Occupational Therapy Assistant

As an Occupational Therapy Assistant you work alongside registered occupational therapists to help clients carry out everyday activities such as dressing, cooking, and moving safely around their home or care setting. You assist in delivering therapy programmes, preparing equipment and adapted materials, and supporting clients to practise the skills they are working on. You may work with people of all ages — from children with developmental needs to older adults recovering from stroke or illness — across HSE community services, acute hospitals, residential care facilities, and private clinics. You record observations on client progress, report back to the supervising occupational therapist, and help ensure a safe and supportive environment at all times.

A QQI Level 5 award in Healthcare Support or Community and Health Services is the typical entry route for this role and can be completed through a PLC course at a College of Further Education. Leaving Certificate subjects such as Biology, Home Economics, and LCVP are helpful preparation, as is experience of caring or voluntary work. Some employers also accept a QQI Level 6 Higher Certificate in Health or Social Care for more responsibility within the assistant role. Health and social care assistants working in regulated settings may be required to register with CORU, Ireland's Health and Social Care Professionals Council, so it is worth checking current requirements as registration rules evolve. Those wishing to progress to become a fully qualified occupational therapist would need to pursue an NFQ Level 8 Honours Bachelor degree in Occupational Therapy at a university such as TCD, UCC, or University of Galway, which requires CAO points. Garda vetting is mandatory for all roles working with vulnerable adults or children.