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Occupational Therapist — CV Example

A template for OTs who enable independence and improve quality of life.

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What Does a Occupational Therapist Actually Do?

Occupational therapists help people regain or maintain the ability to do everyday tasks after illness, injury, disability, or ageing. They assess functional ability, design intervention programmes, recommend adaptive equipment, and work with patients in hospitals, community settings, care homes, schools, and workplaces. OTs report to a team lead or clinical manager and typically carry a caseload of 20–40 active patients. A typical week involves home assessments, patient reviews, MDT meetings, report writing, and liaison with social workers and GPs.

Hannah Williams
Occupational Therapist
📍 Cardiff, UK✉️ hannah.williams@email.com
Summary

HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist with 5 years of experience in adult community rehabilitation and mental health. Specialist in cognitive rehabilitation, equipment provision, and return-to-work assessments. Trusted assessor for DFG housing adaptations.

Work Experience
Senior Occupational Therapist at Cardiff & Vale University Health BoardJan 2022 — Present
  • Manage caseload of 35+ adults with neurological, orthopaedic, and mental health conditions in community setting
  • Complete functional assessments and prescribe rehabilitation programmes achieving 80%+ independence goals
Occupational Therapist at Swansea Bay UHBSep 2019 — Jan 2022
  • Provided OT assessment and intervention on acute medical and surgical wards seeing 8–10 patients daily
  • Facilitated early discharge planning reducing average length of stay by 1.5 days on stroke ward
Skills
HCPC RegisteredFunctional AssessmentCognitive RehabilitationHousing Adaptations (DFG)Equipment PrescriptionDischarge PlanningGoal Setting (COPM)Manual Handling

What Recruiters Look For

OT CVs must show your HCPC registration, client group experience, and the interventions you specialise in. Include your NHS banding, caseload size, and measurable patient outcomes.

Key Skills to Include

HCPC registration, functional assessment, cognitive rehabilitation, housing adaptations (DFG), equipment prescription, discharge planning, COPM goal setting, and manual handling training.

Common Mistakes

Not differentiating between acute and community OT experience. Include your banding level, caseload size, and the types of conditions you have most experience with. Show outcome metrics where possible.

Formatting Tips

One to two pages. Lead with HCPC registration number and current banding. Include mandatory training and any specialist postgraduate qualifications.

Average Salary — Occupational Therapist

United States
$70,000 – $95,000
United Kingdom
$35,000 – $52,000
Germany
$38,000 – $55,000
UAE / Dubai
$45,000 – $70,000
Canada
$60,000 – $85,000
Australia
$65,000 – $85,000

Figures in USD. Ranges reflect mid-level experience (3–7 years). Senior roles and major metro areas typically sit at the top of these bands.

Top 5 Interview Questions — Occupational Therapist

1How do you prioritise your caseload when you have multiple urgent referrals at once?
Talk through your triage process — clinical urgency, discharge risk, safeguarding flags. Show you use a system, not just instinct.
2Describe a time you disagreed with a MDT decision about a patient's discharge plan.
This is about professional assertiveness. Show you raised concerns through appropriate channels while maintaining collaborative relationships.
3How do you carry out a home assessment for an elderly patient being discharged after a hip replacement?
Walk through the full assessment — access, bathroom, kitchen, stairs, equipment provision. Thoroughness and patient-centredness both matter here.
4Tell me about a patient whose progress surprised you — positively or negatively.
Depth and reflection beat a simple success story. Show what you learned about your own practice from the experience.
5How do you maintain professional boundaries with patients you work with over a long period?
Reference RCOT standards and give a practical example. This is about knowing where the therapeutic relationship ends and personal relationship begins.

How to Tailor Your CV

NHS Trusts, BUPA, Nuffield Health, Turning Point, and local authority social care teams all regularly recruit occupational therapists. NHS roles require HCPC registration and place strong emphasis on MDT working and caseload management. Private providers like BUPA and Nuffield often want experience in a specific specialism — musculoskeletal, neurological, or mental health. Local authority roles focus on community OT and social care assessments, so housing adaptation experience and knowledge of the Care Act is valued. Always specify your specialism and registration number clearly on your CV.

Related CV Examples

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