Occupational Therapy News OTnews February 2020 | Page 12

NEWS
NEWS IN BRIEF
ADAPTATIONS WITHOUT DELAY TOPS
HOUSING LIN DOWNLOAD LIST
RCOT’s Adaptations without delay report was the most
downloaded resource from Housing LIN in 2019. The
guide looks at how occupational therapists can plan and
deliver home adaptations differently and has proven hugely
popular since its publication last year. Download the report
from: www.rcot.co.uk/adaptations-without-delay.
RCOT JOINS THE EMBRACING
COMPLEXITY COALITION
RCOT has joined the Embracing Complexity coalition
for organisations working to support people with
neurodevelopmental conditions. Occupational therapists
play a key role in supporting children with autism,
DCD, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions,
while the number of members working with adults with
neurodiverse conditions is growing. RCOT is planning to
use the opportunity to better promote the role and value
of occupational therapy, and to support the call for more
research and better access to support and diagnosis. Find
out more at: www.embracingcomplexity.org.uk.
LIVES OF LATE MEMBERS CELEBRATED
BY RCOT
A new In Remembrance section has been launched on
the RCOT website for members who have passed away.
Anyone who has been a member of RCOT at any point of
their career is eligible for inclusion. The first two members
celebrated are Ann Allart Wilcock and Margaret (Marg)
Foster. Read and submit memorials at: www.rcot.co.uk/
about-us/remembrance.
ONLINE COURSE FOR MND
MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORKING
AVAILABLE
A free course on multidisciplinary working from the MND
Association will be enrolling participants from March. It
is designed to raise awareness of the NICE guideline for
motor neurone disease and ultimately helps improve the
quality of life for people living with MND and their carers.
The course runs over six weeks and will provide at least
18 hours of continuing professional development. The
course will also be made available in May and September.
The course runs from 2 March at: www.tinyurl.com/
MNDA-MDW.
12 OTnews February 2020
Northern Ireland children and young
people strategy published
A cross-departmental children and young people’s strategy
for Northern Ireland has been published, setting out eight
high-level outcomes to work towards. The strategy –
published before agreement was reached on restoring
power to Stormont – is now being considered by the
education minister before consideration by the Northern
Ireland Executive.
Sally Payne, RCOT professional adviser for children,
young people and families, said the strategy aligned with
many of the aims, values and activities in RCOT’s Unlocking
the potential report.
They include working in partnership across traditional
boundaries, focusing on early intervention and health
promotion, supporting positive transitions and adopting
strengths-based approaches.
She said: ‘I would encourage occupational therapists
to become familiar with the strategy and identify how their
practice supports its aims and values whilst also identifying
opportunities for innovative service developments to
address key policy areas.’
Read the strategy at: www.bit.do/NI-CYP-strategy. Read
Unlocking the Potential at: www.rcot.co.uk/ilsm.
England plans for two-hour rapid
response teams
The government is planning new urgent community
response teams, including occupational therapists, to cut
pressure on accident and emergency (A&E) departments.
Staff from the NHS and social care in England will work
in multidisciplinary teams to visit people’s homes within two
hours. They will mainly work with older people and those
with complex care needs who have rapid deterioration in
health and have called 999 and 111, with falls likely to be a
major part of the work.
The teams will be fully rolled out by April 2023. Seven
areas will start to recruit this April to ensure they are set up
by next winter.
Karin Orman, RCOT assistant director of professional
practice, said: ‘It is great that occupational therapists will
be included in this work to ensure people can stay at home
and avoid a hospital stay.
‘We know that there are already some teams in action
that employ occupational therapists to see urgent cases
within four hours. We are keen to hear from members about
their experiences working in and developing these teams,
so that we can make sure that this new model includes
occupational therapists as fully as possible.’
Submit your experiences to: benjamin.powick@rcot.
co.uk.