Kerry Bishop
Occupational Therapist Apprentice
Manchester University Foundation Trust
Kerry Bishop is an occupational therapist apprentice working for the Manchester Local Care organisation, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
What I really love about my new role is I have a freedom to try out new ideas, with having access to the latest evidence and research with my University, it’s meant that I’ve been able to bring back this evidence based research and introduce it into the service
Kerry Bishop's story
Kerry first graduated with a degree in Fine Art, an achievement she believes helped to develop her creative mindset and a holistic, “whole-person” approach that her role in occupational therapy often requires.
However, it wasn’t until Kerry started her role as a domiciliary carer that she became interested in health care and occupational therapy in particular. Seeing the difference that can be made to improve another person’s life drew her toward working in rehabilitation as a really rewarding career within health care.
As Kerry was approaching the end of her maternity leave, she was contacted by a service manager to let her know that an opportunity had come up to apply for an Occupational Therapy Apprenticeship and the timing couldn’t have been better.
Currently in her first year, the apprenticeship offers Kerry a blended approach to training, with work-based learning accounting for 80% and 20% off-the-job learning, which includes self-directed study such as completing assignments, shadowing colleagues and taking part in online and face-to-face University studying.
Since starting her apprenticeship, and as part of one of her assignments, Kerry has introduced mindfulness practices to improve the service and to also combat the effects of the pandemic on people’s mental health. This initiative received incredibly positive feedback from their service users, with some reporting it had changed their lives and improved their mindsets and how they go about their day-to-day activities.
Through her role, Kerry has also introduced motor imagery to the multidisciplinary team that she works with, which has seen her run successful patient trials to help people improve their upper limb function/sequencing through being able to visualise movement.
Next steps
Kerry is looking forward to continuing her research and training in occupational therapy and service development, and hopes to become a qualified Occupational Therapist. She is currently on her first placement in Community Paediatrics and hopes to explore other placement areas to broaden her knowledge and experience.
Kerry’s Top Tips
- Never be afraid to ask for help – you have a team to support you and help you grow in your career.
- Shadow colleagues – if you are interested in knowing a bit more about the role of other health care workers in your team or another service, find out if you can spend a day with them or attend a joint session.
