Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession where practitioners use their skills to improve and manage a wide range of health conditions. Occupational therapists take a ‘whole-person approach’ to manage health and wellbeing, enabling individuals, groups and communities to achieve their full potential.

Occupational therapists work with adults and children of all ages with a wide range of conditions. These include mental health illness, physical illness or learning disabilities, empowering people to facilitate recovery and overcome barriers which prevent them from doing the activities or occupations that matter to them.

Occupational therapists can work in a variety of settings including the NHS, social services, housing, education, prisons, voluntary organisations or as independent practitioners. The unique skills of an occupational therapist also enables contemporary roles such as disaster management, foster care and emergency services.

An Occupational therapist can make a huge difference to an individual’s life by working alongside them to overcome the effects of disability caused by illness, ageing or accidents so that they can carry out everyday tasks or occupations.

All of the patient’s needs – physical, psychological, social and environmental are considered by occupational therapists. This support can make a real difference, giving people a renewed sense of purpose, opening up new horizons, and changing the way they feel about the future.

• Working as an occupational therapist in the NHS, in social care, schools, charities, prisons, local authorities or independent services.
• Research
• Overseas work
• Education
• Management