Are you or someone you know considering a career in Healthcare? #ChooseOT
Western Trust Careers Event
Western Trust Staff Storyboards
- Band 5 Occupational Therapist – Sophie
- Band 6 Peripatetic Occupational Therapist – David
- Band 6 Peripatetic Occupational Therapist – Jennifer
- Principle Occupational Therapist – Patrick
Do you know what Occupational Therapists do?
Occupational Therapy is a healthcare profession that has existed since 1917. Occupational Therapists help individuals who are living with a disability, recovering from illness or injury, or experiencing poor mental health, to live independently and carry out occupations that are important to them. Occupations are basically anything that you do during the day between waking up and going to bed, from bathing and dressing yourself to things like cooking or spending time with friends. In fact, going to bed and sleeping, is a vital occupation too. Occupational therapists work with people throughout the life span, from infants to the elderly, and we practise in many places, such as schools, hospitals, outpatient clinics, work training schemes, rehab centres, and psychiatric hospitals.
What do our Western Trust Occupational Therapists love about the job:
 | Emma Williams - Mental Health Crisis Service, Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital ‘I love being an Occupational Therapist because I love the wide variety of areas we can work in. During placements in University, I discovered my love for working with people with mental health difficulties. I enjoying being able to help people discover or rediscover their interests, improve their motivation and develop skills to live satisfying lives.’ #chooseOT |
 | Colette Mc Cullagh - Macmillan Palliative Care Occupational Therapist ‘I love Occupational Therapy because I get to focus on what matters to the patient and not just what is the matter with them.’ #chooseOT |
 | Seanaín Murray - Mental Health Crisis Service, Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital ‘I love being an Occupational Therapist because I get to help people hold on to what’s important to them by touching hands, hearts and minds. In more recent times, I have been exploring the practice of delivering interventions through the virtual world. This has facilitated the use of new and innovative interventions as they are now more accessible.’ |
 | Sophie Lynch - Rehabilitation Unit - Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex I love being an Occupational Therapist because it’s rewarding for both myself and my clients - promoting independence and enhancing activities of daily living. |
And to finish, here is a small sample of the ‘Thank You’ messages that we have received from the service users we have had the pleasure of working alongside.
‘OT put the spark back in my life’
‘I can’t express the gratitude and respect I have for the OT Team on every occasion I have been treated with the upmost respect and care.’
‘The OT department is a supportive environment to develop skills, self-esteem and confidence on your road to recovery.’
‘OT helped me get back into the activities I had lost interest in. My depression eased and I actually looked forward to the start of the day. Best thing to happen since sliced bread.’
‘When I attend OT I become alive again.’
To find out more information about becoming an Occupational Therapist visit:
Royal College of Occupational Therapists