Working as an occupational therapist (OT): 5 Pros and 5 Cons
5 Pros
1. Collaborative multi-disciplinary professional environment
Occupational therapists (‘OTs’) enjoy working in multidisciplinary teams (with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, PAs/ACPs, other AHPs etc), promoting shared knowledge and expertise. In hospitals, they work especially closely with physiotherapists.
2. Wide range of clinical responsibilities
OTs have a wide range of healthcare skills, from taking medical histories and examining patients, to giving treatment. In hospitals, they see the patient every day if they can.
In hospital, they focus on the rehabilitation of the patients, attending (or leading) MDT meetings, and informing other NHS staff when the patient is ‘physically fit for discharge’. This is more than being ‘medically fit for discharge’.
3. Crucial role in patient care
OTs have a significant impact patient on patient outcomes by diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions, teaching health promotion, prevention and providing valuable education.
Also, senior doctors, nurses and other AHPs (such as physiotherapists), have alot of confidence in them.
4. Growing demand in the NHS, with diverse working environments
OTs benefit from a rapidly expanding career with increasing popularity, creating more job opportunities. They can work in diverse environments in the NHS: GP, hospital, mental health, community – gaining exposure to almost all medical and surgical disciplines.
5. Good working conditions
- Well paid position. Most OTs begin their careers with a reasonable NHS Band 5 salary, ranging from £28,407 to £34,581 per year. Either way, as it is quite a short training (3 years at university), it doesn’t take long to get to a good salary. Some start at Band 6
- Enjoy a good work/life balance. OTs usually work regular hours – mainly Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (no nights). Some work weekends. This promotes overall well-being
- Career flexibility. OTs benefit from the other good NHS working conditions, e.g. maternity leave, part-time working, good pension etc
- Able to work outside the UK. OTs are able to work in other countries, unlike some other health professionals.
5 Cons
1. Supervision and limited autonomy
Whilst OTs work closely with doctors in hospitals, they work under the supervision of a senior doctor. This can mean less autonomy in decision-making and patient management compared to doctors. However, as hospital OTs often make the final discharge decision (with physios), they have areas of autonomy where they do feel they are leading.
2. Lack of career structure, with appropriate pay rises
Even though at the start of their careers, OTs pay is generous, the career structure after that is quite flat, without good pay rises linked to promotion etc.
3. Lack of educational development
Because of the flat career structure, they are less able to specialise, by getting extra training. So even though they are encouraged to do CPD, and go to conferences etc, this doesn’t always lead to career development.
4. Image in the eyes of the public (and within hospital)
The public may see them as important health professionals, but with limited areas of knowledge (e.g. getting elderly people home). Their range of skills is not always appreciated.
Also, within a hospital, OTs (and all AHPs) are rarely represented on hospital boards. They normally report to the hospital’s senior nurse. This limits their power to ‘change big things’ or ‘change the system’.
5. Physically and emotionally demanding work
The work can be both physically and emotionally demanding. And, when this is combined with the frustration of not being able to carry out the requested task (‘please get this frail elderly lady home today’), because of factors beyond their control (‘no nursing home bed, no carers available in community’ etc), burnout is an issue.
