Starting a new position in an unfamiliar organisation can be daunting at any level and in any profession.
At Manchester Occupational Therapy Services, we value and appreciate our team and do everything we can to welcome new starters and ease their transition as much as we can. Recently, Becky Cooper joined us as an Occupational Therapist. This is her account of those early days.
A New Start as an Occupational Therapist (by Becky Cooper)
Around four weeks ago, I started a new role as a paediatric occupational therapist with Manchester Occupational Therapy Services. I recently qualified with a BSc Hons in Occupational Therapy from the University of Salford. I always wanted to work with children and young people, so this role was an exciting prospect.
Meeting the team, getting to know everyone, and becoming an integral part of Manchester Occupational Therapy Services has given me a real sense of achievement. My long-term ambition of becoming an occupational therapist is now a reality.
Mixed Feelings and Emotions
Starting a new role – starting anything new, in fact – always brings conflicting emotions. I was excited to embark upon a new chapter and establish myself as an occupational therapist, which I have worked hard towards. However, I also felt rather nervous and even slightly overwhelmed at the thought of a new start.
As a qualified healthcare professional, there’s a certain amount of pressure to live up to expectations. Every professional has their moments of doubting their skills and abilities. All the Occupational Therapists at MOTS manage incredibly busy schedules and possess a wealth of knowledge and skills. They are so good at their jobs. This added to my nerves and made me wonder about the expectations of me…
The Early Weeks as an OT
Something that worked well for me within my first few weeks was having the opportunity to shadow OT assessments and intervention sessions. This helped me to understand how different therapists work. I was able to develop ideas around how I could work with individuals. Being able to spend some days shadowing my schools for September, before the summer break, helped me feel more settled. I could begin to put plans in place.
Initially, it seemed tricky to fit into the team, as everyone works in different areas and calls in the office at different times. As soon as I met everyone, though, I was made very welcome. The whole team is incredibly friendly and approachable. Every single person at MOTS is always happy to answer questions, or to share resources and ideas. This means having an open mind, being ready to learn and actively engage in discussions has been invaluable.
Proud to be Part of MOTS
There is a LOT to learn, and this can sometimes feel overwhelming. We’re given autonomy to work through this and develop knowledge and skills which, at first, I struggled to organise. I was given lots of support to organise and prioritise what would benefit me the most. Giving myself time to process the transition to a qualified practitioner was also a positive experience and has been fully supported. Using the summer holidays to reflect on what I have seen so far, organise my thoughts, and access resources has been extremely beneficial. I’m in a better position to plan and prepare for September.
Onwards and Upwards
So far, I have learnt to trust myself more. I have the knowledge, the skills and the ability to adapt and continue to learn. My confidence will develop over time, and I need to practice in a way that works best for me. I know to work on being organised and staying on top of tasks and be open minded around problems that may arise and how to overcome barriers.
Going forward, I’ll continue to develop my skills and abilities through accessing resources, actively seeking feedback, continuing to shadow a range of assessments and interventions and develop my ideas. This is how I will work to develop my confidence in my own abilities and begin to grow as a practitioner.