Are you looking for a rewarding career where you will not only make a difference in someone else’s life, but you will feel a huge difference in yours? If so, then moving your career to Elysium could be the best step to take. Of course, if you are new to healthcare, you are likely to be looking for information and to gain an understanding of what it takes to work in the industry.
You will get an honest and real insight, with stories shared from members of the team around the UK. They will reveal personal experiences, learnings, career success stories, career progression, sources of support and overcoming challenges, along with insights and tips on what it takes to work in healthcare.
Accidents, illness, disability, mental health issues and ageing affect millions of people, making it harder for them to do everyday tasks, along with activities they enjoy. As an Occupational Therapist, you’ll empower people to overcome all kinds of challenges giving them the confidence and independence to improve their health, quality of life and wellbeing.
“Being an Occupational Therapist is more than just a job, you invest in the people you care for.”
In this article, you will learn about the career journey and experience of Dee Kelly, Regional Occupational Therapist, Education and Speech and Language Therapist ( SaLT,) based at Elysium’s Gateway Recovery Centre in Cheshire which provides care for men and women with complex mental health requirements. Dee’s love for caring for others led her to take a degree at 18 years old where she would go on to make an impact and real difference to the lives of others throughout her career as an Occupational Therapist.
What made you decide to become an Occupational Therapist? Tell us a more about your career journey leading up to joining Elysium.
I remember being in the careers office at school and going through a big alphabet poster on the wall, ticking off all the jobs by the letters in the alphabet. When I got to occupational therapy, I didn’t know what it was and that peaked my interest. I remember looking into it and thinking that’s what I want to do. It was inspiring to know I would be able to give hope to people in recovery. It was about helping people come to terms with whatever illness, injury, or different ability that they had. I would be working with them to overcome that obstacle, adapting their environment around them so they can lead the life they wanted to lead.
I had a number of physical placements as a student, and I found myself naturally focusing on the wellbeing/mental health of the person. Prior to joining Elysium, I gained experience in a variety of hospitals both nationally and internationally. I worked in America for 6 months, then when I came home, I did Locum work and put myself on a tour of the country. I would pick places on the UK map where I hadn’t seen before and ask the agency to find me work there within mental health. It gave me the exposure of working with so many different types of people and environments.
Throughout your career as an Occupational Therapist, is there a particular person you cared for or moment that stands out?
I think one patient in particular stands out to me and it was back when I worked on placement as a student. I was working in an oncology ward, and I met an elderly gentleman who had advanced cancer. There was a lot of adaptations for him to get used to and whist in conversation with his wife who visited daily, she told me that he was feeling really sad because it was the first time in his life that he had not been able to go to his veteran reunion. When I asked why, she said she didn’t have the strength to be able to push him in the wheelchair or assist him.
Over the coming weeks, I contacted railway support and got everything in place so he could get him from A to B and found a way for his wife to be supported with the wheelchair. When it came to the weekend of the veteran reunion, I went to visit him on the ward before he went home, and he was so excited as everything was set up and ready, so he was able to go. I remember feeling so happy for him and I thought about him over the weekend. When I went back to work on the Monday, I found out he has passed away and never got a chance to go. I was absolutely devastated, and I think as I was just 21 at the time, I was quite idealistic, so it really affected me. When I saw his wife in the coming weeks she said to me, that in his last few days he was so excited because he was in a positive mindset, he was going to be able to attend an event he thought he would no longer get the chance to go to. The excitement and planning were more valuable than him actually attending as I had given him hope. That was more valuable to him than me assisting him with the practical side of his condition. Being an Occupational Therapist is more than just a job, you invest in the people you care for.
What is it like to be an Occupational therapist at Elysium?
I was with PIC for 12 years – moved across to GRC in 2017 as a locum for the NHS but realised quickly I wanted to be back in Elysium, so accepted the opportunity to interview and be appointed as substantive Lead Occupational Therapist at Gateway Recovery. From the staff to the management team, there has always been a real sense of teamwork, support, and drive to be the best we can be for our patients.
Covid 19 hit our site and staffing group hard, but we all got stuck in and pulled through the highs and lows over that period of time.
We have a huge emphasis on recovery and it’s a passion everyone on the site shares. We have optimism that the service users are destined beyond hospital, and though the service users find it scary and daunting, that is half the battle, we are there to change their mindset. We all help someone to see they are more than just a patient.
Have you progressed throughout your career here at Elysium?
During my time at Elysium, I’ve had opportunity to develop my management skills and to look at modern management practise. I started as the Lead Occupational Therapist and then applied for the Regional Occupational Therapist Position which gives me a helicopter view of occupational therapy, education and speech and language. I’ve been looking at developing the education service and looking what that needs. There is a Regional Lead, SaLT who looks after everything clinically, but I support and represent them at regional governance. We work quite closely together and looking at what the SaLT needs across the region and feeding that back.
I have been able to identify issues within the site and across the region and help put solutions in place. For example, the service was struggling with obesity, and it was having an impact on the service user’s physical health, wellbeing and emotional state. I contacted a dietitian who is experienced in mental health, and she has worked with us one day a week for the past five years. Throughout her time here I have had conversations with her that really highlighted that the same issue is occurring at other sites, so we put a proposal together so we can have a substantive Regional Dietitian impost. We have successfully recruited for that now. I love that I can make an impact to the overall wellbeing, physical and mental health of our service users on a bigger scale.
What are the benefits of working as an Occupational Therapist at Elysium?
There is a drive within Elysium to improve and further develop the representation of not just occupational therapy but all Allied Health Professionals at board level. Elysium are always looking for a way to continuously develop the service and make it the best experience for the service users, but also for the staff.
If you’re motivated and you want to develop, you will receive the support to progress in your career. We’ve got staff who are going through leadership courses or training in sensory integration to become sensory integration practitioners. The opportunities are available for anyone who wants it. There is also a lot of variety in the role, it continuously challenges you and gives you different experiences to develop your skillset. Elysium have over 90 sites across the UK all specialising in different divisions whether its medium to low mental health, working with different genders, age groups, people with different needs, size of hospital/wards – there are ways for you to broaden your experience.
Are you feeling inspired by Dee’s career journey as an Occupational Therapist? Whether you are an experienced or recently qualified Occupational Therapist, there are a range of opportunities across the UK that are just waiting for you to apply for. To view our current vacancies, please click here.
Is a career at an Occupational Therapist at Elysium the Right Career Move for You?
If you have a passion for helping people regain independence, enjoy problem-solving, and have strong communication skills, then a career as an Occupational Therapist could be perfect for you. From working with young adult to assisting adults recovering from injuries, there’s an Occupational Therapist role suited to your strengths.
You’ll develop your skills in rehabilitation, adaptive techniques, and patient care while making a real difference in people’s lives. A career with Elysium as an Occupational Therapist is rewarding, dynamic, and impactful. If you’re ready to support individuals in reaching their full potential, we’d love to hear from you.