Occupational Therapy News OTnews January 2019 | Page 13

NEWS Leadership culture change essential, says health secretary The NHS needs a leadership culture change, the health secretary Matt Hancock has said, to coincide with a review of the challenges facing the health service’s executive leaders. The Kerr review, which aims to remove obstacles to clinicians becoming managers, found a lack of clear career paths into leadership roles, and a huge variation in exposure to management and leadership responsibilities between different professions. The report’s authors said they struggled to engage with AHPs, but did find that they were a ‘blind spot’ for organisations, where AHPs often struggled ‘to get round the table’ during important decisions such as the ongoing sustainability and transformation plans (STP) process in England. The authors also heard that the professions could be ‘their own worst enemies’ by working in silos. The report concluded that the situation was better in Wales where, since 2009, local health boards must include an officer for therapies and health sciences. The authors have recommended that NHS England and NHS Improvement should write to the STP leads to make sure they draw on leadership from all clinical professions, including AHPs. Karin Orman, RCOT lead professional adviser, said: ‘We have previously found that many members felt they haven’t had strong occupational therapy leadership, as endless rounds of restructuring has left many working under nursing or social work directorates. But I we have also seen many members create their own pathways to lead, whether it’s as heads of occupational therapy services or even as chief executives of NHS trusts. ‘We have spent the last year looking for ways to grow leadership skills and make sure that, for every member, it isn’t someone else’s job. We have made it a fundamental part of RCOT’s Career Development Framework, and are now working hard to bolster how we support advanced clinical practitioners and consultants too to make sure members don’t hit a ceiling in their careers.’ The report is available at: www.bit.ly/2ScnkdN. RCOT resources on leadership are available at: www.rcot.co.uk/leadership-and- management. ©GettyImages/ phototechno OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Recruitment Open Day Here at Medway, we pride ourselves on working together as one to ensure that our shared vision of Better, Best, Brilliant is achieved. With strong leadership the day to day experience for our teams is a great one, staff are valued, excellent quality care is provided and the passion for continuous improvement is high. Our Trust is a strong choice for people who want to develop their career in an ambitious and dynamic environment; we also offer an excellent benefits package which includes onsite childcare facilities, various salary sacrifice schemes and a generous annual leave entitlement. 2 February 2019 9.30am LOCATION: Postgraduate Centre, Medway Maritime Hospital, Windmill Road, Gillingham, ME7 5NY Want to join us? Come along to our Occupational Therapy Open Day and find out more. Book a place Online https://goo.gl/f4mDCb Email [email protected] N220 OTnews January 2019 13