I was working across three organisations; it can be a juggle, but each of those assignments provide something else professionally and developmentally.”
The takeaway
Associate working: explore associate opportunities in sectors outside your current expertise. Treat these roles as paid apprenticeships; environments where you develop your skills while contributing meaningfully. Be selective about the organisations you work with and clarify contractual expectations in writing before you begin.
Reflective question: What would a well-chosen associate role offer you professionally that your current position does not, and what would you need to have in place before you could pursue it confidently?
ideas from one setting to another. Such variety can be restorative rather than draining. By not being tethered to one system, you gain the freedom to advocate more effectively for your clients.
Michelle Armstrong adds:‘ I feel like it makes me a better occupational therapist, because I have so much that I can pull from, from different environments and different sources.’
Strategic associate roles
Working for other companies is a bridge between employment and total independence. For many occupational therapists, moving straight to a solo independent practice carries financial and professional risk.
Taking on associate work, where you work as a contractor for established companies, can offer a way to step back from the day-to-day of a single organisation and gain exposure to different environments and ways of working.
Some practitioners have used this model to curate their occupational balance. Jo Bresi-Ando says:‘ I work as an associate for three other different companies … over time I’ ve been quite picky for who I will do associate work for and that’ s been about giving me variety.’
This approach allows occupational therapists to test the water in different sectors, such as training or specialist clinical areas, without the overhead of running every aspect of a business themselves.
It also allows them to develop a career portfolio that aligns with their values. That said, it is worth being clear-eyed about the realities. Associate arrangements can feel less secure than employment, income can be irregular in the early
I was working across three organisations; it can be a juggle, but each of those assignments provide something else professionally and developmentally.”
stages, and the absence of an employer does not remove your professional and legal obligations. You remain responsible for your own scope of practice, insurance and governance in every role you hold.
The reality of the‘ multi-hat’ life
A portfolio career can require you to be a funding officer, an HR manager and a clinician, all in the same day.
Transitioning to a portfolio life involves wearing many hats, especially for those taking on less established roles in the third sector or starting an independent practice. The practical demands of self-promotion, contracting and business administration do not disappear simply because your clinical identity remains strong.
Pasna Sallis reflects:‘ I could be picking up people and resources, analysing spend report spreadsheets and chatting to someone about possible partnership work; all within one hour.’
This hat switching can be particularly challenging when one role involves a statutory position alongside emerging independent work, where
The takeaway
Managing multiple roles: a portfolio approach makes you the CEO of your own career. Schedule one‘ CEO hour’ every week and use it to audit your time by role; review your boundaries, your energy levels, and whether your current workload is sustainable. Financial discipline matters too. If you are moving away from salaried employment, building a financial buffer before you do so can significantly reduce the pressure in the early months.
Reflective question: If you were unexpectedly unavailable for two weeks, which of your current roles or commitments would be most vulnerable and what would that tell you about where to focus your planning?
Occupational Therapy in Independent Practice 9