Inspiring the Future Workforce: Glasgow City HSCP Occupational Therapy Services at Student Open Day

Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) Occupational Therapy Services recently attended an open day at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), engaging with final-year students and showcasing the breadth and impact of community-based occupational therapy across the city.

Bringing together colleagues from social work Locality Teams, Rehabilitation services, Health and Social Care Connect (HSCC) and Reablement, the event highlighted the strength of a connected, citywide approach to delivering occupational therapy support.

Across two busy and interactive stalls, staff provided valuable insights into the wide range of roles within Glasgow City HSCP. Students were given a clear picture of how services are structured, from the “front door” function of Health and Social Care Connect, offering early intervention and responding to referrals, to the more complex, longer-term input delivered through locality and rehabilitation teams.

The open day created a dynamic space for meaningful conversations, with students demonstrating strong professional curiosity. They asked thoughtful questions about day-to-day working life in community occupational therapy, opportunities to develop specialist skills, and the balance between autonomous working and multidisciplinary teamwork.

Colleagues shared honest and reflective insights into the realities of working in people’s homes and communities, highlighting both the challenges and rewards of supporting individuals to live as independently as possible.

A key focus throughout the event was promoting Glasgow City HSCP as an excellent place to build a career. Staff highlighted strong leadership and supportive team cultures, structured induction programmes, and ongoing training and continuing professional development opportunities.

Many students also asked about recruitment and entry into the workforce, including where to find vacancies on MyJobScotland and NHS Scotland platforms, and what skills to highlight when applying for roles. Staff offered practical advice and encouragement, helping to demystify the transition from student to registered practitioner.

Alongside conversations, a range of materials were shared to support learning and awareness. These included information on core services and referral pathways, equipment and technology supports such as Equipu, falls prevention resources, housing-related advice and self-management tools including Ask Sara.

Both stalls saw a steady flow of visitors throughout the day, with students keen to engage, reflect and learn. Feedback highlighted how valuable it was to speak directly with practicing clinicians and gain real-world insight into the profession.

Kirsty Nicholson, Occupational Therapy Care Group Lead, said: “Our HSCP remains committed to nurturing talent, promoting innovation, and delivering high-quality occupational therapy services that make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.

“The event provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the breadth, impact and innovation of occupational therapy across Glasgow, while connecting directly with the next generation of practitioners. Students were able to gain a clearer picture of how our services are structured and how they work together to support people across the city.

“By sharing experiences and providing clear pathways into our services, we can support students to feel confident, informed and inspired.We look forward to continuing these conversations, and to welcoming many of these students into our workforce in the near future.”