New caring career for Karen

By Clearing

Karen Crabtree felt apprehensive when she started her BSc (Hons) degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Teesside, at the age of 42. For Karen was leaving behind a 16 year teaching career, and worried about not being able to study again after such a long gap. Karen’s fears proved unfounded, as she has achieved her degree and clinched her first post as an Occupational Therapist.

Mother-of-two Karen, 45, from Yarm, first qualified as a secondary Religious Education teacher in 1980. She went on to teach in Lincolnshire, London, and finally in Yarm. She said: “I very much enjoyed teaching the subject, it was varied and creative. It was also a challenge to put across a knowledge of different faiths to young people. I started to think about health care as a career when members of my family developed chronic conditions, and I saw the input from health professionals.”

Karen’s husband Simon, a careers teacher, researched career options in Occupational Therapy, and Karen contacted the College of Occupational Therapists to find the location of the nearest course. However, Karen felt nervous about making the switch from teacher to student. She said: “After teaching GCSE and A level students, one of the first things I thought was ‘what if I can’t sit exams any more?’ Or ‘what if I can’t learn any more?’ I was also the oldest on the course!”

Karen’s confidence quickly grew at Teesside. She said: “All of the lecturers were really supportive, encouraging and made themselves available. The facilities in the University’s Centuria health building were also very good.

“My favourite parts of the degree were the field work placements, in a mix of settings, including learning disabilities, community mental health and community rehabilitation. I enjoyed every single placement, there was something unique from each one. I particularly liked working with older people, not only listening to their life stories but also helping them to have a satisfying life now.”

Karen has now gained her first Occupational Therapy post, working in rotation between South Tees Acute Trust, Tees and North Yorkshire Mental Health Trust and Social Services. Karen added: “Occupational Therapy is an immensely rewarding career with lots of possibilities. I'm sad the course is over but it has opened up a world of opportunity.”

For more details on the BSc (Hons) degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Teesside please call 01642 384113 or check the University’s web site at www.tees.ac.uk.

---