NEWS
Provide new funding and a parliamentary review for children with SEND , say MPs
A cross-party group of MPs has recommended that a parliamentary review assesses the impact of COVID-19 on children with special educational needs and disabilities ( SEND ).
The all-party parliamentary group ( APPG ) for SEND made the call in its new report , Forgotten . Left Behind . Overlooked , which looks at the experiences of young people with SEND during COVID-19 .
It also calls for new funding to support children and young people , including funding to address delays and backlogs of educational and health care plans . The MPs have also called for an urgent review of high-needs funding , and more money to support the mental health of young people with SEND .
The report builds on evidence provided by occupational therapists via RCOT . Members reported major problems with transitions , with it being difficult for young people with physical and sensory needs to get ready for the challenging process of moving to new settings they hadn ’ t been able to visit .
Even where schools were open , it has proven difficult to get schools to allow occupational therapists to visit so they can make sure the right equipment is in place . While virtual tours were available in some places , many found them stressful and were unable to use them .
Occupational therapists also sometimes struggled to build relationships with young people via video calls .
Occupational therapists also reported difficulties from the start of the pandemic with maintaining faceto-face working as families with vulnerable children looked to keep visitors out of their homes . Social distancing requirements also made it hard to find adequate rooms to have confidential discussions .
Dr Sally Payne , RCOT professional adviser for children , young people and families , said : ‘ This report was an important opportunity to showcase the challenges occupational therapists faced in delivering services during the pandemic , while also highlighting the role and value of occupational therapy in supporting children ’ s development , physical and mental health going forward .’
Download the report at : www . naht . org . uk /_ resources / assets / attachment / full / 0 / 106552 . pdf . You can find out more about how occupational therapists have met the challenge of working with children with SEND during the pandemic in RCOT ’ s submission , at : www . rcot . co . uk / file / 7672 / download ? token = XYGHNvEv .
RCOT has launched new editions of its Professional Standards for Occupational Therapy Practice , Conduct and Ethics and the second edition of the Career Development Framework .
The Professional standards for occupational therapy practice , conduct and ethics combines two resources for the first time : the Professional standards for occupational therapy practice and the Code of ethics and professional conduct .
Feedback from various consultations with members , including from an equality , diversity and inclusion perspective , has informed the new versions .
Karin Bishop , RCOT director of professional operations , said : ‘ These essential resources from RCOT will support you at whatever stage you ’ re at in your career . You should use the new professional standards to guide your work every day . This will help you be a safe and effective practitioner and provide a high-quality and inclusive service .
‘ The Career Development Framework offers a structured way for members to think about their next career steps and to develop as occupational therapists . It ’ s a mandatory requirement to develop our knowledge and skills through engaging in continuous professional development , and the framework is an effective way to structure that work .
‘ Make sure you are using the latest versions of these resources to keep your practice and development as up to date as possible .’
Audit tools are available for use with the professional standards to help structure CPD activity and to help with service evaluation . There are also tools and templates for the Career Development Framework available in CPD @ RCOT to support its use in practice .
Employers and managers are also being encouraged to use the new versions to support the occupational therapy workforce for the benefit of those who access their services , their families and carers .
Free hard copies of the Professional standards for occupational therapy practice , conduct and ethics will be posted to all members in winter 2021 , and non-members will also be able to order a copy from the RCOT website .
The Career Development Framework is designed as an online resource only to be used in conjunction with the tools and templates available in CPD @ RCOT . Welsh versions of both resources will be available in late spring 2021 .
Access both at : www . rcot . co . uk / cpd and www . rcot . co . uk / professionalstandards .
Updated Professional Standards and Career Development Framework launched
10 OTnews May 2021