Occupational Therapy News OTnews February 2019_Joomag | Page 9

NEWS
Occupational therapists ideally placed to lead shift to personalised care,
says new RCOT report
Occupational therapists are ideally placed to lead the move towards
more personalised care, says the latest Improving Lives, Saving
Money report from RCOT.
Policymakers in all four UK countries have made personalised
care a priority, but RCOT says a profound cultural shift is now
needed to make sure patients and service users are active
participants, rather than passive receivers, of care.
Paul Cooper, RCOT professional adviser, said: ‘Occupational
therapists are experts in personalised care and will be key to
making services support people to live health, active lives. Focusing
on people’s strengths and enabling individuals to carry out the
activities they want and need to do is intrinsic to the profession, and
always has been.
‘We recommend that every member read this report and
then gets together with colleagues to plan how you will engage
managers to make sure your services are delivering on this new
agenda.’
James Sanderson, NHS England’s personalised care group
director, said: ‘I welcome the RCOT focus on personalised care
which is an increasing priority for the NHS and our recent long-term
plan outlined our firm commitment to ensure that 2.5 million people
will benefit from personalised care by 2024. A one-size-fits-all health
and care system simply cannot meet the increasing complexity of
people’s needs and expectations, so we’re setting out how people
who live with multiple long-term conditions can expect the same
choice and control over their mental and physical health that they
have come to expect in every other aspect of life.
‘Occupational therapists have a significant role to play in bringing
their skills and expertise in helping to deliver this more personalised
care approach that recognises the importance of “what matters to
someone” is not just “what’s the matter with someone”.
Making personalised care a reality is available at
www.cotimprovinglives.com.
Quote of the month
A one-size-fits-all health and care system
simply cannot meet the increasing complexity
of people’s needs and expectations
James Sanderson, NHS England
Work to first contact practitioner specs for future roles, advises RCOT
Occupational therapists working in musculoskeletal roles are
being advised to read the competency framework for rapidly-
expanding first contact practitioner roles.
Patients can refer themselves directly to first contact
practitioners in primary care settings, a role currently staffed by
experienced physiotherapists. The practitioners will then assess,
diagnose, advise and provide self-management advice. The role
has been recognised by decision makers across the UK, and was
featured in England’s NHS Long-Term Plan last month as a key
role to expand.
In future, the role will be open to other professions that can
demonstrate they meet the competencies, and it may be open to
occupational therapists working at an advanced practice level.
Karin Orman, RCOT lead professional adviser, said: ‘We know
this is going to be a big growth area and in future we could see
these roles open up to occupational therapists. The competency
framework requires practitioners to demonstrate that they are
person centred, aware of the psychological and emotional impact
on people’s lives and know about the importance of supporting
people to continue with their key occupations such as work, so a
lot of this language will be familiar.
‘But if these roles are opened up then you will only be able to
access them with the right skills, so we are advising members to
read up now on what skills the role requires so you can structure
your future learning.’
Access the framework at: www.bit.ly/2IaKW1H.
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