Access Leads to New Career Options for Kevin

Unhappy in his work and with his career prospects, Kevin McManus decided that it was time for a change. In 2016 he enrolled in SERC’s Access Diploma in Foundation Studies and now works as an Occupational Therapist.

Kevin said, “I attended a couple of the College open days and talked through my options with the careers staff and tutors prior to enrolling so I knew exactly what I was getting into and where it could take me."

“It was a big adjustment for me to return to education, but I found the Access programme to be a great head start in preparing for university.  I had been out of education a long time but the tutors at SERC were very approachable and made the subjects really engaging. I learnt the skills that I would need to help me through my degree. The course gave me a real head start in preparing myself academically for the demands of a healthcare degree. The study skills module was a real help as we learned how to do things like Harvard referencing which is a little hard to get your head around but a real lifesaver when you get to university."

Speaking about his role as an Occupational Therapist, Kevin said, “As an Occupational Therapist, I can work in both physical and mental health settings. Throughout my degree I have been involved in placements in settings such as hospital wards, forensic mental health facilities and community placements. Occupational therapy encompasses every aspect of a person’s life and their activities of daily living. We can assist in making a person’s home more accessible after an injury or illness or help someone gain the skills to live independently such as home management, budgeting and meal preparation. The profession is always expanding so there are massive opportunities for OTs to expand into non-traditional settings in future."

“At the moment I am working part-time for a healthcare agency.   I have worked part-time through an agency whilst studying which has been a great foundation for me. I have worked in acute mental health facilities, supported living and domiciliary care. I would definitely recommend anyone who is considering a career in occupational therapy, or any other healthcare profession, to get involved with this type of work, either in a paid or voluntary capacity, as it gives you real world experience and helps you adjust to clinical placements more easily."

On advice for anyone thinking of returning to education Kevin said, “I would definitely recommend SERC to anyone who was considering enrolling in further or higher education. As a mature student I felt that I was very well supported after such a long absence from any kind of formal study and this gave me the confidence I needed to successfully complete my degree course and have a career which I am enjoying and where there are opportunities to progress.”

Find out about Adult Education and how you can Return To Learn with SERC.   Check out our forthcoming Open Days in August 2021.