Occupational Therapy Assistant Review
at Paragon Skills
Level 2 Apprenticeship
Healthcare
Newton Abbot
Review Submitted: February 2022
Overall Rating
3.4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3/5
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Overview of Role
3/5
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Skills Development
3/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
3/5
I support individuals aged 18+ within a Mental Heath Hospital facility to recognise Occupational Health needs by working alongside the qualified Occupational Therapist to carry out assessments and follow up with suitable interventions. I deliver a variety of group activities to engage individuals during their admission and promote ADL's and meaningful activity.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I enjoy the amount of information and handouts provided and find regular tutor sessions helpful, however, I find it very difficult working entirely remotely but I work better when meeting face-to-face. Sometimes I feel unsure how to complete a task or do not understand what is being asked which can be quite frustrating.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
I have learnt how to communicate effectively with colleagues, service users, family & friends, multi-disciplinary teams and external agencies. I have learnt how to deal with difficult situations with a calm and compassionate approach as well as person centred. I have also learnt a lot around safeguarding and how to recognise signs of abuse how to report concerns.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
The bud platform used to submit completed work is easy to access via mobile or desktop and easy to upload items. The content can sometimes be confusing and not easy to follow or understand what is expected of you for that given unit. I would find it more helpful if tutor sessions could eventually be face-to-face so I can be shown visually how to complete tasks.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
I receive more support from my employer since discussing a few concerns around what is expected of me for each unit and uncertainty around the work shadow record. A meeting with my line manager, OT and tutor has been organised this month to discuss any concerns or uncertainty and how senior colleagues can support me.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
I receive monthly (1 hour) tutor sessions via teams and most recently fortnightly. I find this supportive but, at times, difficult to get across what I want to say due to being entirely remote. The tutor is friendly, understanding and easy to talk to which helps when completing the monthly video call recordings.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I feel the qualification helps me in my role by providing me with the knowledge required to understand working in health and social care and how to work professionally and effectively. It helps me feel more confident in my role knowing what signs of abuse to look out for and how to report it. It has helped me gain the skills to communicate with compassion and non-judgementally and to handle difficult situations calmly.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
There is no extra curricular activities to take part in - to my knowledge. I find it would be helpful to have such activities to promote team building and improve working relationships across the whole team (Line manager, Mental Health Nurses, Consultant, Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Support Workers and Administrator.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Paragon Skills to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It's a good way to learn new skills, broaden knowledge and help work towards personal and career goals without undertaking a course via a university establishment. It is accessible and flexible for individuals that cannot always commit to full time university course. The apprenticeship includes useful tasks such as recognising your strengths and weaknesses and progress you are making.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Paragon Skills?
Share any concerns or uncertainty with your employer and tutor so you don't feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start. If you are struggling due to work commitment or personal health reasons to notify your tutor so they can make reasonable adjustments, extend deadlines and support you where possible.
