If you are wondering what an occupational therapist locum is, then I just want to point out that it is a position that offers temporary work for a pre-specified period of time.
The reason for having an occupational therapist is that organizations may need therapists to fill vacancies when employees are on furlough, furlough, or may have open positions awaiting permanent appointments. Typically a person can be hired for a temporary position for anywhere from a week to a year.
Keep in mind that in the US there are certain visa restrictions on the maximum number of hours a therapist from overseas can work in any one position. The real question that may come to your mind is why you should even consider acting as an occupational therapist’s surrogate. I want to point you to some clear advantages.
First, there is the element of flexibility, which is very important. If you’re the type of person who likes to have a lot of free time, then this is the job for you.
Plus, the flexibility of an occupational therapist allows you to choose where and when you work, so you’ll be able to plan your occupational therapy work around your life, rather than the other way around like most of us do. Another interesting factor is diversity, as working as an occupational therapy provider means you can gain a wide variety of experience working in a range of organizations from NHS Trusts to private companies.
Last but not least, there is the experience factor as occupational therapy temp jobs give you the opportunity to enrich yourself through various assignments. An ideal candidate for an occupational therapist temporary position must meet several important criteria. The first is a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. In addition, candidates must pass eligibility verification from the Ministry of Health and Children to be considered for such a position.
For the United States of America, considering this is a temporary position, it is only available to candidates who do not require a green card work visa to qualify for this position (EU, Canadian Australians and New Zealanders). Previous work experience is considered an advantage, but for some positions it is an absolute must. It is also important to have a full driver’s license.
The internet is the best place to find temporary jobs for occupational therapists. One of the sites that I highly recommend to you is Medacs.com. Medacs Healthcare is one of the leading healthcare staffing companies, providing recruitment expertise and managed healthcare solutions to the public and private sectors. The company operates in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Middle East.
Those who want to work in Canada must pass Canadian requirements. The same goes for UK employees (must follow UK standards). The American Journal of Pediatrics does a very accurate assessment of the state of occupational therapy.