Feature
Shaping the future of AHP personnel
Sharon Campana talks about RCOT joining forces with HEE on workforce reform .
T he RCOT Data and Innovation strategy was launched in December 2021 , alongside a data literacy survey . The strategy ’ s vision is that : ‘ Every occupational therapist is confident in engaging in a range of activities where data is used , collected and shared for the purpose of improving health outcomes at the individual , service , and population level .’
The survey identified that occupational therapists commonly receive system specific training and support in their workplaces and feel confident using different systems .
However , there are several challenges and areas for development when it comes to specifying what systems need to do to improve efficiency and productivity as well as collect data to measure impact .
RCOT and Health Education England ( HEE ) have joined forces to create an Allied Health Professionals ( AHP ) Workforce Reform . It is a 12-month project to shape the future of the AHP personnel , of which a key focus is to highlight how occupational therapists are using digital tools and data to transform health and care provision and how we can continue to progress in this area .
The wider context
Much has been published over the past five years on digital , data and innovation . It is a core priority of the NHS Long Term plan ( 2019 ), the AHPs Deliver strategy ( 2022 ) and more specifically our own Data and Innovation Strategy ( RCOT 2021 ).
Given that local strategies also exist , combined with individual continuing professional development plans , it ’ s not a surprise that this can all feel somewhat overwhelming and far removed from our day-to-day work .
Here lies the challenge , given that we need this to become a foundation of our everyday practice . Engaging with digital technology , data and innovation will allow us to do the most effective work we can , with the best tools , at the right time and place for the people who access our services .
We will be able to demonstrate the impact we are having and where things are not working as well as they could be and need to be changed . Data gives us the power to identify these things so cannot be an aside to clinical practice or education .
Growth in this area is going to be vital for all those working within occupational therapy , given the ever-evolving digital landscape in which we work , but also to facilitate innovation that allows us to continue providing high quality occupational therapy in a time of finite resources and economic challenge .
HEE AHP Digital Competency Framework ( 2020 )
As part of a Topol Digital Health Fellowship project ( 2019-20 ), a framework of 124 competencies across 10 domains ( diagram one ) was formulated .
The framework is designed to support those within AHP professions to meet their full potential within digital practice . A selfassessment can be completed to determine current skill and knowledge level , which can then guide plans for learning and development .
A UK-wide survey of AHP confidence , motivation and competence with data and digital technology was completed utilising the domains of this framework ( Tack et al 2022 ), and in which 19.2 % of respondents stated their profession as occupational therapist .
Christopher Tack , Topol Digital Fellow , describes the current picture for occupational therapy , based on the survey findings : ‘ As a professional group that spans the gamut of health and care services , from acute through community to social services , the range of
36 OTnews November 2022