Case studies: Paediatric occupational therapist: Fiona Loudoun

Fiona is a paediatric occupational therapist and works for the NHS. She graduated from Robert Gordon University in 2007 after studying for a BSc in Occupational Therapy. Fiona currently works in the community with children with disabilities, specialising in working with children with autistic spectrum disorders; she has been working in this area of occupational therapy for around two years.

Throughout school I always knew I wanted a career that involved working with people. I did work experience with physiotherapists, which I enjoyed, but I knew it really wasn’t for me. I did some research into occupational therapy and thought it sounded really interesting. The BSc in Occupational Therapy is a required qualification in becoming an occupational therapist. Obtaining it also allowed me to become a member of the Health Professions Council.

Studying for my degree allowed me to develop important skills, in particular being an effective team worker and a good listener.

Although I studied the theory of occupational therapy, including different models and approaches, the best experience I gained during my degree was during placements where I gained practical experience.

In my current role, I assess children up to 18 years old who face challenges within their home, community or school to enable them to become more independent with activities of daily living. This can involve using formal assessments or even observing children within the nursery or school setting. We use play as a form of assessment in order to identify the child’s areas of need and ability.

I really enjoy my job, in particular working with various different children and families. The different situations you come across really keep you on your toes!

Jobs in paediatrics are hard to come across for newly qualified therapists, therefore I made sure I had lots of experience out of work. This included getting voluntary work with a children’s club while ensuring that the skills I was acquiring could be transferred to a work setting. I would advise anyone wishing to work as an occupational therapist to obtain some related work experience or voluntary work. This will help to get an understanding of the role and the different areas occupational therapists work in.