Occupational therapy support worker

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• applying directly

Entry requirements:

College

You could do a college course to get into this job. Courses include:

• Level 2 Certificate in Work Preparation for Health and Social Care
• Level 2 Diploma in Skills for Health and Social Care
• Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care

Most health and social care courses include work placements so this could be a good way of getting experience.

Entry requirements:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Apprenticeship

You could do a Healthcare Support Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship or a Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

Entry requirements:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Work

You could start as a healthcare assistant and learn on the job. You could then do training to move into occupational therapy work.

Volunteering

You'll find it useful to get some voluntary work experience in health or social care .

You can find volunteering opportunities through the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Do IT .

DirectApplication

You can apply directly for occupational therapy support worker roles if you've got skills and experience from working in a care or healthcare role.

Employers might want you to have a qualification in a subject related to health, and experience of working with people.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:

• knowledge of psychology
• to be flexible and open to change
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with others
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
• sensitivity and understanding
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• excellent verbal communication skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• knowledge of English language
• active listening skills
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• the ability to read English
• excellent written communication skills
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• concentration skills
• the ability to work well with your hands
• physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace

What you'll do:

Occupational therapy support workers work with occupational therapists to help sick, injured or old people to be as independent as possible.

As an occupational therapy support worker, you could:

• encourage clients with mental health issues to create a daily routine
• assist children with physical disabilities to enjoy play activities
• help clients who have had a stroke or been in an accident to adjust to their disability
• show clients how to use equipment that helps them to live independently
• check that equipment is in good working order and keep a record of items

Location : You could work in an NHS or private hospital or at a client's home.

Salary:

Starter : £23,000
Experienced : £35,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

40 - 42 hours a week

Working Pattern is between 8am and 6pm

Career Path:

With experience you could:

• become a team leader and supervise other occupational therapy support workers
• learn on the job and gain further qualifications such as a foundation degree in health and social care
• do a degree or degree apprenticeship to become an occupational therapist