Life After Moving to the UK as an Occupational Therapist
Moving to the UK as an occupational therapist was an incredible opportunity to start my new life overseas, and why it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!
I have been an occupational therapist for twenty years, and I still love what I do. But when decided to become an OT all those years ago, I never dreamed that it would also open the door to living in Europe!
Thinking of making the leap across the pond? In this post I’ll go over all the pros and cons of moving to the UK as an occupational therapist!
What It’s Like to Work as an Occupational Therapist in the UK
While the core principles of OT remain the same, there are some differences in healthcare systems, job roles, and workplace expectations.
Better Work-Life Balance
Although the NHS is under strain at the moment, I never felt pressured to prioritize work over my health or family. The attitude in the UK is that you work to live, not live to work.
Because the UK has universal healthcare, the focus is on saving money rather than making money. There are no productivity standards in the UK. You don’t have ever to think about billable hours versus hours worked—that concept simply doesn’t exist in the UK.
Additionally, you’re never expected to stay late or forgo time off due to your caseload. Each day, I did my best for my patients, but left at 4 p.m. when my shift ended. After work, I walked home through the cobblestone streets of York, always making it in time to eat dinner with my family.
No Insurance and No Billing
That’s right—thanks to the UK’s universal healthcare system, you never have to worry about whether something will be covered by insurance. The plan of care is based on the occupational therapy scope of practice and the patient’s needs, not insurance reimbursement.
We regularly took patients on outings to charming cafés to work on social skills, money management, coping strategies, accessing public transportation, or simply to enhance their quality of life.
I was free to meet with families, contact community resources, shop for equipment, or consult with the other members of the care team—without ever worrying if that time was billable.
Opportunities in Mental Health
One of the things that excited me most about working as an OT in the UK was the wide range of roles available in mental health.
In the US, occupational therapy has largely shifted away from mental health, and only a handful of states recognize OTs as Qualified Mental Health Providers. In contrast, mental health remains one of the largest and most established areas for OTs in the UK.
My first role was in an inpatient mental health hospital, where I had the opportunity to work with patients through craft sessions, leisure activities, self-care training, community outings, and support groups.
Getting out in nature with patients was also strongly encouraged. Practicing OT in the UK felt like I was reconnecting with the roots of the profession—with a strong emphasis on quality of life and holistic care.
Home Visits in Picturesque English Villages
Home visits are a big part of your role as an OT across the pond. However, what I quickly realized was that these home visits often took place in stunning villages, tucked away in the English countryside.
Even more unbelievable, my manager would often tell me to make sure to stop for lunch and a ‘cuppa’ while I was there. My first home visit as an occupational therapist in the UK took me to a charming little village in North Yorkshire.
As I stepped out of my car, I felt like I had stepped into a fairytale—quiet streets lined with cottages, daffodils blooming everywhere, and a babbling stream winding through it all. It was the first moment it truly sank in—this was my life now, and it was absolutely amazing.
Working as an occupational therapist in the UK has allowed me see and visit more beautiful places than I every could have imagined!
Difference in Pay
When we moved to the UK, there was a change in our income. The pay across most fields, including occupational therapy, is lower in the UK when compared to the US. Before we moved, we weighed the opportunity to live in a new country against the change in our salary.
We realized salary was important, but we also knew weren’t moving to the UK to get rich. We were seizing the opportunity to go on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure with our daughters, who were already in their late teens.
The difference in pay would be a part of the broader lifestyle change we were embracing. We wanted to live more simply, focus less on consumption, and have more time to just be together. Ultimately, the chance to live in the UK made the financial sacrifice worth it a hundred times over.
Generous Annual Leave
I mentioned that the pay for occupational therapists in the UK is lower than in the US, but let’s take a moment to highlight one of the big perks that come with working as an OT in the NHS!
OTs working for the NHS receive a generous annual leave allowance, starting at 27 days per year for full-time staff, plus 8 public holidays—that’s nearly 6 weeks off every year! After five years of service, this increases to 29 days.
What’s even more important is the attitude toward taking all that time off. At first, I was nervous about submitting my annual leave request to the ward manager. But I was pleasantly surprised that not only did she not make me feel guilty, she was excited to hear about my travel plans!
Ready to start your journey across the pond? Check out our top-rated guide
Moving to England : The Ultimate Guide to Moving Overseas and Living Your Best Life in the UK
Easy Travel to Continental Europe
Living in the UK gives you easy, cheap travel to the rest of Europe. Flights to places like Rome, Paris, and Barcelona are often less than £50 roundtrip, so you can actually use all that time off!
Our family took several long weekends exploring Europe and the UK, along with a few week-long vacations. We visited France (twice), Italy (twice), Spain, Scotland, and Wales—all in one year!
The Opportunity to Live in one of most beautiful countries in the world
One of the greatest thing about moving to the UK as an occupational therapist is being immersed in history, art, and breathtaking natural beauty. The UK is like living in a museum. Every weekend, when my husband and I take strolls along the York City Walls or in the English countryside, I’m filled with gratitude for living in such a stunning place.
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