Join the rewarding world of Occupational Therapy. Your World offers diverse opportunities and support to make a difference in people's lives.
Your World is an occupational therapy recruitment specialist with OT jobs available throughout the United Kingdom. We cover all specialisms within OT, such as Occupational Therapists, Neurological Rehab Therapists, and Hand Therapists.
We’re proud to be a leading recruiter of Allied Health Professionals and a preferred supplier to the NHS. Our team of OT recruiters can find you permanent or temporary work that fits your needs. They specialise in high-quality roles tailored just for you. Plus, we offer the best choice of work and great rates of pay, so you can rest assured that you’re always in great hands when you work with Your World.
Occupational therapists play a pivotal role within multidisciplinary healthcare teams, collaborating closely with other professionals to provide holistic care that addresses the physical, psychological, and social needs of patients.
Working with clients of all ages and backgrounds, occupational therapy jobs are some of the most rewarding within the health sector, as you work closely with patients to return them to an independent lifestyle.
Whether the disability stems from a recent accident, a psychological or physical illness or is due to ageing, Occupational Therapists can help clients overcome the effects using various techniques, exercises and equipment. The role requires the healthcare professional to create a treatment plan and work with their clients to achieve a positive outcome.
As well as working within hospitals, OT roles can extend to the wider community, including patients’ homes, local GP surgeries, prisons, schools and nursing homes – wherever therapy is required. The treatment for each client will differ and may involve:
Responsibilities can also include:
OTs working in functional rehabilitation help patients return to an independent life, with a particular focus on the activities that are most important to them. This might be simply learning to live alone and perform basic household duties, like housework or cooking, or it could be helping patients get back to a passion, like exercising or playing sports.
The people who would most benefit from functional rehabilitation include those with amputations, brain injuries, Arthritis, motor neurone disease, cerebral palsy, learning difficulties, and hip or knee replacements.
Paediatric occupational therapy is the application of specialist OT knowledge and training for children. It requires specific techniques to allow children to overcome any obstacles and give them the tools to enjoy independence whilst learning, playing, and performing personal activities like dressing, eating, and going to the toilet.
Paediatric OTs work with children of all ages, from babies through to teenagers aged 18 years. Their expert skills can make a huge difference to a child’s experiences growing up.
Children who would most benefit from working with a Paediatric Occupational Therapist include those with Down’s Syndrome, Autism, developmental delay, ADHD, Asperger Syndrome, Spina Bifida, learning disabilities, and more.
Neurological rehabilitation is a form of occupational therapy that assists patients with brain and spinal injuries. Specialist Neurological Occupational Therapists will work closely with their patients to improve their level of independence and quality of life. This might include focusing on improving cognitive function, or it could be creating a more accessible environment by making changes to their homes and installing specialist equipment.
Patients who would most benefit from neurological rehabilitation include those suffering from brain injuries, Autism, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Huntington’s Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, spinal injuries, stroke, and more.
Housing & Equipment OTs specialise in ensuring patients’ homes and environments reflect their specific needs. This includes considering their long-term and short-term requirements and making sure they are being catered to. They are also responsible for creating a future plan so patients can continue to overcome physical barriers as they progress.
Patients who would benefit from housing & equipment occupational therapy include people with physical impairments, like amputations, burns, joint replacements, spinal injuries, and tendonitis, as well as neurological impairments, such as stroke, Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson’s, and learning difficulties.
Hand therapists are one of the most highly specialised branches of Occupational Therapy. They work closely with patients suffering from pain and inflammation in the hands, wrists, and upper limbs, allowing patients to continue using their hands and maintain their independence.
Despite focusing on one part of the body, hand therapy takes years of training. They will use their knowledge and skills to apply specialist techniques that can help patients with flexibility, range of motion, and joint care.
Hand therapy is best for patients suffering from Arthritis, burns, amputations, brain injuries, tendonitis, and more.
Occupational Therapists who specialise in vocational rehabilitation are responsible for helping patients stay employed or return to work comfortably. They will work closely with their patients to create a plan of action that makes working a more accessible and less stressful experience. This could be assessing workstations and making any necessary adjustments, or it could be liaising directly with management or HR departments to find effective solutions to any barriers a patient may face.
Anyone with a health condition can seek the help of a Vocational OT.
Seating & postural management OTs specialise in helping patients with their posture whilst sitting or sleeping. Patients with specific issues relating to their digestive systems, respiratory function, or physical injuries may benefit from working directly with a Seating and Postural Management Occupational Therapist.
To fully understand their patient’s needs, some OTs may need to carry out a 24-hour assessment, which includes monitoring how they move during the day and sleep at night.
This is a great option for patients suffering from amputations, heart attacks, spina bifida, joint replacements, Multiple Sclerosis, brain injuries and more.
Moving & handling means the ability to move freely around an environment without physical barriers.
Patients requiring moving & handling occupational therapy might work with their OT to figure out where their needs aren’t being met at home. For example, they may need specialist equipment to help them get into bed or to travel from room to room (e.g. hoists or bespoke beds).
OTs working in this field might also give training to patients’ carers on how best to help them move around.
To qualify for occupational therapy jobs, you must pass an accredited degree at a university. Here, you will learn both the theoretical aspect of the profession and gain first-hand experience through placements. Completing the degree will also give you registration to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – a must for any occupational therapist.
The Band 5 salary for an Occupational Therapist working in the NHS starts at £25,655, rising to £31,534 depending on experience. Specialist Occupational Therapists working in the NHS can earn between £32,306 and £39,027 per year.
Senior therapists at Bands 8a & 8b can typically earn between £40,057 and £63,862 per annum.
However, with the demand for Occupational Therapists greater than ever, choosing a locum role may be a useful way to gain experience in a wider range of conditions, environments and patients.
For those looking for greater flexibility, the ability to be your own boss and the prospect of increasing your income, locum occupational therapist jobs could be a valid option. Being a locum occupational therapist allows you to build up experience in various occupational therapy locum jobs and learn more about the different hospital or working environments you may come across in full-time employment.
Although you would not be able to claim the additional benefits associated with a fixed role (such as pension, sick pay and holiday pay), there is a huge demand for locum employees within both the NHS and private sector to help fill any potential shortages. With LATs (Locum Appointments for Training) also counting towards your qualifications, there has never been a better time to consider taking an occupational therapy role on a locum basis (you can find this information within the job descriptions).
Whether you're new to the field or seeking a change, Your World is the Occupational Therapy agency that can connect you with the best locum OT jobs in the UK. We help you find the right job for your skills and goals, whether it's a permanent position or temporary work.
