News
More flexible and inclusive opportunities to shape the OT profession
RCOT wants you to be part of shaping and driving the future of the occupational therapy profession . We ' re excited to announce a new approach , offering a wider range of opportunities for members to get involved in a way that works best for you .
Recognising the limitations of the current Board structure , with limited representation and a demanding workload placed on a select few , we ’ ve discussed this new approach with the current Board members and all five Boards – England , Scotland , Wales , Learning and Development , Research and Development – will be stepped down by the end of July 2024 .
Our goal is to be more inclusive and agile , allowing all members to take part in meaningful ways . The new approach will allow for more representation by support workers , learners and apprentices , OTs at different career levels and from diverse and underrepresented groups and people with lived experience .
Read more at https :// bit . ly / 4cInrHA . Or visit our get involved webpage to learn more about the current opportunities https :// bit . ly / 3vARW1F . Together , we can shape a stronger future for the profession .
© FG Trade via Getty Images
NHS launches innovative new drive to recruit armed forces veterans
The NHS is stepping up a national campaign to recruit former members of the Armed Forces who want to join the health service and offer their valuable skills to caring for patients .
Running until March 2025 , the new NHS Long Term Workforce Plan drive will encourage serving and retired armed forces personnel and their families to consider a career in one of the 14 allied health professions on offer in the health service .
Universities across England will host a series of open days across the country , and they will use innovative technology to give attendees a virtual , real-time insight into some of the different careers on offer .
The first event will showcase careers in occupational therapy and will be hosted by Guys and St Thomas ’ NHS Foundation Trust and be broadcast across five different university campuses .
Attendees will be able to watch an occupational therapist treat patients in real time from the point of view of the clinician who is wearing a digital headset . A second clinician will describe what their colleague is doing through a separate audio feed .
Each year at least 12,000 military personnel leave their roles in the armed forces for a variety of reasons , with many of them looking to switch career after completing their service .
Their transferable skills , including leadership , resilience and compassion , leave them with much to offer the NHS , and many already meet the entry requirements to undertake a suitable training programme .
The collaboration between NHS England , Guys and St Thomas ’ NHS Foundation Trust and participating universities , will support the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan ambition to have 71,000 more allied health professionals in place by 2036-37 .
To register interest in attending the sessions , people are asked to email armedforces @ gstt . nhs . uk . For the full story visit https :// bit . ly / 3J5SEa8
Each year at least 12,000 military personnel leave their roles in the armed forces for a variety of reasons , with many of them looking to switch career after completing their service .
6 OTnews April 2024