Occupational therapist — Ayo Oluwole

Ayo studied BSc Occupational Therapy at the University of East Anglia. She works as an occupational therapist for Herts Ability, a charitable organisation within the driving mobility sector

Why did you choose a career in occupational therapy?

From a young age I wanted to help people. I wasn't interested in studying medicine or being involved in bedside care, so I started searching for other roles you could do in a healthcare setting.

I was torn between physiotherapy and occupational therapy because they seemed similar; however, I felt occupational therapy aligned more with my personality as I enjoy a more holistic approach.

With occupational therapy I am able to think about meaningful things to an individual, such as their identity roles, religion and motivation and how those unique components have a part to play in their rehabilitation.

How did you get your job as an occupational therapist?

During my last student placement I was based at a stroke rehabilitation ward. My educator recommended that I connect with Herts Ability, a local charity dedicated to helping individuals regain their driving abilities following medical events. I spent an afternoon with their team, observing an assessment in progress and engaging with both an occupational therapist and an approved driving assessor.

Inspired by the remarkable work of Herts Ability, I created an informative poster for the healthcare staff on the ward to raise awareness about their services. Shortly after, I was approached by the CEO, who inquired about my interest in joining their team as an occupational therapist after graduation. I accepted, and the interview process commenced.

My journey began with an introductory call to discuss the position and share my background in occupational therapy. This was followed by a traditional in-person interview. A week later, I received an offer for the role. I believe my success in securing this opportunity stemmed from my curiosity as a student and my passion for enhancing the quality of life for my future patients.

What kind of tasks do you complete in a typical day?

I have one assessment in the morning and one in the afternoon. I start by looking at the client's referrals, which are usually from services like DVLA, Motability and other healthcare professionals. I look through a form filled out by the client, which describes their diagnosis, how it affects them and what kind of vehicle they are looking to drive. From this I can start to deduce what kind of cognitive assessments would be suitable for the client, whether they will need adaptations and what things they might find difficult when driving.

When the client arrives, I complete a cognitive and physical assessment to determine whether their abilities are sufficient enough to ensure a safe drive. An approved driving instructor (ADI) or I will also check their eyesight and once they are cleared, the assessment starts. The driving section of the assessment lasts 40 minutes. By the end, the occupational therapist and ADI should have a clear image of the person's ability to drive safely and the effects of their medical condition on their driving. Once back in the office, we feed back the outcome to the client and start to begin their report, which gets sent to the referrer.  

What do you enjoy about your job as an occupational therapist?

I enjoy working in a specialist area where I am able to hone in on my unique skillset to help a diverse set of clients. I work with people with profound cognitive difficulties and am amazed by the way they interpret the world around them.

I also feel extremely valued where I work. As a newly qualified occupational therapist it was important for me to find a setting that has a healthy work culture. At my current job, I feel supported in a way I have never felt before and the staff benefits add to the enjoyment of getting to see my clients drive or transfer better than when they arrived.

What are the challenges?

A big challenge for me is having to give clients bad news. The ethos of occupational therapy is to get people back to their meaningful activities but sometimes in my role I have to weigh up the significance of the meaningful activity compared to the risk they put themselves and others in while completing it. It is definitely hard to give bad news to people.

What three qualities are important for a career in occupational therapy?

I normally define the qualities as the three C's - confidence, compassion and creativity.

• Confidence - A lot of people don't understand what the profession is and what we do, so it is paramount you have confidence in explaining who you are and the value you bring to service users.
• Compassion - You will meet a lot of people who are not well, so it is important that you treat each and every one individually and compassionately. They are not just a statistic, and they will appreciate the compassion you show them.
• Creativity - The profession is all about completing things in non-conventional ways so that people with differences are not excluded in everyday activities. You need creativity to find bespoke and individual ways to help your clients.

Can you debunk a myth about working in the field?

One myth is that you will not be able to work within this sector as a new graduate. I am living proof. You don't need years of experience before trying a new specialism - you just need to be passionate and willing to learn.

What are your career ambitions?

They are to one day become a clinical lead and make good decisions for the staff working under me. I am someone who loves to teach, and although I am not at clinical lead level yet, I give students advice about occupational therapy on my TikTok page.

Are you a member of a professional body? If so, what are the benefits of this? 

Yes, I am a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapy (RCOT), and would advise any student, professional or anyone with an interest in occupational therapy to join. The main benefits I enjoy are CPD+me, a platform that provides structured reflective model templates with question prompts to make the process smoother. The RCOT also provides a library full of research articles and journals to use , helping me carry on with an evidence-based practice.

What advice can you give to other aspiring occupational therapists?

My advice would be to not be afraid to go into unfamiliar areas of practice as a new graduate. You gain knowledge and skills no matter the specialty so why not pick something you enjoy so when you come into work you have a smile on your face.

Find out more

• Learn more about the role of an occupational therapist.
• Discover what you can do with a degree in occupational therapy.
• See what the healthcare sector has to offer.