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Future RCOT: Let’s talk strategic themes

Steve Ford joined RCOT as CEO in April.  Since then, he’s spent time listening to members share the challenges and opportunities that they, and the profession as a whole, face.  

From everything we’ve heard, we’ve understood that you want us to become an organisation that not just represents the profession but one that leads, with a stronger voice. A more forward-looking organisation which is proudly and boldly inclusive, welcoming new generations of occupational therapists and truly reflecting our diverse society.

You want to get real value from your membership and to feel proud of your professional body. You want to feel part of a vibrant professional community and that you are increasingly using your skills to solve society's problems.

This insight has been used to create a set of possible strategic themes to provide a broad future direction for RCOT.  

Having first shared these strategic themes at Annual Conference in June and receiving a very positive response, members we’re invited to provide feedback in August and September 2021. 

Over the next few months we will be analysing the feedback and refining the strategic themes ready to launch them in January 2022.

If you have any questions about the strategic themes please visit the FAQs.  If you can’t find the answer to your query there, you can email hello@rcot.co.uk.

 

More information

The need for change

Steve Ford joined RCOT as CEO in 2021.  Since then, Steve has spent time listening to members.  Here is a summary of what he’s heard.

Occupational therapy is a fantastic profession; you love what you do and can see the difference you make every day. You are optimistic about the future but fear that you’re missing opportunities. And at times you feel like the underdog, compared to other professions who appear more confident, better supported and connected.

The profession is changing, with new recruits being more confident, asking more of their employers and RCOT, and with greater focus on personal and professional development. A range of new skills and ways of working have come about over the last 18 months. And increasingly, the inclusion agenda is seen as vital, but we have been slow and reactive, especially when dealing with minority groups.

Our membership offer seems less relevant to students and for some, it’s not until you become senior and get more involved, that you better understand and appreciate the whole offer. There is real appreciation of local staff and volunteers, but in general, we can be seen as bureaucratic and cautious.

Many of you would like to have broader involvement in both the profession and RCOT. And while there are many impressive local leaders, who are driving forward strategic change in their areas, this influential community doesn’t always feel connected or supported by RCOT.

Some of the campaigns that we’ve run have been meaningful and engaged members, but we are often seen to be in broadcast mode. The Specialist Sections and Regions have, especially through the pandemic, been an impetus for change, but the current structure isn’t working for everyone.

The importance of research and the need for a stronger evidence base is recognised and the research strategy and top 10 priorities provide a good basis to move forward. But research is not always prominent in the mindset of occupational therapists; there are also challenges to methodology and limited career opportunities for clinical research.

From everything we’ve heard, we’ve understood that you want us to become an organisation that not just represents the profession but one that leads, with a stronger voice. A more forward-looking organisation which is proudly and boldly inclusive, welcoming new generations of occupational therapists and truly reflecting our diverse society.

You want to get real value from your membership and feel proud of your professional body. You want to be part of a vibrant community that is increasingly using its skills to solve society's problems.

Proposed strategic themes

Strategic themes

Movement
Build a social movement of proud and confident occupational therapists that show the world the power of what we do.

We need to speak more powerfully and clearly. We need to strengthen our brand and campaigns. And for RCOT's wider membership to share their collective experience and expertise.  We want everyone to feel that they belong to and have a voice in this powerful movement.

 

Excellence
A real, practical offer to support every occupational therapist to be the best that they can be.

We want to make our membership offer relevant for every occupational therapist wherever they are in their career.   This will include a refreshed approach to learning and development – using modern approaches to equip therapists with the skills that they need to make maximum impact.

 

Evolve
Grasp the biggest opportunities for occupational therapy to evolve and maximise our impact in a changing world.

This is now the time for occupational therapy. We need to be on the front foot, clear about the opportunities and establishing our case assertively. We need to support our influential local leaders with the tools and resources that they need. And we need to be dynamic in sharing emerging best practice across all our services.

 

Transform
Become a modern, high-performing, insight informed and values-led organisation.

If we are to deliver these three themes, RCOT needs to modernise and focus its resources where they will deliver biggest impact. We need better data and insight to help us work effectively and we need to live out values that meet the expectation and needs of our members.

 

To find out more about the themes you can also watch a video with Steve Ford.  A transcript of the video is also available.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the strategic themes

RCOT already has strategic intentions set for 2018 to 2023. Why are you changing them now?
A lot has changed since we set our strategic intentions in 2018. Having listened to members’ feedback, we feel it’s important that we revisit our strategy now and set a new direction, building on the foundation set by the strategic intentions.

Going forward, we need a new more confident approach to setting our strategy, with a clearer, bolder direction, to make sure that the necessary change is achieved.

When will we see the outcomes from this consultation?
Over the coming months, we will be reviewing all the feedback shared by members and staff through the survey and discussion groups. The insight gained will be used to finesse the strategic themes and our intention is to then publish them in January 2022.  

This is only the start of developing our strategic plans; they will evolve as we move forward and develop the plans and programmes to achieve the change needed.  

 

About giving feedback
 

I’ve missed the closing date, can I still give my feedback?
No, we are now collating and analysing the feedback, but there will be future opportunities for members to get involved in making the strategic themes a reality.

Can I watch the videos?
Yes, there are two versions of the video with Steve Ford describing the proposed strategic direction. You can watch both videos and/or download the transcripts:

Future RCOT - short video; short video transcript

Future RCOT - longer video; longer video transcript