Welcome to OTnews
It ’ s with huge excitement that we welcome the new year with a freshlook member magazine , in line with RCOT ’ s new strategy , values and brand .
As you can see from our cover , we kick off this first issue with an introduction from chief executive Steve Ford . As we enter this ‘ exciting new era ’ for RCOT , Steve first thanks members for their contributions in developing the new strategy and brand , before explaining how , together , the strategy , values and brand lay the foundations for the future growth of the professional body and the profession .
You can explore how the five-year strategy will help RCOT ’ s vision become a reality , and read about some of the things RCOT has planned for this year and how it is striving to become a values-driven organisation . Turn to pages 16 to 21 to find out more .
Features include an article from Nicky Phillips , a senior occupational therapist in a medium secure forensic mental health unit for working age men .
Here , she explains how the occupational therapy team has been looking to reduce inpatient violence , longer stays in hospital and the risk of reoffending through drama groups to improve communication and social skills . It has been a small , but successful , project , so turn to pages 26 to 28 to find out how the service ’ s users responded .
Then , hot on the heels of RCOT ’ s newly-published Data and Innovation Strategy , Suzy England looks at data literacy and asks – what difference does it make to occupational therapy practice ? To find out how you can get more involved , turn to page 30 .
Elsewhere , we have a Q & A with Rosalinda Brookes and Sherri Kapadia ( pages 56 and 57 ), who both undertook eight-week internships with RCOT last summer . If you think their experiences sound exciting , take a look at our recruitment pages to find out how you could apply for this year ’ s opportunities . Hurry though , applications close at the end of this month .
Tracey Samuels Editor
I ’ d love to hear from you
If you have any feedback about this issue of OTnews , or would like to contribute a short article or feature for a future publication , please email me at : editorial @ rcot . co . uk
January 2022 OTnews 3