Junior occupational therapists' continuity of employment: what influences success?

Considerable time, effort and expense are spent on educating occupational therapists for practice, yet little is known about the factors influencing the success of this process. This article details a study that investigated the influence of selected personal and environmental variables on British occupational therapists' continuity of employment one year post‐qualification. Data were gathered using purpose‐designed questionnaires and a semi‐structured interview. The results linked respondents' retention in practice to issues of support, resources, success with clients, job satisfaction and the extent to which work matched their personal values. Respondents' withdrawal from practice was linked to issues of support, autonomy and a perceived discrepancy between their expected and actual practice. Their level of perceived responsibility was also cited as influential. These findings provide fuel for discussion and the opportunity to make recommendations for future occupational therapy policy, education and practice.