What else can an occupational therapist do?

Sarah, 42, is an experienced occupational therapist working with disabled adults at a local authority. She earns £31,439, but is looking for fresh challenges

1 Sarah might consider a move to a primary care trust as an inter-professional training ward facilitator, earning from £35,746 to £45,353. It is an innovative post, working on a hospital rehabilitation ward for older people, and is designed as a training placement for allied health professionals and other clinical pre-registration students. It would develop her interest in training and development and challenge her thinking around integrated working.

2 Her past experience of working with adults with learning difficulties means she might be interested in joining a multi-disciplinary health and social care team as a transition worker, helping young people with complex or severe disabilities as they approach adulthood. She would visit mainstream and specialist schools, leading and co-ordinating the health package of the person's future care. She would earn up to £39,517.

3 Sarah might become a senior practitioner managing a team of staff responsible for co-ordinating the discharge of patients from hospital back into the community. Her clinical assessment skills are an advantage and she must be a good communicator, able to work well under pressure and be sensitive to the conflicts and tensions that can influence discharge planning and decisions. She would earn from £33,934 to £41,112.

4 Sarah could earn up to £39,516 as an admissions and discharge pathway co-ordinator for patients needing hospital-based rehabilitation services. It is a PCT role open to a qualified nurse or other allied health professional. She would ensure patients are appropriately admitted and would be the trust's lead for access to intermediate care services. She would also co-ordinate complex cases of patients being discharged back into the community.

5 If Sarah wants to take her career in a completely different direction she might become a lecturer delivering health modules in workplace wellbeing, as part of a foundation degree in sport, health, leisure and nutrition, targeting NHS employees. Her professional qualification and her experience in occupational health would be useful. The starting salary is from £29,704 up to £35,469.

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