OT placement

Hi again Aarti. Passing on a reply from OT Bhanu Bhatti (on our LinkedIn post about your forum): "Hello Aarti, good question! 

Any OT placements with good support and learning objectives is an opportunity to learn and progress your skills. Yes, ideally you would like a different environment to identify whether that’s an area you would like to specialise in the future. It’s worth asking to swap with a colleague or ask for other options. However, once you graduate there are rotational posts you can select which also consolidates your skills and shows the variety of areas OTs can work in. Great versatile profession with huge opportunity in the UK and abroad."

Hi Aarti, I'm a final year OT apprentice. I work in community neuro rehab and a placement in community hospital within my trust. Whilst not the same situation it did feel very familiar. However by being a student in this space it allowed me to refine my clinical skills and I gained a lot from the placement.

I don't think your placement will limit scope of practice. Use the time to be a student, be clear with your practice educator that your are there as a student and that whilst you may have a really good understanding of the OT role in that setting and plenty of practice experience. That you need to build the clinical skills indicated in your OAR document. In short don't go in as an additional member of staff! Go in as a competent and confident learner and you will reap dividends from the experience.

The very best of luck,

Alfie.

Thanks for reaching out with your query here @Aarti Brahmbhatt - we'll bring it to the attention of fellow Members shortly, to prompt advice.

Having not followed the apprenticeship route, my advice is only as an occupational therapist further along the journey. However, I would be confident to say that this scenario would not limit your scope of practice once qualified - particularly in the long-term. It might afford you a little less breadth, in-terms of pre-registration exposure to what else is out there. But an employer will look at your skills and wider experiences. And I imagine your university running the apprenticeship will need to provide you at least one 'mental health'-oriented and one 'physical health'-oriented placement anyway (regardless of the setting you work in). I can see your train of thought here though. However, another way of looking at this is that you go into your first placement with a bit more confidence and knowledge - versus someone entering a brand new setting! This might afford you the time and headspace to excel in showing your skills and patient-centred care. Good luck on your journey and keep me and fellow Hub Members updated on how you get on!