Current opportunities to get involved with RCOT and OT

Are you ready to take your professional development to the next level while making a meaningful impact?

We’re on the lookout for passionate volunteers to help us build dynamic and thriving communities within RCOT. Our new practice, professional, and regional networks are launching in Spring 2025 and we need your energy and expertise to make them a success.

Request a recruitment pack

Why volunteer with us?

• Shape the future: Be at the forefront of creating vibrant communities where members can connect, share and grow together.
• Develop new skills: Gain valuable experience in leadership, collaboration and professional development that will enhance your career and meet CPD requirements.
• Build strong connections: Network with like-minded professionals and form lasting relationships within your area of practice.
• Make an impact: Lead initiatives that reflect the needs of your community and drive positive change.
• Recognition: Receive acknowledgment for your contributions and achievements
• Supportive environment: Benefit from a comprehensive onboarding journey, peer support groups and an annual reflection process to track your progress

Find out more about our networks at rcot.co.uk/news/join-our-vibrant-community-volunteers.

Use our resources to build an understanding of the value of occupational therapy, its role in health and social care and where it needs to be positioned to have maximum impact. Get your resources here.

We have four national advisory groups to support the delivery of our first-ever Workforce Strategy. They are:

• Workforce Strategy advisory group (UK-wide)
• Advisory group for England's action plan for the Workforce Strategy 
• Advisory group for Scotland's action plan for the Workforce Strategy 
• Advisory group for Northern Ireland’s action plan for the Workforce Strategy.

We also have a UK wide Research and Innovation Advisory group, focused on development of our new Research and Innovation Strategy.

Our upcoming advisory groups are:

• Re-imagining pre-registration quality assurance (including a review of our learning and development standards for pre-registration education).

The advisory group for Wales’ action plan has now closed. Please follow this link to find out more and to express your interest in joining one or more of our groups.

Research and Innovation Fund grants provide an opportunity for people working in OT research to get funding for their projects.

Our Research and Innovation Fund grants are now available to help you pursue your research. We also have a new opportunity for funding to support public involvement and engagement when you are developing a grant application. Find out what grant would best suit your reserach project.

Research and Innovation Fund grants

You'll need to apply before 11.59pm, Wednesday 26 February 2025  – however, we recommend starting much earlier as this is a full proposal and must be peer-reviewed before you submit it. 

Innovation Hub is a space for the occupational therapy workforce to learn together about leading change.

Join our digital Innovation Hub community and share your innovations or search our database of real-world improvements. To become an early adopter, submit your improvement journey by sharing a challenge, change idea, or completed project.

It takes 15-30 minutes to answer questions about your service challenges and ideas. We welcome submissions from everyone in the occupational therapy workforce. Find out more about our Innovation Hub.
 

Open consultations give our members a chance to take part in our work at a strategic level. Contribute to our response to policies and legislations affecting the profession and delivery of services. Discover our current open consultations.

We want to show people everywhere the life-changing power of occupational therapy. Tag us in your photos on Facebook , Twitter  or Instagram  so we can share and celebrate the work you do every day.

Occupational therapists from a range of backgrounds and roles do amazing things. Every year you are invited to nominate your colleagues for a Merit or Fellowship Award in recognition of their special contribution to our profession.

It’s time for you to celebrate and recognise your colleagues for their outstanding work by recommending them for one of our prestigious awards.

If you already have someone in mind, you can go ahead and nominate them. 

Nominations must be received by 11.59pm, Sunday 23 February.

For full details - head to the Merit and Fellowship award page 

Can you lead, challenge and deliver with us?

Have your say on how your membership body supports our occupational therapy community.

Stand for Council in our upcoming elections and help provide the leadership needed to realise our vision for our members, the profession and the public.

There are two Council positions up for election this year:

• Chair of Council
• Council member, Wales.

Regiser your interest for one of these positions

Our new network is the perfect space for RCOT members interested in research. Whether you're a learner, early career or experienced researcher, or just curious to learn more, we welcome you to join us.

Thursday 27 February, 1-2pm - International Placements

At this month's café we'll be joined by Dr Fiona Howlett, Senior Lecturer and Professional Practice Placement Lead for MSc & BSc Occupational Therapy Programmes at York St John University. Fiona will be presenting and discussing international placements – the process, challenges and benefits to the student.

Wednesday 26 March, 1–2pm - Details to follow

Find out more about Placement Cafés

Wednesday 22 April, 12–1pm

Capturing the impact of research using the VICTOR tool 

Visit our Research Café page for details on how to join this session

Explore our RCOT jobs board to find occupational therapy jobs near you.

The aim of the Sunflower Project, led by the University of Bedfordshire, is to understand the challenges and identify priorities in early pregnancy loss care in England, from the perspective of individuals who experience miscarriage and healthcare professionals who provide their care, to collectively identify policy-driven solutions to improve psychological outcomes for individuals who experience trimester one pregnancy loss (<13 weeks gestation).

If you have experienced an early pregnancy loss and would like to share your experience, take part in their national survey, or find out more about the project.

UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC) are launching a survey for AHPs across the UK to gather their ideas on how to reduce the environmental impact of our care.

Take the survey - share your views

Why should AHPs be interested in UKHACC?

• Climate change is the greatest global health threat facing the world in the 21st century, but it is also the greatest opportunity to redefine the social and environmental determinants of health.
• AHPs well placed to provide solutions & need to be prepared for changes as our world changes
• Your profession’s voice should be heard at all levels

This is the first stage of UKHACC's work to identify the top actionable carbon reduction interventions for each AHP profession. 

Please also share this survey with your networks.

Results back by the end of March. If you have any queries, please contact Frances.Slowie@nhs.net (cc’d).