Join us as we hear from Miriam Smyth and Orla Irwin, two occupational therapy students from Scotland. They’re sharing insights from their placements with us, as well as the benefits of RCOT student membership and more.
Pictured from left to right: Elizabeth Taylor, RCOT Research and Development Manager, OT sudents Orla Irwin and Miriam Smith.
Tell us about yourself and the journey that led you to study OT?
Miriam: My undergrad degree is in Social Science and I was initially going down the route of becoming a social worker (as I didn’t know about OT at the time). But when I worked in a brain injury service I was introduced to the profession and I fell in love with the role. I was drawn to it because of the level of person-centeredness and the holistic approach to treating a person. I then started to research courses outside of Ireland as I wanted to live/study in a different country and QMU (Edinburgh) was my first choice.
Orla: I’ve taken a long road to get to occupational therapy. I left university with a BA in Maths and History and ended up working in finance. I worked in this setting for nearly 20 years but was never truly motivated or fulfilled by the job. I wasn’t initially aware of what occupational therapists did, but the more I learnt about the profession the more it appealed to me. I liked hearing about how occupational therapy takes a holistic approach when working with a person. I was also drawn to the diversity and variety of settings that OTs can work in.
What are you enjoying most within your studies?
Miriam: I am enjoying the variety of practice placement experiences. My previous placements have been in a neuro-rehabilitation hospital, CAMHS, a forensic learning disability service and now with RCOT. I also completed a neurodiversity module in university last semester which I really enjoyed.
Orla: This is a tricky question, as I have enjoyed studying, but the exam and assessment part, not so much! The first two years of my course were impacted by COVID, with most lectures taking place online. I have enjoyed being on placement, I’ve been to learning disabilities, health & social care, mental health in a prison and now RCOT.
What has your placement at RCOT been like? What are they key lessons and insights you have gained?
Miriam: I’ve had a great experience and I have felt very supported on my placement. This is my first non-clinical placement so I didn’t know what to expect, but it has exceeded my expectations. There is a real value placed on learners within RCOT. There has been so much variety where no two days have been the same. We had multiple projects to choose from and a wide range of learning opportunities. I’ve worked on projects around primary care and single-handed care, which are two areas I had no previous knowledge of. The importance of networking with other professionals throughout the UK has really been highlighted during this placement.
Everyone has been so welcoming and eager to hear my opinions from a learner perspective. The team is very inspirational and enthusiastic about the profession, which makes me excited for a career in OT.
Orla: From the very beginning of placement, everyone has been really welcoming, and you could tell it was going to be well organised by the amount of communication received before starting. It's been a great experience where I felt that my opinions have been asked and listened to. I wasn’t expecting there to be so many opportunities to work with different projects, the variety has certainly kept us busy. From the start we were encouraged to be autonomous with our projects, whilst also been given as much support.
I also like how the organisation encourages people to embrace the values, having them as part of the rocks makes them more tangible. I hope to carry this forward with me.
What would you say to someone considering occupational therapy as a career?
Orla: I would encourage them to go for it, whatever your age. Returning to education has been challenging, but I know that it was the right thing to do. I would also suggest to try and speak/shadow some therapists as there are so many roles out there!
What's your ultimate dream OT job?
Miriam: When I graduate I hope to get a rotational post with the NHS and gain experience in a few different areas/settings. I am passionate about anything neurological so my dream would be to specialise in a neuro service with adults. From my placement with RCOT, I would consider a research post further down the line after I have gained enough clinical experience, which is not something I had previously considered prior to this experience.
Orla: My dream job would be working in the community, helping people to stay at home so that they can live their best life and not just exist.
What do you find most fulfilling about being a member of RCOT?
Miriam: I enjoy being a member as it keeps me updated on everything that’s happening within our profession and helps me maintain my professional identity. I like reading OTnews and if I wasn’t a member of RCOT, I would feel out of the loop.
Orla: I like being part of a professional body as it helps me with my professional identity. Reading OTnews is also a good way of learning about what is happening around the country. In 2022 I became a committee member of the Scottish Eastern branch of RCOT, through that volunteer role I have enjoyed the social and CPD events that we have organised. I thought I was familiar with the benefits of my membership, but being on this placement has made me realise I wasn’t!
Would you recommend RCOT membership to other students?
Miriam: Yes. Prior to my placement with RCOT I was not aware of the range of resources and learning opportunities that are available. Particularly the Library, the Career Development Framework and the CPD tools are beneficial for students. I will be recommending these resources to my peers in university.
Orla: Yes, I would, student membership isn’t expensive. I initially registered so that I would be covered by PII, but there are many other benefits. As a student having access to the occupational therapy journals and publications, which my university library didn’t have access to, was beneficial when doing assignments.
Become a student member
If you’re studying to be an occupational therapist, consider joining RCOT to get access to the same support and resources Orla and Miriam have.