VOLUNTEERING FEATURE
For Suhaliah, there are ‘a myriad of reasons’ why
members should get involved with the profession.
She says: ‘The exposure you will have to leaders and
influencers within the profession is unquantifiable. I did not
appreciate the scope of occupational
therapy practice until my involvement
with RCOT.
‘You get to work collaboratively with
RCOT professional advisers, for example
on developing roadshow content, and it
harnesses your team working skills and ability to
form working relationships with peers quickly.’ And,
she says, ’it’s fun’ and she has made some lifelong
friends.
When it comes to the best opportunities
afforded by being a committee member
during their terms of office, Veronica says it
has been about attending Stormont, talking
to MPs and demonstrating the width and
breath of occupational therapy and it’s
specialisms. While in Suhailah’ case, it
was the opportunity to present at an
occupational therapy conference
with Dr Stephanie Tempest,
RCOT’s professional development
manager, in March this year.
She says: ‘Our presentation
was titled “Investing in whole
career development for
the occupational therapy
workforce”. Having come
into occupational therapy
from a
background of
recruitment, I
realise now
how my
special interest
in this area
began.
‘What made
this opportunity
so special is my
relationship with
Stephanie. She was my
very first personal tutor on the MSc in Occupational Therapy
(pre-reg) programme, and her counsel as I completed my first
semester is what set me on course to become the leader I am in
the profession today.’
Claire Tester, who is about to step down as a vice chair of the
Scottish Eastern Region Committee, says of her tenure: ‘Five
years ago I had read that RCOT was about to set up a new
Region in Scotland. At the time I was working as an independent
organisational consultant and keen to get back in touch with my
occupational therapy roots.
‘It is only due to my current work, with long days and finding it
increasingly difficult to get to meetings, that I have decided to step
away from the committee. That, and the fact that I have become a
member of the RCOT Scottish Board.’
There are challenges, as Rena reflects: ‘Being retired, I know
that I no longer have the challenges that my fellow committee
members experience. Committee meetings normally take place
after work, so there has to be a personal commitment to being
involved. Getting time away from the workplace during working
hours to attend the Region’s events organised by the committee
seems to be the biggest challenge.’
But, if you are thinking of getting involved, Suhailah has the last
word: ‘Don’t overthink it. The pros far outweigh any perception
of additional workload you think the commitment comes with.
Whatever role you assume, it is yours to shape, stretch and own.
You will have a lot of fun along the way.’
The following roles are available across the Regions:
Eastern – Secretary and Member Activity Lead
London – Communications Lead and Member Activity Lead
(role share)
Northern and Yorkshire – Chair, Secretary, Member Activity
Lead, Communications Lead/Social Media Lead (role share)
North West – Treasurer, Communications Lead, Social Media
Lead, Secretary and Member Activity Lead
Scottish Eastern – Vice-chair
Scottish Northern – Communications Lead and Social Media
Lead
South East – Secretary
South West – Member Activity Lead
Trent – Communications Lead and Secretary
West Midlands – Communications Lead and Social Media Lead
Committees also welcome up to six co-opted members, who
represent a type of membership or may contribute to a particular
project. These may include representatives fromhigher education
to retired members, new graduate members to Unison.
Interested? Find out more about the roles and download a
nomination form now: www.rcot.co.uk/regions-vacancies.
Submissions close on Monday 31 August 2020. If you have
any questions, please contact: [email protected]
OTnews July 2020 29