Occupational Therapy

We work with people affected by illness, disability or injury, of all ages to be able to carry out their occupations (activities that provide meaning and purpose) so they can live as independently as possible.

We help people overcome all kinds of challenges, so they are able to complete everyday activities such as getting dressed, making a meal, going to school or work and to be able to engage in leisure activities, to provide structure, routine and a purpose to a person’s life. This might involve learning new ways to do things or making changes to their environment to make things easier for them.

The services we work in

We work with people of all ages, and with their families, carers and loved ones.
We work in hospitals, clinics, community settings, charities, prisons and social services departments.
Services we work in are learning disabilities, adult and older age adult mental health services, stroke services, palliative care, forensic services and children’s rehabilitation services.

What we earn

Assistant roles start at around £25,000 per year.

Qualified occupational therapists can earn between £32,000 to £77,000 per year.

Occupational Therapists are great at

Problem solving
Being a people person
Being a team player
Being creative
Being caring
Listening
Empowering people

How to get started

You’ll need a degree or master’s degree in occupational therapy. You can do this via a full-time or part time pre-registration course or via an apprenticeship course (completed whilst working in a paid therapy assistant role). The following local universities offer occupational therapy courses:

University of East Anglia

University of Essex

Anglia Ruskin University

Entry requirements for an undergraduate course are usually:

5 GCSEs (grades 9-4/A-C), including maths, English and science.
Level 3 qualification including: 3 A levels, T-Levels, BTEC Diploma, or Level 3 apprenticeship in health and social care.