Does working with individuals from birth to end of life including those with physical and mental health conditions, injury, learning disabilities, long-term conditions interest you? If so, read on to find out how the Level 6 Occupational Therapist apprenticeship could help start a new career.
What is a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship?
A Level 6 (Higher) Apprenticeship combines working for an employer with a qualification which is the equivalent to the final year of a bachelor’s degree – all while getting paid! They usually last from 18 months to 5 years. For this Level 6 apprenticeship it will take around 4 years to complete, as apprentices attend university and study towards a degree.
Entry & Qualification requirements
Typically 3 A levels or equivalent access qualifications. Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to completing the end-point assessment (EPA). For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeships English and Maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language qualification are an alternative to English qualifications for whom this is their primary language.
What is an Occupational Therapist?
As an occupational therapist, you’ll help people who have difficulties carrying out day-to-day activities because of a disability, illness, trauma, ageing, and a range of long-term conditions. Occupational therapy is a rewarding career which requires a highly developed knowledge and professional skill-set to enable you to work across a range of settings and environments. Occupational therapists work with individuals from birth to end of life including those with physical and mental health conditions, injury, learning disabilities, long-term conditions, palliative care needs and with those who find themselves displaced from their societies. Your primary goal as an occupational therapist is to enable people to participate in meaningful occupations and activities of everyday life. As an occupational therapist, you’ll help people who have difficulties carrying out day-to-day activities because of a disability, illness, trauma, ageing, and a range of long-term conditions.
Key responsibilities & duty of the role
You’ll work as an autonomous practitioner, either within a team or on an individual basis. Through assessment, intervention, critical reflection and the application of analytical skills, you demonstrate how you collaboratively reach solutions through occupations to the issues people face. You will be responsible and accountable for your decisions, and for reflecting on the effectiveness of your actions, with the aim of continually improving the service you provide. You demonstrate leadership and management qualities and are responsible for ensuring your own knowledge and skills are current. You are required within the professional and regulatory standards to contribute to the development of the profession by supporting student therapists and supervising those in other roles.
After 3 years you’ll be able to;
- Undertake occupational therapy assessment and interventions that demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between occupation and health and wellbeing.
- Select and use appropriate methods to identify occupational strengths and needs, using activity analysis as a core tool of practice. Make use of appropriate standardised and non-standardised assessments and outcome measures to critically analyse the findings.
- Assess, prescribe and facilitate use of equipment, assistive technology, and environmental adaptations when required to enhance occupational function.
- Develop a therapeutic relationship with the person to agree goals, choose specific occupations as therapy, and measure the impact of, and when to cease intervention.
What happens next?
On successful completion of an approved programme, apprentices are eligible to apply to the HCPC for registration as an Occupational Therapist, which is a requirement to practice under the protected title of Occupational Therapist. You will also be eligible to apply for Professional Membership of The Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
For more information visit ApprenticeTips.com as it has more details on how to find the right course and training provider for you. We wish you well on your next journey!