We’re bringing together our previously separate strategies for both research and data and innovation, highlighting how these areas should complement each other to drive our profession forward and build growth opportunities for you.
Bringing OT practitioners and researchers together is the aim – to connect research with real world practice while improving data collection to create effective services, improve care and reduce health inequity.
You can learn more about how you can get involved in the shaping of the strategy at: Research and innovation are everybody’s business’ – your opportunity to create a culture of continuous improvement - RCOT
Dr. Gill Ward, Head of Research and Innovation, and Suzy England, Service Innovation Manager explain the potential power and opportunity in having our first combined Research and Innovation Strategy.
We are committed to achieving transformational impact and sustainable change in occupational therapy. We will be led by service improvement data and published research evidence – giving OTs the information they need to provide the best services to the people and communities our profession works with.
Our current Research and development strategy (2019–2024) sets out our vision that within the next decade we will help embed a UK-wide culture that engages in and with research. A culture where research will be seen as every OT’s business.
This vision was underpinned by 10 principles and a set of shared actions between us and our members.
What have we been up to?
The world – and indeed our profession – has changed significantly following the impact of the pandemic. But we haven’t let that get in the way.
Of the 23 actions in the R&D strategy being led by us, 22 of these have been completed or partially completed.
Notable mentions
We’re particularly proud of the following outcomes:
- publishing our revised research priorities for occupational therapy in the UK through a Priority Setting Partnership with the James Lind Alliance – see the priorities at www.rcot.co.uk/top-10
- establishing an annual R&D internship opportunity
- creating Research Connect – our online research network
- establishing RCOT research champions across all four UK nations at different levels of practice
- reviewing and implementing changes to our Annual Awards and Research Foundation to support the development of researcher capability and capacity
- developing new ways of working with people with lived experience and involving them in our research activities.
The work goes on
Other work continues, including:
- supporting development and uptake of career structures and pathways that embrace engagement in research alongside practice-based roles
- creating partnerships to help build research capability and capacity
- sign-posting members to externally available research networks, opportunities and sources of funding.
Our current vision for data and innovation
Our Data and Innovation strategy (RCOT 2021) sets out our vision that every OT should be data confident. We want OTs to feel supported and prepared when they engage in a range of activities where data is used, collected and shared.
Data literacy
At the time of publishing the strategy, we launched a data literacy survey that led to the development of eight goals for improving our profession’s data literacy skills.
These goals were mapped to recommendations in the strategy and designed to support OTs identify a starting point for their personal development.
The role of leadership
We also developed a range of leadership journeys and webinars that demonstrate how OTs working in different contexts or practice – and at different points in their career – developed and used their data skills to innovate their service provision.
Next step – innovation
We’ll draw out the value of data in driving innovation through our innovation hub – launching in spring 2024. This will be a platform that enables you to share and access a database of real world OT service innovation evidence with project support.
Why we need to bring them together
Now is the time to link our research and innovation strategies for further success.
Research provides the foundation for understanding complex problems while innovation involves developing solutions and implementing changes.
By bringing them together, we can create a complementary relationship where innovation makes a case for change by using both research and real-world evidence to demonstrate the impact of a solution on the lives and wellbeing of people, the workforce and communities.
This will foster a culture of continuous improvement.
The AHP Research & Innovation Strategy for England (2022) states that a quality improvement agenda encompasses the full breadth of:
- scientific research methodologies
- proof of concept
- applied health research
- implementation of science studies
- service evaluations.
Adopting the terminology ‘research and innovation’ is inclusive of these approaches that contribute towards improvement.
Bridging the researcher/practitioner gap
We will bridge the perceived gap between researcher and practitioner communities – the vision is to bring together the respective expertise, experience and insights.
Bringing together research and innovation promotes the value of effective inter-disciplinary practice. It draws on skills and knowledge from data science and project management to better support how OT led innovation is implemented and evaluated.
This will accelerate the implementation of research evidence into practice to improve health, wellbeing and care outcomes. It’ll also drive research with real world practice in mind and generate authentic co-designed future research and innovation opportunities.
A new strategy for 2025
Our plan is to launch a new Research and Innovation Strategy in early 2025.
This strategy will align with our strategic priorities – Rise up, Open up, Lift up and Build up – and with current AHP research and innovation strategies in the UK.
A new vision
Our vision is that our members recognise themselves as changemakers – advancing a culture of curiosity, collaboration and continuous improvement to elevate the occupational therapy profession.
Anchored in the principles of Equity, Diversity and Belonging, we drive growth in research and innovation to improve the lives and wellbeing of the people and communities we work with.
We will focus on:
- growth
- career stability
- sustainability of our OT research and innovation community.
We will seize the opportunity to align with several strategic national agendas to secure greater visibility, reputation, and influence. This will help us achieve equal access to investment and infrastructures for the next generation of occupational therapy research and innovation leaders.
Who is this new strategy for?
The scope of the strategy includes the OT workforce community, inclusive of all career stages, employment sectors and job roles.
The strategic aims and objectives will be relevant to:
- support workers
- students and learners
- practitioners
- educators
- clinical academics and researchers
- managers
- policy leads
- key stakeholders who commission, fund, manage and support OT services.
Research and innovation are everybody’s business
This wide reaching strategy will need a collaborative and co-produced approach to include perspectives from all to adopt the mantra that 'Research and innovation are everybody’s business’.
Get involved
There will be opportunities for members, people with lived experience and other key stakeholders to be involved in helping to shape the new strategy later this year. Look out for news of UK wide online discussion forums, Annual Conference activities and consultations.
If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you.
Join a strategy shaping workshop or submit our simple form via: Research and innovation are everybody’s business’ – your opportunity to create a culture of continuous improvement - RCOT
- Dr Gill Ward, Head of Research and Innovation – gillian.ward@rcot.co.uk
- Suzy England, Service Innovation Manager – suzy.england@rcot.co.uk