Occupational Therapy News OTnews January 2019 | Page 6

NEWS
Occupational therapists offer ‘enormous value’ in advanced roles, says HEE chair
The advanced practice agenda offers ‘broad opportunity’ for
occupational therapists, the chair of Health Education England
has said. 
The profile of advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) and
consultants has risen in England since 2017’s Multi-professional
Advanced Clinical Practice Framework for England was published,
with a new organisation – currently with the working title of the
Academy for Advanced Practice – slowly taking shape to support
practitioners. An equivalent capability framework for consultant
level practice is also underway, with RCOT informing the work.
And occupational therapists could benefit the new agenda,
says Sir Keith Pearson, chair of Health Education England. 
‘We see many occupational therapists offering enormous value
in advanced roles,’ he told OTnews. ’However, this is relatively
new work and as such we are working together across the
system to support the wide understanding of the opportunities
of advanced level practice but also the importance of all levels of
practice.”’
Health Education England says it is working to develop the
supportive educational infrastructure that will scale the work
up, with an aim to support standardisation for employers, the
workforce and the public. 
To support the main ACP framework, a range of supporting,
specialty-specific frameworks are expected focusing on areas
such as older adults. 
Health
Education
England says
that they will
allow certain
key pathways
to have an
element of
standardisation
to allow for
national
transferability of
qualifications,
Sir Keith Pearson met with
preventing
occupational therapists in Barnsley in 2018
training that is
either too generic to be of use, or so individualised it is difficult to
transfer.
Dr Stephanie Tempest, RCOT professional development
manager, said: ‘It is fantastic to see Health Education England
recognise how occupational therapists can step up and build
their careers through ACP and consultant roles. We will continue
to engage with them and other relevant bodies across all four UK
countries to support the advanced practice agenda for the benefit
of our profession, and to enhance the experience and outcomes
of those who use our services.’ 
RCOT will be holding a network day for advanced practice on
12 March at its London headquarters. See www.rcot.co.uk/events
for more information. RCOT’s ACP briefing is available at:
www.rcot.co.uk/leadership-and-management
Quote of the month
We see many occupational
therapists offering enormous
value in advanced roles
Sir Keith Pearson,
Health Education England chair
Scotland’s Mental Health Act not offering good psychological support access,
warns RCOT
The Mental Health Act in Scotland is not ensuring that people can
access psychological support, RCOT has warned.
The Royal College made the comments based on member
feedback in its response to the Independent Review of Learning
Disability and Autism in the Mental Health Act. Other issues raised
be members included the effects of reduced staffing in some
services, and a lack of clarity over who will provide support to
6 OTnews January 2019
certain groups, particularly in forensic services.
Members have also flagged that the act also has limited
effectiveness in engaging with the criminal justice system,
including a number of people without a diagnosis for learning
disabilities or autism currently in prison.
RCOT’s full response is available at: www.bit.ly/2UTGE1j. The
independent review will produce its final report in December 2019.