A new career journey with Krysalis Neuro OT
Has life sunk your career dreams? Buoy yourself up with Krysalis as an independent neuro-occupational therapist!
When an eardrum injury sank her commercial diving dreams, Katy Roake found solace in her work with disability groups at an outdoor watersports centre.
And it was there that she first encountered an occupational therapist (OT) who surprised Katy by suggesting she, too, would be a good fit for the profession.
So began a new career journey that would see Katy replace her sub-aqua job aspirations with a new-found passion for neurological occupational therapy.
That is until undercurrents of desire to start her own business again drew her into fresh waters - as an independent OT with Krysalis…
I found the brain fascinating and the scope of rehab that you can do excellent. And that's why I am now a neuro specialist occupational therapist. 
Krysalis neuro OT, Katy Roake
As a student at Plymouth University, Katy Roake's overriding goal was underwater – to make it as a commercial diver.
"I was doing a degree in applied marine sports science," she recalls. "I was also helping to run an outdoor sports centre down there, and my goal was to become a commercial diver and do some outdoor sports and," she adds, laughing, "just enjoy being a professional bum."
But then Katy suffered an eardrum injury towards the end of her second year in university, forcing her to accept her professional diving dream was over.
"That's when it went, 'Oh! What am I going to do with my life now? If I can't dive more than 10 metres, this will be great,'" she says.
"But, at the time, I was running all the disability sessions at the centre. They were for adults and children with mixed disabilities, where we would look at trying watersports like kayaking, abseiling, sailing, and power boating.
"And I loved it! And that's how I met OTs and physiotherapists. They used to come along with their clients."
But one day, particularly, stands out in Katy's memory as a tide-turning in her life. "I just remember one of the OTs saying, 'You should be in occupational therapy and me replying, 'What's that?'"
However, the suggestion prompted Katy to add occupational therapy to the list of professions she was now exploring since commercial diving was out of the question.
"And then I met a lovely lady who ran a paediatrics unit in Barnstable, and she said, if you become an OT and want a placement opportunity, let me know.
"And I went, thank you very much, didn't think much about it and then did a bit more research into being an OT or a paramedic for the RAF.
"But interestingly, again, the RAF chap who interviewed me said, 'The RAF won't suit you, you know? You sound like a therapist.'
"So, I was being guided into this role as an OT that I didn't know much about."
However, all that was to change when Katy discovered that Plymouth University also offered a degree course in occupational therapy.
So, she applied and was accepted and what she found she "really enjoyed", especially the work placements that gave her valuable hands-on experience.
"I had some really rounded placements," she remembers. "The first was in a dementia and mental health secure unit. For the second, I took that lady up on her offer in paediatrics.
"My final placement was in a hospital working in the acute and hyperacute stroke units, which was really good."
And Katy has some helpful advice for others embarking on an occupational therapy degree course.
"Enjoy your placements," she urges. "I learnt so much on mine. That's where you learn your skills. But they go so fast! You go in, and it's just a bit of a whirlwind. But actually, they're the best bits."
Placements can also help you to decide which occupational therapy speciality interests you most, as Katy discovered.
"I went into occupational therapy with this idea that I would use my water sports degree and all my training and all my pre-existing skills from outdoor education and do something like The Calvert Trust [1]
"You know, open up something specifically around outdoor education for people with disabilities.
"But then my last placement changed my mind. I just fell in love with neurology. I found the brain fascinating and the scope of rehab that you can do amazing. And that's how I am now a neuro specialist occupational therapist."
All-round experience
Having graduated as an OT in 2012, Katy began her occupational therapy career in an NHS hospital, completing her Band 5 rotation which she also "totally" recommends.
"That is something that, if you don't know where you want to go, gives you a bit of a rounded experience of the processes," she says.
For Katy, that meant working as an OT in the orthopaedics, elective and non-elective surgeries, stroke and complex neurology, elderly care, and dementia departments.
"Even though I had decided I wanted to do neurology, I thought the best thing to do was get a nice solid rotation under my belt. So that's what I did," she says.
With her OT skills well-tuned, Katy went on to work at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth in the hyperacute and acute unit, rehabilitation, and neurology.
But, finding there were shortfalls in training and opportunities to progress further as an OT, she left the NHS for a clinical lead post in a private neurorehabilitation unit.
And then the covid pandemic struck. Katy says, "I think, like everybody, we re-evaluate our lives, don't we? The timing was right for my husband and me, so I thought, should I bite the bullet and go independent?"
To help her decide, she booked herself onto a course run by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), introducing OTs to independent practice.
"That was really beneficial," she says. "So, if you're not sure, that's quite a nice course to go on.
"No one tells you how to run your books, payroll, or tax returns, so it was very eye-opening."
The course also boosted Katy's confidence to finally leap into independent occupational therapy practice.
"I started by taking on a couple of clients as I worked my notice at my previous job.
"I just wanted one or two cases up and running, and then I could go completely cold turkey, and off I go.
"It wasn't easy, considering the hours I was already doing and adding in work on the weekends or additional work in the evenings. So, it was quite challenging, quite tiring, for three months, but it worked."
And now, as 34-year-old Katy settles into her second year as an independent neuro OT, she is enjoying the benefits.
There is no other job like it. I always wanted to be independent. I always wanted to have my own business. It was just fear stopping me from taking that step, but when you do, it's the best thing ever.
She adds, "You meet so many different people and other allied health professionals I would never have met in my last posts.
"And the work is so rewarding; from the daily achievements a client might like being able to cook for themselves again, to the larger ones like moving into their own home."
Katy felt particularly buoyed up in her independent neuro-OT role by working as an associate for Krysalis.
"A big thing for me that helped was going in as an associate. Having that work is lovely because you are still part of a team," she explains.
"I think the biggest fear I had was, I'm on my own, but what do I do if I have a problem? I'm solo. But I haven't experienced that.
"If I don't know something, I'll ask someone, and I get some nice supervision from some of the clinical leads at Krysalis.
"And that's the thing about being an associate. You can be a specialist in what you do, but you will still not know everything about everything.
So, it's been really supportive being with Krysalis. Everyone is really friendly and approachable. I wouldn't look back. It's the best decision I've ever made. Absolutely the best.
Further reading
Five tell-tale signs that you’re an OT geek
Saddling up for a once-in-a-lifetime career ride with neuro occupational therapy.
Me, Myself, The OT
Passion and potential: from the NHS to independent practice
References
1. Homepage - Calvert Trust (calvert-trust.org.uk).