ANNUAL CONFERENCE REPORT
If you want to make a difference and have some influence at leadership level , get involved with RCOT Council
In a fully-subscribed roundtable session ‘ leadership ’, on Wednesday 30 June , RCOT Council members Kim Atkinson , Lisa Ledger and Kea Hean Lim talked about their own leadership journeys and how being an RCOT Council member has contributed .
When it comes to being a Council member , Kim Atkinson – who is currently Vice Chair – said that ‘ it helps to be a relatively experienced member of the profession ’. She stressed that you ‘ need to be able to hold your own ’ and well as being ‘ firm in your own opinions ’ and being ‘ able to articulate them ’.
Other key leadership qualities – that would also stand you in good stead as a member of Council – include having a broad perspective , being passionate about the profession and valuing diversity , she said .
Holding the position of Council member gives you an opportunity to work alongside some very skilled occupational therapists – ‘ it has developed my contemporary knowledge and has lifted me out of my own bubble ,’ she added . While , crucially , being a member of Council ‘ gives you a perspective on the future direction of travel for the profession ’.
But what does ‘ senior ’ or ‘ experienced ’ member look like when it comes to joining Council , the panel was asked ? Is it years qualified or the impact of your work ?
The consensus was that it is not really about how long you have been in post , or what areas you have worked in , but about what you can bring to the role and how you can contribute .
Kea Hean said the most meaningful aspect of being on Council was being able to make a difference or make a change ; you have the opportunity to have an input and represent other people .
‘ You might think that you are not equipped for the role , as it seems like a big step ... but it ’ s a good start to do little things ,’ he said , suggesting that a good pathway is to start by volunteering for a specialist section , for example , in different roles , or getting involved in consultations on behalf of RCOT .
‘ Those things build your confidence and also help you to understand how the Royal College works ,’ he said .
‘ That gives you confidence , leadership or experience ’ to put yourself forward for bigger things . ‘ There ’ s never a good time , or a right time ,’ he stressed . ‘ But if you want to make a difference and be involved in the change , it ’ s a good opportunity to be involved , because that is one of the most meaningful things – for me at least .’
The final word went to Kim who said of the commitment : ‘ I would say I ’ ve got more out of it that I ’ ve put in … I ’ ve really enjoyed it tremendously and have learned a lot .’
Occupational therapists urged to ‘ take action now ’ to deal with the global climate and health crises
Joel Reynolds , RCOT professional adviser , in a session on sustainability , reminded delegates of the realities of the current global climate crisis , before challenging the occupational therapy profession to think about the action they can take to become more sustainable .
‘ Climate change threatens to disrupt our health systems and undermine the past 50 years of gains in public health , so urgent action is required by all of us in order to adjust and take steps to reduce our carbon use ,’ he said .
‘ But we can be emboldened to do more as a profession ,’ he said positively . Noting that the greatest impact of climate change will be felt most by those living in poverty , and that rural and urban areas are impacted equally , he said the climate crisis is now becoming a health emergency .
‘ No region , country or community is immune to the health impacts of climate change , and that means it ’ s a universal responsibility of all occupational therapists , no matter where you work ,’ he said .
‘ Luckily there is a lot we can do ,’ he continued . ‘ We can align the recovery from the pandemic with our response to climate change , giving us the chance to predict health , promote a sustainable economy and protect our planet .’
Sonia Roshnik , who works for the organisation Occupational Therapy Without Harm , reiterated the key message that everybody has a role to play in this agenda : ‘ What we are talking about is a real system transformation across all of healthcare ,’ she said . ‘ Some of that is about models of care , utilising telehealth … we are going to need to dig deep to find solutions . I am counting on every one of you to support that transition .’
Urging everyone to take action now and reduce their carbon emissions , she said she hoped everyone would embark on the journey , as ‘ it is urgent that we deal with this climate and this health crisis ’.
And Carolyne Hague , principal occupational therapist with Devon County Council and AHPO clinical fellow with the National CAHPO Team , concluded with a siren call to the profession .
‘ Public health and prevention directly correlates with environmentally sustainable services ,’ she said . ‘ Reducing the impact on public health and the environment will save money and eventually help us to go net carbon zero .
‘ AHPs and occupational therapists work in a sustainable way within an unsustainable system – we really do need to promote the value of how we work .’
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