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Career Development Framework review

Continuing professional development (CPD) matters at every stage of your career. Whether you’re a pre-registration learner, a practising occupational therapist, a support worker or a senior leader, CPD is key to professional growth, job satisfaction and delivering high-quality services.

The RCOT Career Development Framework, first published in 2017 and updated in 2021, is designed to support your development throughout your career. To ensure it continues to meet the needs of the occupational therapy workforce, we partnered with The Creative Health Alliance to review its impact and shape the next edition, planned for release in 2025/26.

Engaging the profession

In September and October 2024, we invited occupational therapy professionals from across the UK to share their experiences and insights through a series of online workshops.

To capture a broad range of perspectives, The Creative Health Alliance also engaged with:

  • Representatives from LGBTQIA+, B.A.M.E., and AbleOT UK Expert Advisory Groups
  • The RCOT Workforce Strategy Advisory Group
  • The RCOT Leadership Forum
  • The Council of Occupational Therapy Education Directors
  • Key RCOT colleagues and informants

We also invited members of the RCOT Communities Platform to contribute their views via our online platform.

Through these conversations, we explored how the framework is currently used, any barriers to engagement, its strengths and limitations, and how inclusive and relevant it is to the profession today. The feedback gathered will directly inform the next edition.

Final report now complete

Following this extensive review, The Creative Health Alliance has completed the final report, which analyses the findings and identifies where the RCOT Career Development Framework aligns with, or diverges from, other key guidance and frameworks introduced since 2021.

The report sets out clear recommendations to shape the next edition, ensuring it continues to be a valuable and practical resource for occupational therapy professionals.

Work on the revised framework will begin later in 2025, with publication planned for 2026.

Thank you to everyone who took part in this review. Your insights will help shape the future of the Career Development Framework, ensuring it continues to support the occupational therapy workforce for years to come.