UNISON
UNISON
UNISON membership is included in your RCOT membership for most occupational therapy staff . Make sure your employment and contact details are up to date with my . unison . org . uk so you always get the most relevant information directly by email
They also focused on activism coaching skills that had workplace use and practised techniques to tell powerful stories about the impact of occupational therapy on patients and services .
On the second day , the whole course came together to discuss these big issues that the profession faces . The first panel of the day was ‘ The future of occupational therapy ’, a discussion led by Debbie Reilly , the senior OT steward in Scotland , and chair of the national OT Panel .
Suhailah Mohamed , RCOT Head of Practice and Workforce , set out the major long-term challenges and changes facing public health , the NHS and occupational therapists , while Odeth Richardson , RCOT Chair of Council , set out RCOT ’ s plans to respond to those challenges .
Jon Richards , UNISON Assistant General Secretary , added his political and industrial experience to explore those challenges and set out how UNISON could support occupational therapists through them .
The second session was ‘ Reward and recognition for occupational therapists ’, a session on pay terms and conditions . The discussion was led by Fiona Wild , the OT representative on NHS Staff Council – the formal committee that has responsibility for
NHS terms and conditions of service , including negotiating any changes to terms and conditions .
Drawing on the previous day , occupational therapists talked about the importance of their colleagues being active and organised to have a meaningful impact on the pay agenda .
There were also passionate contributions on the value of therapy support workers and the whole wide NHS team , and the importance of considering the needs and value of the whole workforce , while standing up for specific occupational therapy issues .
In the final session , the attendees themselves set the agenda . Six participants put forward ideas for discussion and their colleagues were quick to join them . These formed the nuclei of workgroups that aim to continue beyond the seminar and start developing solutions across the country :
• Increasing activism among occupational therapists .
• Improving career progression for occupational therapists .
• Opportunities for learning in UNISON .
• Engaging and student occupational therapists .
• Improving sustainability in occupational therapy equipment and aids supply chains .
• Overtime and overwork .
All course attendees will feed back to their local UNISON branches , sharing their learning and ideas .
Interested in this , or future events ? We are always looking for more occupational therapists to become more active . Contact your local UNISON branch to volunteer . If you don ’ t know who to contact email our national team , who can put you in touch with someone where you work OTsteward @ unison . co . uk .
Protecting you at work
For help and advice at work – or to find out more about UNISON services – please contact your local BAOT / UNISON rep / branch at https :// branches . unison . org . uk or go to www . unison . org . uk / get-help .
If you need help at work 0800 0857 857 or www . unison . org . uk
Above : Occupational therapy activists , with RCOT and UNISON colleagues , on the trade union development programme
December 2023 OTnews 15