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Healthcare and Social Care - Occupational Therapy Assistant

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

• 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

As an Occupational Therapy Assistant, you could work in an NHS or private hospital or at a client's home.

Occupational Therapy Assistants tend to work between 40 to 42 hours a week. You could work between the hours of 8am and 6pm during the week. 

Starting: £21,730

Experienced: £26,282

You can get into this job through a college course, an apprenticeship, working towards this role and applying directly.

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. You'll usually need 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.

You could do a Healthcare Support Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship or a Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship. You'll usually need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and Maths, for an advanced apprenticeship and some GCSEs, usually including English and Maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship. If you have an EHCP you may be able to apply under the DfE exemption which allows the apprentice to use Entry level 3 English and Maths qualifications. The apprentice would have to successfully achieve all other aspects of the apprenticeship requirements, become occupationally competent and achieve Entry Level 3 in English and Maths before the end of their apprenticeship.  

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