Occupational Therapist Jobs in the United Kingdom
Randstad Education
£90 Per Day
Plymouth, SW
Randstad Education is looking for a SEN Teaching Assistant who is committed to providing exceptional support and guidance to students with SEND in a vibrant and inclusive school at Plymouth. Here are a few of your responsibilities with this position: Assist students with special educational needs (SEN) in their learning and development by collaborating closely with the class instructor.
St Lukes Hospice Plymouth
Plymouth, SW
An exciting and rare opportunity for an experienced Occupational Therapist to join our specialist team within St Luke's to help deliver our Strategy “Every Death Matters” with a key focus on early intervention and identification of palliative and end of life care. The post holder will need to be able to work autonomously and be responsible for complex holistic assessments and planning care to meet patient’s practical, psychological, spiritual, and social needs.
Maximus Services, LLC
Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke-on-Trent
We understand that a diverse workforce adds to our competitive advantage; and as such, we aim to ensure that job applicants do not receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, race, marital status, disability, age, part-time or fixed term contract status, sexual orientation or religion, or are disadvantaged by conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to be justifiable. You'll work on complex cases involving physical and mental health conditions and chronic pain disorders, while your compassion and experience helps customers move forward with their lives.
Reactive Recruitment
£45650 Per year
Stoke-on-Trent, undefined
The Exciting Role:Conduct three insightful assessments daily, gaining a profound understanding of how conditions impact daily lives. If you possess over a year of experience and an active HCPC/NMC registration, you're precisely who we're seeking!
Reactive Recruitment
£45650 Per year
Stoke-on-Trent, undefined
Requirements:Minimum 12 months post-qualification experience in Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Paramedics, or Physiotherapy. No prior experience as a Functional Specialist is required; complete training provided.
Occupational Therapist Jobs Overview
Occupational therapists help make a significant difference in people's quality of life, allowing them to live as independently as possible. They play a substantial and rewarding role in the UK's social care sector, helping to enrich the lives of others while developing meaningful relationships. Professionals employed in occupational therapist jobs work with vulnerable individuals of all ages who have difficulties performing daily activities due to a disability, trauma, sickness, ageing, or other chronic conditions.
Occupational therapists create individualised therapy programmes and suggest ways to modify the patient's environment to make life more manageable. If you are compassionate, a creative problem-solver, and enjoy working with people, then a career as an occupational therapist could be an excellent fit for you. Demand for healthcare and social care jobs in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) is increasing significantly, making now the perfect time to begin your job hunt.
A job in occupational therapy can offer you an ideal entry point for a lucrative career in the healthcare sector, with opportunities for professional advancement. With the proper training and experience, you could progress into high-paying specialised areas such as paediatrics, mental health, or education.
In this role, you'll typically work with a range of individuals who have varied requirements. You'll need to have a clear understanding of each patient's lifestyle so that you can implement the most suitable treatment plan.
Typical occupational therapist job duties may include:
- helping patients with learning disabilities to live independently
- encouraging patients with depression to take up a hobby or activity
- supporting patients to manage permanent physical disabilities
- assisting with specialist equipment to help with daily activities
- keeping up-to-date written and electronic records
- planning, implementing, and evaluating treatment plans
- organising support and rehabilitation groups for carers and clients
As a full-time occupational therapist working in an NHS hospital or facility, you will usually work 37.5 hours per week. Still, you may have to be flexible over a seven-day period. If you choose to work for a private employer, you may have to work evenings and weekends to suit a client's needs. You could also work in clinics, GP practises, prisons, nursing homes, schools, or private homes.
For more specific positions related to healthcare jobs, you can also explore:
Education and Skills for Occupational Therapist Jobs
There are a few different routes to take to start your career as an occupational therapist:
- study for a degree in occupational therapy, approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC.) If you have a related degree such as health science or psychology, you may be able to enter a two-year accelerated postgraduate programme.
- earn a degree apprenticeship in occupational therapy, where you will combine workplace learning and academic study with an approved university and a partner organisation such as the NHS.
- work experience where you will start as a support worker or assistant and study for a part-time, approved degree with your employer's support.
- volunteer in a healthcare or social care setting or a charitable organisation. This may help you before applying for training and will look great on your CV.
Each of these avenues will have its own entry requirements, but you will generally be required to have some GCSEs, including English and maths. To start practising as an occupational therapist, you must first register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC.) You will also need to pass an enhanced background check to work with children, young adults, and vulnerable groups.
Occupational therapist jobs require essential healthcare skills such as:
- compassion and empathy
- problem-solving
- interpersonal skills
- excellent communication
- active listening and counselling skills
- enthusiasm and patience
- computer literacy
Update Your Occupational Therapist CV
When applying for jobs, your CV should attract a recruiter's attention and show them why you are the right candidate for the position. Before updating your CV, it's a great idea to research occupational therapist job descriptions and incorporate relevant keywords and phrases. It’s best to emphasise your personal statement, past achievements, and any soft or transferable skills that will catch the eye of a potential employer.
Remember to highlight your problem-solving and people skills, as this is what hiring managers will be looking for. Consider real-life situations and experiences where you positively impacted someone's life or took the initiative in a stressful situation. Monster has some excellent CV advice and templates along with cover letter tips to get you one step closer to landing your next interview.
Interviewing for Occupational Therapist Jobs
An interview for this job role may be categorised by technical, experiential, and personality-based questions. A hiring manager will want to know what personal qualities you bring to the role and your strengths and motivations. You may be asked how you have dealt with a stressful incident at work or what you would do in an emergency. Remember to select relevant examples to demonstrate your knowledge and skills. For more advice, read our articles on interview preparation and give yourself a winning chance to land the job.
How Much Does an Occupational Therapist Job Pay?
Your salary is determined by your experience and credentials and will vary regionally, with wages usually highest in Greater London. Your pay will also differ between the NHS and private sectors. Under the Agenda for Change NHS pay scales, occupational therapists will typically start on Band 5 and will make an average salary of between £25,654 and £31,533 per year.
With training and experience, you could progress to a senior occupational therapist or specialist position such as mental health, elderly care, or stroke rehabilitation. These advanced roles fall into bands 6, 7 and 8 and can pay up to £53,218. The NHS may offer benefit packages including pension schemes, health service discounts, and annual leave days.
Begin Your Search for Occupational Therapist Jobs
Are you ready to find a rewarding career in the healthcare industry? Start your search today by creating your free Monster profile. You will be able to apply for jobs, upload your CV, receive new customised job alerts, and access useful articles. It is also a fantastic way to help potential recruiters find you.