It’s no surprise that the UK is an attractive prospect for Occupational Therapists (OTs) from Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The UK offers great career opportunities and as well as having a vast amount of towns and cities with job vacancies, it’s also a great base to travel to Europe from.

Despite the UK being much smaller in size than countries like Australia, the number and variety of job opportunities is huge. These roles are not limited to major cities, such as London or Manchester, great roles can be found all over the UK. We work with hospitals in the NHS and private sector, so we’re confident we can find you a job wherever you want to be based.

Getting started as an OT in the UK

It can be hard to know where to start when relocating to a new country, but here’s our quick breakdown of how to get started:

  1. Complete your registration with a recruitment agency. At Athona we’ll start searching for temporary and contract jobs to meet your requirements right away. Plus, you’ll also benefit from our support at all stages of your relocation.
  2. You’ll need to be registered as an OT with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). If you qualified in Australia, New Zealand or Canada, your qualification will be recognised in the UK. We recommend that you start your application for registration as soon as you decide to relocate to the UK.
  3. Organise your UK visa. A lot of OTs choose the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme visa which is ideal for those between the age of 18 and 30 who are looking to work in the UK for up to two years.
  4. We’ll be in touch with you throughout the process to ensure that your compliance is complete and that you’re ready to start work as soon as possible.
  5. Start your UK adventure!

Ready to get started?

For more information on the opportunities available and to become an OT in the UK, get in touch with our specialised recruiters, based here in the UK and in Sydney, Australia.

Athona cover the whole spectrum of Occupational Therapy and have opportunities within acute, community, mental health, social services and paediatrics. View some of our latest jobs here.