Career Advice for an Occupational Therapy Assistant

As an Occupational Therapy Assistant, you will work alongside Occupational Therapists to help people achieve their goals and improve their quality of life.

Quick Links

How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant

Should you wish to work as an Occupational Therapy Assistant you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Occupational Therapy Assistant

  • GCSEs in English and Maths.
  • A Level or Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care or a related subject.
  • Experience working in a healthcare or social care setting.

Key Responsibilities for an Occupational Therapy Assistant

  • Assisting with assessments and evaluations of clients' needs and abilities.
  • Developing and implementing treatment plans under the guidance of an Occupational Therapist.
  • Providing support and guidance to clients and their families.
  • Maintaining accurate records and documentation.
  • Collaborating with other healthcare professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes for clients.
  • Continuing to develop your knowledge and skills through training and professional development opportunities.

What to expect as an Occupational Therapy Assistant

As an Occupational Therapy Assistant in the UK, you could work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, schools, and community centres, helping people of all ages to overcome physical, mental, and emotional challenges.

Recommended Occupational Therapy Assistant Jobs

Loading Jobs...

How to get Occupational Therapy Assistant Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Occupational Therapy Assistant job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Occupational Therapy Assistant application. If you have not held an Occupational Therapy Assistant position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Occupational Therapy Assistant role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Occupational Therapy Assistant CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Occupational Therapy Assistant application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Occupational Therapy Assistant experience.

How to get Occupational Therapy Assistant Experience

What does it take to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Occupational Therapy Assistant jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Occupational Therapy Assistant through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Occupational Therapy Assistant part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Occupational Therapy Assistant or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Occupational Therapy Assistant freelance work

If you have impressive Occupational Therapy Assistant qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.