Update on the RCOT Innovation Hub project
RCOT ’ s Innovation Hub pilot ran between 31 October 2022 and the end of March 2023 . The focus of the pilot was to develop our understanding of whether there were benefits to providing members with one location for disseminating learning from service innovation pilots ( both live and completed projects ).
To summarise our findings , we believe there are benefits to creating a database of real-world service innovation projects . That by bringing together service innovation learning from multiple projects across the UK , we ’ re more able to identify trends in the critical issues facing services , the solutions being tested and gaps in knowledge and expertise required to solve complex challenges .
While we ’ re building a platform to host this data , we ’ re still encouraging all members to submit their service challenges , change ideas and learning by submitting an improvement journey through our digital submission form .
There are a number of benefits for submitting an improvement journey :
• Get support with turning a challenge into a project that can be evaluated . Alongside tools and guidance , we ’ re offering 20 places on an economics explained course . Deadline to be considered is 27 October 2023 for the second cohort .
• Submitters to the pilot told us that the improvement journey questions helped them to reflect . Change and improvement can occur over years and by documenting your journey you can reflect on the pivotal moments that progressed ideas , as well as things that didn ’ t work so well .
• You can elevate your service innovation outcomes by working with us to develop an innovation case study . These case studies are designed to demonstrate both what you ’ ve learnt about innovation in occupational therapy , as well as sharing your findings in a style that enables others to adopt your learning in their context .
A common question that occupational therapists ask is : What is considered as an innovation and when is the best time to submit ?
Innovation is essentially problem solving . It ’ s identifying a problem that either has no current solution , an inadequate solution , or a solution that ’ s not widespread across the profession . It can be a small change to a process or a new way of doing something as well as the larger service transformation , changes like new pathways .
We ’ ve had small projects , like learners on placement developing an information sheet and teams reviewing how people who access services provide feedback on their experiences , as well as new ways of supporting preceptorship and supervision .
The pilot highlighted that occupational therapists are not short of ideas when it comes to how things could improve for those they work with – both staff , people who access services and communities .
You can submit an improvement journey anytime . You might be on placement or starting a new job when you ’ ve spotted a challenge and forming ideas . You could be planning or running a pilot or preparing to share your outcomes .
The hub is a space for all learners , support workers and occupational therapists to share what needs to change and access support to help you develop your ideas .
You can read more about our pilot findings within our pilot thematic analysis report and case studies available on our innovation hub webpage www . rcot . co . uk / innovation-hub . The digital submission form can be found at www . rcot . co . uk / innovation-hub .
Tell us about children ’ s and young people ’ s access to occupational therapy
We ’ re running our third Children and Young People ’ s Occupational Therapy survey looking into children ’ s access to occupational therapy across the UK . It ’ s open until 9am , Monday 31 July 2023 and it only takes 20 minutes .
If you ’ re a children ’ s OT in the UK , whatever setting or level you ’ re working at , we want to hear from you . The survey is for all children ’ s OTs in the four nations to tell us about children ’ s and young people ’ s access to occupational therapy . It explores any new trends or concerns .
In our previous surveys , we reviewed the impact of COVID-19 . In our third survey you are invited to put across your views on the social impacts on your sector and delivery , including ( but not limited to : the cost of living crisis ; changes to school budgets ; and cuts to social care .
We use all our survey findings to guide our work and to discuss actions with policymakers and service commissioners . To find out more and to take the survey visit https :// bit . ly / 46lDJ6l .
60 OTnews July 2023