Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships
Feature
W hen I introduce myself to patients , saying , ‘ Hello , my name is Kirsty and I am an occupational therapy apprentice ’, I often get a look of confusion in response . How can I be a student ? I am a 33-yearold , mum of three . Not your average student , I suppose , and there begins the conversation about how I ended up being a student through the route of apprenticeship .
This question appeared to be more prevalent when on placement , with ‘ student ’ written just about everywhere across my uniform and badge ; and at times I am sure it was written across my own face in confusion .
As an occupational therapy apprentice , I work in my daily role as an occupational therapy assistant , on a general medical ward in an NHS acute setting . This is a setting and a role I have been in for several years – a role I am comfortable with , with people around me that I know and who know how I work .
So , when I came to starting the first placement of my apprentice journey , I felt a sense of both achievement and fear .
I had been on placements before in a previous degree , but I worried that there would be a different level of expectation , due to being an apprentice . I felt some level of pressure to prove that I knew what I was doing and display the confidence of a permanent member of staff , ‘ like for like ’ to my day-to-day role .
I arrived on the first day to be greeted by two smiling , inviting practice educators , who were part of two , just as inviting , therapy teams . This lifted an element of the fear , but when the educators themselves admitted they were feeling a similar way , due to both having qualified some years ago and not being as familiar with some of the more recent occupational therapy science , models and frames of reference as they could be , I felt the fear disappear and I relaxed .
As part of my placement , I was split between a rehabilitation ward in a community hospital and a community therapy team . I spent time with both teams , which was perfect . I met the patients on the ward with one team , contributed to their rehabilitation , completed assessments to get individuals home safely , and then followed them up once home .
This gave me the opportunity to see the patients through the whole occupational therapy process . For my own learning , this was such a fantastic opportunity , but it also provided some of the patients with some comfort , as they had a recognisable face throughout much of their journey .
I was surprised by one patient on the ward , as I had actually treated them in my day-to-day role before going on placement ; as a team , we had recommended that they have rehabilitation , but not once did I expect to meet him again on placement .
So , for this particular patient I got to see them in the acute hospital , rehabilitation hospital and then to visit them again at home .
This was an extremely valuable , but also a hugely fulfilling learning experience . Seeing someone gain back their confidence , mobility , independence and to some degree their life , with the help of meaningful occupation , was powerful and really showed me the superpower that occupational therapists hold , through using occupation to empower , motivate and facilitate to allow the individual to be just that – an individual .
The hardest part of placement for me was being a student . The transition from being a full-time member of staff within a therapy team for many years , building up my knowledge and experience , to being a student was difficult . It was almost like I had to unpick and undo some of that to allow myself to fulfil that role .
Taking a step back and not just doing was frustrating at the beginning . I spoke with my practice educators about this , and they were very understanding . At times they prompted me to stop and ask questions and think about what I was doing more , rather than just doing .
I had to get out of my auto-pilot mode of discharge planning that comes from the pressures of working in acute medicine .
I learnt so much from this experience and something that I was initially apprehensive about turned out to be a fantastic opportunity , which allowed me to put theory into practice and learn to slow down and be a learner .
I have brought an element of this back to my day-to-day role , in thinking more critically and deeply about decisions I make .
Placements are , to me , such a valuable experience as part of the apprenticeship . It gave me a sense of achievement and confidence – that I do know what I ’ m doing ( sometimes ) – and it gave me the opportunity to experience a range of areas in which occupational therapists can work .
I urge anyone in my position take the opportunity in your stride , slow down , ask questions , listen and take the opportunity to be a student .
Words KIRSTY CALDECOTT , Apprentice Occupational Therapist at The Princess Royal Hospital , Telford . kirsty . caldecott @ nhs . net
February 2024 OTnews 23