We have launched a new Advancing occupational therapy: Research and innovation strategy.
This month marks an important milestone for RCOT as we unveil our new Advancing occupational therapy: Research and Innovation Strategy. Forward-looking and co-produced, it outlines a 10-year strategy designed to enhance the capacity of our workforce to engage in research and innovation and apply evidence-based practice. Our vision is for our members to be changemakers, championing research and innovation. Embracing values of equity, diversity and belonging, together we will advance a culture of curiosity, collaboration and continuous improvement to enhance the lives and wellbeing of people and communities we work with.
The goal is to empower our workforce, level up research, and turn evidence into practice to improve services for people accessing occupational therapy. Aligned with RCOT’s and WFOT’s workforce strategies and other national research and innovation policies, we focus on four areas for action. These are Culture, Capacity, Capability, and Context, all are inter-dependent and are equally important to achieve transformational impact and sustainable change. We’ll implement this strategy through a series of three-year action plans.
The scope of the strategy covers the whole occupational therapy workforce community, inclusive of all career stages, employment sectors and job roles. It is also relevant to people who access occupational therapy services, their families and carers. With reference to equity, diversity and belonging the strategy recognises the need to address the significant under recognition and representation of minoritised researchers, including women, people of colour, LGBTQIA+ individuals, disabled people and those with intersectional identities. It is equally important that we encourage our researchers and innovators to take an inclusive approach to involving under-represented or under-recognised groups in our research and innovation, but we also need more research by and about the specific needs and challenges of the diverse groups of people accessing our services.
Look for Advancing occupational therapy: Research and Innovation Strategy on our website www.rcot.co.uk.
In May we also launched our new RCOT Communities — a new platform and network model designed to connect over 36,000 occupational therapy professionals across the UK. This marks a major milestone in RCOT’s commitment to enhancing member engagement, peer learning, and leadership development.
RCOT Communities provides a dedicated digital space where members can connect across practice areas, regions, and career stages to share knowledge, explore innovations, and tackle shared challenges in real time and through ongoing asynchronous engagement.
The platform brings together 3 core elements:
1. A custom digital engagement platform to support accessible, dynamic interaction
2. A growing number of networks — practice-based, regionally focused, and strategically aligned
3. A vibrant volunteer community leading engagement and shaping direction within each network
It is, also, designed to support both deep-dive discussions within areas of expertise and cross-sector collaboration on broader health and social care challenges.
Our key aims include:
· Enabling continuous professional development aligned with our regulator’s standards
· Supporting a strong, inclusive community of practice
· Empowering members to contribute to and grow the profession’s knowledge base
· Fostering leadership, influence, and innovation from the ground up
At the heart of RCOT Communities is a new member-led model underpinned by a volunteer leadership structure. This provides members with a range of opportunities to lead and shape their networks, gain leadership experience, and contribute to the profession’s development. Whether facilitating conversations, organising activities, or driving improvement initiatives, volunteers play a key role in making each network responsive, inclusive, and impactful. More information can be found at RCOT Communities | RCOT