Occupational Therapy News OTnews November 2019 | Page 7

NEWS Serious gaps in therapy provision letting down pupils, says Parliamentary report There is a serious shortfall in provision of occupational therapy in schools, according to a House of Commons’ education committee report, which RCOT provided evidence to. The report looked at how the 2014 reforms to special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision were being enacted amid funding shortfalls, and found parents and carers ‘have to wade through a treacle of bureaucracy, full of conflict, missed appointments and despair’, with many local authorities struggling with the reforms. The report recommends that therapy provision is mapped across the country so ‘cold spots’ can be located, with the government then tasked with setting out a strategy to tackle the problem. RCOT was referenced several times in the report, building on the findings of its own report, Occupational therapy: Unlocking the potential of children and young people, which outlined how occupational therapists already work in partnership with schools and other agencies to benefit more children. Dr Sally Payne, RCOT professional adviser for children and young people, gave evidence in Parliament for the report and told MPs how lots of young people aged 19 to 25 struggled to access therapies because they are not commissioned post-18, posing a particular problem or those diagnosed at a later age. She said: ‘We also welcome the call for clarity regarding financial provision to meet the needs of children who do and do not meet criteria for an education, health and care plan and hope that this will address current confusion regarding funding of specialist equipment in schools. Occupational therapists are key to preparing young people for adulthood and independent living and helping them to access meaningful employment. This will require a shift in resources from adult to children’s occupational therapy services.’ Read the committee’s report at: www.bit.do/HOC-SEND-report. Read RCOT’s report at: www.rcot.co.uk/ilsm. NEWS IN BRIEF DEBT AND MENTAL HEALTH EVIDENCE FORM UPDATED A debt and mental health evidence form that allows professionals, including occupational therapists, to support people when dealing with creditors had been updated. The UK-wide form allows professionals to provide detail on an indebted person’s mental health and situation, which can include how their mental health condition might affect their ability to manage their money. The form is backed by the Department of Health and Social Care and is available from: www.moneyadvicetrust.org/ dmhef. INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP LAUNCHED BY ELIZABETH CASSON TRUST A new international scholarship award has been created by the Elizabeth Casson Trust. The scholarship is for occupational therapists with more than three years post-qualification experience to explore practice overseas for two to four weeks before sharing their experiences back in the UK. It adds to the trust’s award portfolio, including the 40 occupational therapists already funded to attend conferences and a forthcoming ‘Impact Award’. Apply by 31 January 2020 at: www.bit.do/Casson-ISA. OTVOC CLINICS TOUTED TO STAFF AND PUBLIC ON EMAIL NEWSLETTERS Review on Wales’s medical research calls for evidence Wales’s cross-party group on medical research has called for evidence from health researchers on the sector. The group is looking at how the Welsh Government is advancing 2018’s Reid Review into research in Wales, and what could be done to support the research community after Brexit. RCOT will be sending an organisational response, but members can respond directly to the call for written evidence by 27 January 2020. For further information on how to respond, please email Emma Henwood at: [email protected]. A pioneering project to deploy occupational therapists in GP clinics has been promoted by both the NHS and Health Education England. Information on the OTVoc clinics, funded by the Work and Health Challenge Fund and working to help people with musculoskeletal and mental health problems, was sent out to subscribers to the NHS Networks and PCC Insight email newsletters. They were also shared on the Health Education England website to promote allied health professionals, at: www.hee.nhs. uk/our-work/primary-care/occupational- therapists-primary-care. There is more about the clinics in September’s OTnews on page 24. OTnews November 2019 7