Podcast: Diaries of a Healthcare Professional
Diaries of a Health Professional is a podcast designed to give you an insight into what it means to be a health and social care professional in the UK.
It is often said that working in the health and social care profession is a vocation, rather than a job. It is a role that requires dedication, passion, care and lifelong learning.
The hours can be long, the pressure can be high, and no two days will ever be the same. But for those who work within the field, there are many rewards, a secure and respected career, a steady salary and most importantly, the ability to make a difference in the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of people.
Series One – A Year in the Life of an Occupational Therapy Graduate
The first series of Diaries of a Health Professional follows four recent graduates in their first year of practice, reflecting on why they chose to study Occupational Therapy, their time as a student, and their journey as they find their feet in their new roles.
| Episode | Contributor | Episode details |
|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 - Stephanie's Story | Stephanie Christian | Stephanie, a busy mum of two and trampolining coach, explores her journey to becoming an occupational therapist and reflects on her first rotational post in an integrated health and social care service. |
| Episode 2 - Alice's Story | Alice O'Reilly | Follow Alice as she reflects on her time studying Occupational Therapy, and throughout her first year working in a social services discharge team. |
| Episode 3 - Saru's Story | Saru Macheva | Saru describes her pathway to becoming a health care professional and discusses her first year as a registered occupational therapist – Saru’s first role is in a social services aids and adaptations team. |
| Episode 4 - Thomas's Story | Dr Thomas Williams | Thomas discusses his passion for occupational therapy as a career, and reflects on his first year in practice, including his move into a service development role in a drug and alcohol service. |
Series Two – Diaries of a Health Professional: 2 Years Later
The second series of Diaries of a Health Professional includes follow-up conversations with previous guests.
| Episode | Contributor | Episode details |
|---|---|---|
| Stephanie’s Story - 2 Years Later | Stephanie Christian | Stephanie spent some time on rotation before securing a static post in a psychiatric intensive care unit. In this episode, she reflects on her roles over the last 2 years and discusses her development as a band 6 occupational therapist working within a mental health setting. |
| Thomas’s Story - 2 Years Later | Dr Thomas Williams | After securing a Band 5 role in a drug and alcohol detox service, Thomas set out with a clear goal: to develop the occupational therapy role within the service and progress to a Band 6 position. In this episode, he reflects on the journey of establishing and shaping the OT role in this unique setting, while sharing insights into his personal and professional growth over the past two years. |
| Saru’s Story - 2 Years Later | Saru Macheva | Coming soon. Saru continues to work in social services. She describes the complexities of her current caseload and the opportunities to undertake paediatric assessments. Saru also discusses setting up the first Black and Minority Ethnic network to support OTs practising in Wales. |
Bitesize OT
| Episode | Contributor | Episode details |
|---|---|---|
| Neurodevelopmental Approach: The Basics | Lucy Wells | Episode 1: In this bitesize episode of Diaries of a Health Professional, we’re joined by experienced occupational therapist Lucy Wells for a brief introduction to the neurodevelopmental approach in Occupational Therapy. Lucy shares practical insights from her clinical experience, demonstrating how understanding the neurodevelopmental approach helps therapists tailor interventions, support regulation, and improve everyday functioning. |
About the contributors
Stephanie Christian
Mother of two and former trampolinist Stephanie Christian completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Therapy at Cardiff University in August 2023. After originally studying Biology and working in this field for several years, Stephanie trained to be a rebound therapist, combining her love for trampolining and supporting others. This role exposed Stephanie to occupational therapists working in the community, and Stephanie realised she had finally found a career that matched her ethos. Studying occupational therapy helped Stephanie to build her confidence and she applied for an NHS band 5 rotation. Follow Stephanie’s journey to becoming an occupational therapist and in the first year of her rotation.
Alice O'Reilly
Alice O’Reilly graduated with a BSc in Occupational Therapy from Cardiff University in July 2023. Her career journey up to this point has been varied, with a degree in Fine Art, time spent working in hospitality and even a stint as an estate agent. After several years of working in care, Alice realised that occupational therapy was what she wanted to do and she undertook an access to healthcare course to apply for her degree. In the final year of her degree, Alice applied for a role as a community occupational therapist within social services, choosing to work for a local authority rather than the NHS. This podcast follows Alice’s journey to becoming an occupational therapist, and the first year of practice after graduation.
Saru Macheva
Saru Macheva graduated from Cardiff University with a BSc in Occupational Therapy in July 2023. She secured a role in a local authority social services team and also joined the RCOT Wales Region Committee as Social Media Lead. Saru studied dietetics, and although she earned her degree in this subject, she did not feel passionate enough to make a career out of it. Saru started working as a healthcare assistant, and a service user commented that she would make a good occupational therapist. After learning more about the profession, Saru realised she had finally found a career that would fulfil her, and she committed to three years of further study to achieve her dream. In this episode, Saru shares her journey through discovering the profession, and the highs and lows of her first year as a community occupational therapist.
Dr Thomas Williams
Dr Thomas Williams completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Therapy at Cardiff University in 2023. Thomas came across occupational therapy for the first time whilst completing his doctorate and decided that this was the career he had been looking for. He finished his doctoral studies whilst also studying occupational therapy, and still excelled on the course. Thomas started a band 5 rotational post within a local health board. Soon afterwards, Thomas secured a service development post in a drug and alcohol service. He also joined the RCOT Wales Region Committee as their Equity, Diversity and Belonging Representative – a role that matches his values. Follow Thomas through his studies, and his first year as an occupational therapist.
Lucy Wells
Lucy Wells is a Consultant Occupational Therapist (and former Occupational Therapy Lecturer at Cardiff University) specialising in supporting adults with neurodevelopmental conditions and mental health problems. She offers services to people aged 16 years upwards. She also offers support to parents, carers, educators, and other professionals working with people who are neurodivergent.
