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Carol, Occupational Therapist
"There's no such thing as a typical day in the life of an Occupational Therapist", says Carol who has been an Occupational Therapist(OT) for 12 years.
Carol
"Every day is different. I could be assessing equipment needs such as raised toilet seats and grab rails or discussing adaptations like a level access shower or stair lift. I might be visiting a person who needs support to transfer out of bed or dealing with an urgent safeguarding issue to protect a vulnerable person. Or I could be in meetings and writing reports."
Carol started her working life as a bank clerk but quickly realised it wasn't for her. She studied for a Btec in Health and Social Care then went on to work in a nursing home for people with neurological conditions and later for the NHS as an Assistant Practitioner in a Rapid Response Community Team, then a Therapy Team.
She considered undertaking a pilot joint degree in Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy but decided on OT. "I feel the OT approach is more holistic and that tipped it for me."
The job is very much about working with people in many different, and sometimes, challenging, circumstances. "An OT needs to be resilient and keep an open mind in every situation. I think it's important to find out about the person - what their goals are, what they hope for. We can offer advice, but people may not always take it. We have to accept that - it's important to respect people's choices."
Although Carol's role is within a long-term service, urgent situations can arise at any time so OT's need to be flexible and able to prioritise their caseload. "Sometimes we just have to drop everything and go. In these situations, it's all about teamwork - everyone gets involved to make it work. We're a very supportive team."
For anyone considering a career as an OT, Carol is keen to stress that although it's a very busy and often challenging job, it is possible to work flexibly. "If you have family or other commitments, you can arrange flexible working hours. I work condensed hours which suits the service and my lifestyle. Plus hybrid working means you can choose to go into the office or work from home."
For Carol, the rewards of the job are many and varied. "I love a challenge and enjoy problem solving. It's great when we get a good outcome and find a solution which supports the person with achieving their goals."