The main goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in meaningful activities of everyday living, such as, self-care, work and leisure activities. By enabling people to engage in activities that hold meaning for them, occupational therapists aim to enable people to improve their day-to-day quality of life.

Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings, including communities, hospitals, rehabilitation units, schools, universities and reform centres. 

Occupational Therapy is an interesting and rewarding career. Occupational Therapists aim to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. As an Occupational Therapist you will assist in enabling individuals to do things that enhance their ability to live independently in their daily ‘occupations’. ‘Occupation’ is the term used to describe those tasks and activities essential for daily life – washing, dressing , feeding and moving around, to the more complex areas of working, leisure, socialising and managing finances and home.

The Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy is a four-year degree programme which includes a total of 1000 hours of practice education placement completed at various sites. In the first year of the program you will study anatomy and physiology related to human performance and human development across the lifespan. Later years include modules on occupational therapy services for children and young people, people living with mental health difficulties, musculoskeletal disorders, chronic and neurological conditions and older adults. Students will have opportunities at all stages of the program to develop professional skills including communication and advocacy skills, clinical reasoning skills and skills.

Students on this broad and varied Occupational Therapy course study psychology, anatomy and physiology, as well as occupational therapy theories, assessment and treatment approaches and evidence-based practice.

Students on this broad and varied Occupational Therapy course study psychology, anatomy and physiology, as well as occupational therapy theories, assessment and treatment approaches and evidence-based practice.

At the end of this degree programme will be able to: Promote health and wellbeing through participation in occupation across the lifespan; Practise occupational therapy in accordance with the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Revised Minimum Standards for the Education of Occupational Therapists (2002) ensuring your practice is occupation-based, evidence-based, person-centred and culturally sensitive; Apply the occupational therapy process to individuals, groups and communities of all age groups in context, based on strong theory and evidence.

This course helps students to develop their interpersonal, caring and practice skills which they can apply to a varied range of client groups in a variety of settings. Whilst at the same time understanding the importance of maintaining a client’s independence, dignity, respect, self-esteem and choice.

Students will learn a range of practical skills within the classroom in a simulated healthcare environment using equipment from an occupational therapy setting. This helps to prepare the student to work with the service user/clients on work-placement. Students will gain practical experience in the areas of:

• Assist in the implementation of therapeutic programmes
• Personal care routines
• Working as part of a Occupational Therapy team

Other areas of study include:

• Infection Prevention & Control
• Communications
• Anatomy & Physiology

Work experience is also a core feature of the Occupational Therapy Assistant programme with students spending time in a occupational therapy setting, enhancing employability.

Students will also have an opportunity to take the following courses:

• Patient moving and manual handling
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
• First Aid

If you wish to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy, then you have chosen the steppingstone which will enable you to consolidate your decision to either progress to a degree programme or seek employment. We focus on developing your understanding of the role of the Occupational Therapy Assistant. We aim to facilitate you acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to assist the Occupational Therapist in the implementation of therapeutic programmes with a variety of age groups.

The objective of this course is to provide learners with the essential skills needed to advance toward potential employment as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA), working under the guidance and supervision of an Occupational Therapist (OT).

This course is aimed at learners who love the challenge of problem solving and helping people in practical ways to complete Activities of Daily Living. The specialist programme will guide learners to work as an assistant in an Occupational Therapy Department or as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team. The role provides support to older, injured, ill or disabled patients to enable them to partake in everyday activities.

The Occupational Therapy Studies course will focus on developing the students understand­ing of impaired mobility and its impact on human occupational performance and ability, and of the role of occupational therapy in current healthcare services. Students will obtain work experience in general hospitals, homes for the elderly, disability schools/homes, rehabilitation centres and respite care centres for a two-week period. The practical aspect of the course will give students a good understanding of hos­pital life and the qualities and characteristics required for a successful career as an oc­cupational therapist. Students will develop an awareness of how to assist the OT in the implementation of therapeutic programmes.

This course is suitable for students who are considering a career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant or as a Speech & Language Therapy Assistant. This course will help you to carry out duties related to planning, organisation and maintenance of programmes as directed by Occupational or Speech Therapists. The course will focus on developing an understanding of impaired mobility and its impact on human performance and ability.

The purpose of course is to equip the learner with the knowledge, skill and competence to assist the occupational therapist or speech therapists in the implementation of therapeutic programmes.

This course offers practical skills in fitting, auto electrics, CAD and hydraulics.This skillset forms the basis of any course in Engineering which learners might pursue at a third level institution or on an apprenticeship. Trainees will complete 12 weeks workbased learning with Combilift Ltd. and 26 weeks of classroom-based learning in Monaghan Institute. Work Placement is spread across the year in blocks of two/ three weeks in various positions within the factory, providing diverse working experiences and opportunities.

A traineeship combines classroom-based learning with work based learning which is delivered in a host company thus providing the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and competence within a supportive working environment.