OTnews April 2011
Welcome to the April 2011 issue of OTnews
While the government’s plans for cuts to NHS and local authority services and jobs, and the recently published Hutton report on public service pension provision, might seem discouraging for the 1,700 or so occupational therapy students who will graduate over the course of this year, BAOT has plenty of good advice available on surviving the transitional period from student to practitioner.
It is that time of year again when OTnews turns its focus towards newly qualified occupational therapists, and tries to offer some help and support on some of the issues our profession’s new blood faces in this uncertain economic and political climate. In the process, we hope that we will allay some of the fears and uncertainty that all new graduates feel when moving from education to practice.
Things kick off on page 25 with a reflection from Rachel Hickey, who recently qualified from Cardiff University, on the job-hunting process. She admits to sometimes feeling like she is ‘chasing dreams’, but has found that the stress of filling in job application forms and undertaking interviews has been reduced by the creation – with former classmates – of a weekly job club.
On page 26, three former students from Robert Gordon University share their experience of setting up a journal club to help them keep up with continuing professional development. On these pages, OTnews also offers some tips on job hunting, strengthening your CV and managing those all-important finances as a new graduate.
Finally, if you live in Northern Ireland, then it’s your turn to see what the five major political parties in your country would do to support occupational therapy if selected in the upcoming May elections. Turn to page 12 to see what their representatives have to say...
- Don’t panic! A guide for newly qualified OTs - Rachel Hickey shares her job hunting experience
- Coffee, cake and CPD - Three new graduates reflect on setting up a journal club for CPD
- Finding your feet; easy with the right support - Preceptorship update and advice from Dr Mary Morley
- From knowing about, to knowing how - The first few months as a newly qualified OT
- Job hunting and registration for new graduates - Surviving the transition from student to practitioner
- Taking on a non-traditional OT role - Recent graduate Kylie Holdback on working for bibic
- An action based project - How one project is helping students get valuable work experience
- ‘Role emerging’ placements – a global phenomenon? - The establishment of new roles in Bangladesh
- Learning from experience - Neil Roberts reflects on a placement to Bangladesh
- Leading from the frontline - Andrew Mickel on clinical leadership in the NHS
- Assisting recovery in adult mental health services - A pilot recovery focused programme
