As with many critical professions in social care, there’s an acute shortage of occupational therapists (OTs). At local authority care providers, almost 10% of OT vacancies are unfilled.
But it isn’t just high demand and job security on offer; occupational therapy can be an incredibly rewarding role. One survey of OTs found 86% would recommend it as a career.
If you’re thinking of becoming an occupational therapist, you can start preparing today.
Keep reading to discover:
- How Occupational Therapy works in a care home
- Which soft skills make a great Occupational Therapist
- The qualifications needed to become an Occupational Therapist
- 3 Free online FuturU courses to kickstart your new OT career.
What does a care home Occupational Therapist do?
Due to the effects of physical or mental illness, disability, injury or old age, many people struggle with everyday tasks. These people are often supported in their recovery, rehabilitation and management strategies by an occupational therapist.
In a care home, an OT helps residents improve independence and quality of life by:
- assessing their therapy needs, designing plans and implementing suitable care
- providing advice to residents and their families on ways to live independently
- attending meetings, and keeping/sharing accurate records to promote integrated care
- recommending equipment and special aids to make daily activities more manageable
- training care team staff on the use of specialist equipment and best practices.
Which soft skills does an Occupational Therapist need?
Occupational therapists are highly skilled and trained healthcare professionals who are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
But aside from these hard qualifications and skills, there are certain ‘soft’ skills and qualities that make somebody well-suited to the role of occupational therapist:
- Compassion – having a genuine desire to help those within your care is a must
- Empathy – person-centred care requires you to really hear and understand needs
- Collaboration – work with other professionals to provide high-quality, integrated care.
Does this sound like you? Learn more about your suitability in our articles on the essential soft skills for care and the transferable skills for a career in care.
Do I need qualifications to become an Occupational Therapist?
Yes. You’ll need a degree in Occupational Therapy, which you may be able to get via a degree apprenticeship that combines on-the-job training with study. Once you’re qualified, you will need to register with the HCPC before you can start practising.
Which FuturU courses should an aspiring Occupational Therapist take?
An Occupational Therapy degree usually takes between three and six years to complete, or two-to-four years if you study as an apprentice. But you can start learning important skills and gaining recognised qualifications right now with our online learning platform.
Here are three FuturU courses to get you on track for your career change.
1) Acquired Brain Injury (Advanced)
An acquired brain injury (ABI) is one that was not present at birth, but is instead the result of trauma (eg. a fall or assault) or a non-traumatic cause (eg. a stroke or infection). It’s estimated that 1.3 million people in the UK are living with an ABI.
Occupational therapists play an important role in ABI recovery, rehabilitation and management. Take our advanced online ABI course today and learn:
- the root causes of ABI, including traumatic events, strokes, and infections
- the effects of ABI, and the challenges individuals face following a brain injury
- rehabilitation strategies and support systems that can improve quality of life
- the emotional and practical challenges of caring for someone living with ABI
- the unique challenges and considerations for children and adolescents with ABI.
About this course
- Duration: 120 minutes
- CPD accredited? Yes
- Valid for: 24 months
2) Dysphagia Awareness
Dysphagia is the medical term for swallowing difficulties. It occurs more commonly among those of increasing age and frailty, and certain neurological conditions are also risk factors. It’s thought that 50-75% of nursing home residents experience dysphagia.
Our free online dysphagia awareness course will equip you with essential dysphagia skills and knowledge by helping you learn:
- all about dysphagia, its causes, and factors that contribute to swallowing difficulties
- the anatomy and physiology (nerves and muscles) of the swallowing process
- the signs and symptoms of dysphagia, so you can detect and intervene early
- strategies for managing dysphagia, such as dietary changes and positioning tips
- the importance of nutrition and hydration, and how to provide appropriate support.
About this course
- Duration: 30 minutes
- CPD accredited? Yes
- Valid for: 18 months
3) Person-centred Care Planning and Record Keeping
Every individual deserves care that is tailored to their unique needs and preferences, and that they’ve been a part of choosing. Occupational therapists play a vital role in planning and documenting this individualised, person-centred care.
Our free online course in person-centred care planning and record keeping empowers you to deliver exceptional care by teaching you:
- the core principles and benefits of putting individuals at the heart of care planning
- how to develop care plans that meet individual needs and comply with regulations
- the art of clear, concise and informative record-keeping to support care delivery
- the UK laws and guidelines that govern care planning and record-keeping.
About this course
- Duration: 40 minutes
- CPD accredited? Yes
Want to keep learning? Explore the rest of our course library
If these courses inspire you to keep learning, that’s exactly what you should do. There are dozens more free online courses on the FuturU platform – and you can take them all.
Take a look at the full course list and start building your career in care today.