Reflections on collaborative working to develop an occupational therapy apprenticeship that meets local needs .
Supporting the local occupational therapy workforce
Reflections on collaborative working to develop an occupational therapy apprenticeship that meets local needs .
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n 2019 , local employers and representatives from the University of Hertfordshire School of Health and Social Work first met to discuss developing an occupational therapy apprenticeship programme at the university to meet local workforce development needs . Following the publication of the Apprenticeship Standard for Occupational Therapy ( Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education 2018 ) a number of universities designed apprenticeship programmes that vary in structure ( Hibberd et al 2023 ).
The University of Hertfordshire did not previously deliver occupational therapy education and therefore the apprenticeship programme was designed collaboratively with employers , without the framework of a pre-existing course .
The first cohort of 21 apprentices started on the threeyear programme in January 2021 . As these apprentices approach becoming the first occupational therapists to qualify in Hertfordshire , some of the key stakeholders in the programme were asked to reflect on the experience of delivering this new apprenticeship .
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26 OTnews February 2024