Physiotherapist

How I found this job:
The Ministry of Health in Singapore were recruiting in Ireland. They contacted the school of physiotherapy in Trinity, and asked interested applicants to submit their CV to their website. Subsequently I was called for an interview while they were in Ireland and received a job offer some weeks later via email.

Training provision in this company:
The physiotherapy department allowed two weeks of observation of all services offered by the department, followed by two weeks of semi-supervised integration to the wards.
There is also supervised training (min. 20 hours) for the neonatal and children's ICU.

Most important skills and knowledge I use in my job:
Respiratory assessment and treatment techniques, particularly in the paediatric population.
Paediatric orthopaedics conditions and their treatment, as well as paediatric development and milestones.

Most interesting part of my work:
A wide variety of clinical conditions encountered on a daily basis means you earn good work experience, particularly if you are interested in working with children.

Most challenging part of my work:
Many of the older patients don't speak English, which makes taking a history or providing education very difficult.
The working hours are longer than those worked in Ireland (08.00-17.30) with only one hour break for lunch, which is quite draining initially.

Advice for current TCD students entering the employment market:
Check the ISCP website on a regular basis, as many job opportunities are advertised there.
Try to get some experience in private hospitals, private practice, nursing homes or with local sports teams.
Be open to opportunities abroad.

Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist

How I found this job:
Initially, I was placed at Lewisham as a Locum OT through a recruitment company. Then, in 2001 I applied for a Basic Grade post and was successful in my application, was appointed as a Senior OT in November 2002.

Training provision in this company:
Good internal training opportunities. Department will not find external courses for you to attend, but will fund them if you justify the expenditure. They also give study time for courses you may wish to privately fund/attend.

Career development / progression in this company:
I was made a Senior after 1 year - this would generally take 3-4 years in other organisations. They go to great lengths to keep interested and motivated therapists.

Most important skills and knowledge I use in my job:
Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology & Clinical Reasoning skills. Aslo use knowledge of architecture, construction/building and child development.

Most interesting part of my work:
Meeting children and their families. Being able to positively intervene to facilitate change in their environment and seeking a happy family and an independent child as the end result.

Most challenging part of my work:
Dealing with unrealistic parents or parents who haven't yet come to terms with their child's disability.

Advice for current TCD students entering the employment market:
Visit potential places of work before accepting a job. Do a 'rotation' between hospitals and community when you're a Basic Grade - gives a good grounding in the profession and consolidates university knowledge.

August 2004

Update of my career to date:

• Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist at London Borough of Lewisham June 2001 – July 2005 (4 years 2 months) www.lewisham.gov.uk
• Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist at Lambeth Primary Care Trust, London July 2005 - May 2006 (10 months) www.lambethpct.nhs.uk
• Highly Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist - Clinical Lead in Autism at Lambeth Primary Care Trust, London May 2006  – November 2007 (1 year 6 months) www.lambethpct.nhs.uk
• Clinical Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist at NHS Isle of Wight November 2007 – Present (2 years 10 months) www.iow.nhs.uk
• Independent Paediatric Occupational Therapist at "The Children's OT"
  (private practice) November 2007 – Present (2 years 10 months)
• Wessex area Regional Representative at British Association and College of Occupational Therapists September 2008 – Present (2 years)
• UK & Northern Ireland Regional Co-Ordinator of Children, Young People & Families specialist section, British Association and College of Occupational Therapists May 2010 – Present (4 months)

Social Worker

How I found this job:
Offered job, following completion of placement there, and worked as locum there.

Training provision in this company:
Specific pieces of training offered periodically eg workshops on specific areas of work eg bereavement, legislation, sexual abuse.

Career development / progression in this company:
Line of promotion to team leader. Opportunity to become a senior practitioner when fulfill criteria and complete interview. Opportunity to be made permanent.

Most important skills and knowledge I use in my job:
Communication and negotiation skills. Knowledge of child development and cycles of abuse, systemic examinatio of families.

Most interesting part of my work:
Working with children. Gaining a greater understanding of perpetraters of abuse

Most challenging part of my work:
Resistent clients. Emotional burden.

Advice for current TCD students entering the employment market:
Gain as much experience as possible, in varied fields. Don't be afraid to ask for h elp as a new employee and seek support.