Trailblazer and supported 3 OT Apprenticeships since 2018 and are currently supporting applications for another to start in January 2021. These are only open to internal applicants so we can support the development of our Health Care Assistants and therapy support workers. If you want to know more contact Suzanne.Avington@nottshc.nhs.uk