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Advanced practice

Advanced practice  

We are working with RCOT members, aspiring to, or working at advanced and consultant levels of practice. We’re reviewing our existing web content and seeking member involvement to establish what other guidance and support is needed at these levels of practice.   

Advanced practice and clinical placement development in social care

There is an unclear pathway for the occupational therapy (OT) workforce into and through social care in the UK. The OT workforce in social care is comparatively small, yet it deals with a high proportion of work and OT skill base is often underutilised. This project sought to support OT throughout the career in social care, from student to strategic leader.  

Part of the work with HEE and partners was to support the development of the social care workforce through core materials that promote advanced practice and clinical placement development.

Occupational therapists in social care – Q&A case studies

We were able to capture the perspectives through a Q&A of OTs working at all levels in adult social care and workforce leads who’d like to learn more about utilising the OT workforce which is diverse and inclusive. They provide accounts of their experiences and share their knowledge and insight in regards to the barriers and enablers to career progression and where they see their careers in 5 years time.

Anna – an experienced OT's perspective at practice level

Anna is an experienced level OT, working full-time in the district team. She has trained and achieved the post-graduate Approved Mental Health Practitioner (AMHP) accreditation and works on a rota, completing two days of AMHP assessments a month and a day where she’s on call for backup in case the team need additional capacity.

Kaiya Henderson – an experienced OT's perspective at practice level

Having qualified two years ago, Kaiya is an early career OT working in adult social care with younger adults who have complex disabilities.

Kerwin Jeremy – an experienced OT's perspective at practice level

Kerwin is an experienced OT working in a children’s disability team in social care. He has previously worked in a fast-paced community health rehabilitation team and in adult social care in another local authority. Kerwin is also a practice educator.

Jon Tilley – an OT's perspective at operational manager practice level

Jon is a service manager for a children’s OT service. He graduated in 2012, initially worked in social care for several years and then did some private work before moving to his current local
authority in 2017.

Laura Owers – an OT's perspective at advanced practice level

Laura is an OT who started working in social care when she was newly qualified. Laura worked in frontline operational roles for about seven years before taking a practice lead role in a learning and development team. She’s now a senior officer in the team and supports the learning and development needs of the OT workforce.

Anita Raj – an experienced OT's perspective at practice level

Having qualified as a mature student in 2004, Anita is an OT who has worked for her local authority for 18 years. She has been in post as a Deputy Head of Service for the adult disability teams for six years. Anita manages five operational team managers, with teams of social workers and unregulated social care workers, OTs and learning disability nurses.

Sacha Khakoo – a consultant principal practice level OT's perspective

Sacha qualified in 1989 and is currently Principal OT in a unitary local authority. This is a new role within her local authority and she has been in post since June 2022. The post has parity with the Principal Social Worker and is line managed by the Head of Quality Assurance and Governance, in adult social care.

Pauline – an OT's perspective at advanced practice level

Pauline’s career journey developed from beginnings as a professional assistant holding a social care practitioners’ diploma. She was then funded to train as an OT and is now an advanced practitioner in an integrated hospital discharge team which requires liaison between the nursing staff and social care on complex discharges. Pauline is also a visiting university lecturer, a practice educator, mentor for both OT and social work students and supervises qualified social workers.

Occupational therapy beyond the NHS and Social Care 

We held a webinar with the National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH) and UCL's MASc in Creative Health. The webinar looked at the profession’s role in working with the creative sector to address people’s health and care in innovative and creative ways. It showcased examples and opportunities that exist for occupational therapy in and beyond the statutory (NHS and Social Care) services. Watch our webinar to learn more.

NCCH X RCOT Creative OT Webinar

Working in collaboration with the NCCH and  UCL's MASc in Creative Health, who share the aim of supporting the development of an informed workforce to meet the growing demand for Creative Health programmes and activities. This webinar allowed attendees to generate new ideas and contacts and to help them think differently about addressing the factors that influence people’s needs, including the wider determinants of health.

If you require captions this can be enabled by clicking on CC located at the bottom right of the video, when you press play.

Digital and data 

Digital and data knowledge and skills are essential for modernising and innovating health and social care provision. Building on an existing digital and data competency framework, we’ll be co-producing resources with generalist and specialist digital occupational therapists. These will enable the wider profession to identify the learning and development opportunities available to help them lead transformational projects. Resources are available on our digital and data and innovation strategy webpages.  

Leadership 

As we work to position occupational therapy leadership within health and care systems, we’re developing our leadership web pages, membership offers and showcasing leadership journeys from inspiring leaders across the profession.  

We’ll share more resources and information with you here when available.