Occupational therapy assistant

Earn while you learn in the workplace.

The Job

Occupational therapy support workers work with occupational therapists. They offer practical support to help people overcome problems in carrying out day-to-day activities of their lives.

OT support workers work with people of all ages and situations with a range of conditions.

• Helping someone adapt to life after major surgery such as a hip replacement
• children with disabilities take part in school and play activities
• dementia sufferers develop strategies
• stroke patients
• people suffering from mental illness get back into everyday activities such as work or volunteering
• elderly people stay in their own homes by providing adaptation such as level access showers or stairlifts

Requirements

You will learn and develop on the job, we expect you to have good literacy, numeracy skills.

Personal qualities

In order to be successful in this role, you will need to be:

• able to motivate people
• accepting of other people’s lifestyles
• willing to work with people from all walks of life
• happy to talk to and work with groups
• flexible
• able to work in a team but use their own initiative
• able to follow procedures
• able to deal with people with challenging behaviour
• a good communicator
• good at organising and prioritising work
• able to explain treatment to patients

Your development

You will gain formal qualifications through a Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3 apprenticeship. You’ll also be eligible for associate membership of British Association and College of Occupational Therapists.