Participation Changes Everything is our OT Week 2026 theme, 2 Nov. For Melanie, participation meant being able to go out to buy her own electric shaver again, allowing her to maintain an aspect of personal care that was important to her🪒 Start planning your OT Week 👉 https://bit.ly/4wBKspl

Participation Changes Everything is our OT Week 2026 theme, 2 Nov. For Melanie, participation meant being able to go out to buy her own electric shaver again, allowing her to maintain an aspect of personal care that was important to her🪒 Start planning your OT Week 👉 https://bit.ly/4wBKspl

Members 📢 Your July OTnews Extra is here. From supporting young people with SEND to promoting disability pride and championing neurodiversity in the workplace, see how OTs are breaking barriers and creating opportunities for people to thrive. Swipe through now 🗞️ 👉 https://bit.ly/4fFbuop

A national framework for AHPs is being developed for 2027-2032 and your voice needs to be part of it 📢 We'll also be feeding in as RCOT, drawing on what we hear from members to make sure OT has a strong voice at a national level. The deadline is 18 September 📅 https://bit.ly/4ovX9yx

Different paths, different experiences, one shared community. From learning and connection to confidence and growth, hear how four members are making the most of their RCOT membership. What’s been the most valuable part of membership for you? 💬 Join it here: https://bit.ly/4wmH4yJ

RCOT members: your voice matters. 🗳️ Join us online for the BAOT AGM – Thursday 25 June, from 12.30pm. Vote on how your professional body is run, hold Council to account and hear how your organisation is performing. 👉 rcot.co.uk/agm2026

This Carers Week we're thinking about the millions of people who show up every day for someone else. Are you a carer or do you work with carers in your practice? Head to our Communities network and join the conversation 👉 [LINK]

Meet Thahmina 👋 OT. Community builder. Always learning. For her, being part of RCOT means tapping into the knowledge and experience of OTs across the UK and bringing that back into practice. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4wmH4yJ

Meet Norma 👋 An RCOT member for nearly 20 years, staying connected, learning from others and growing with the profession. A reminder that behind every OT is a community that gets it https://bit.ly/3QPSpqK

More than half (56%) of OTs say they can't provide the level of support children require and only 39% report fully staffed teams 📉 There is a clear opportunity through the proposed “experts at hand” service. But without the capacity to deliver it, children will miss out ➡️ https://bit.ly/4cT51F4

Employers play a key role in shaping those first OT experiences, from strong supervision to creating team cultures where people feel supported and able to grow. Our new Early Career Principles offer practical guidance to help make that happen 👉 https://bit.ly/4svxSF2

When might a child benefit from seeing an occupational therapist? We’ll let OT Lizzie answer that👇 Children and young people may need different types of support at different times. We’ve broken them down into three rough categories ➡️ https://bit.ly/47gYBO4

Say hello to Amber at our Spotlight on Parenting event in Birmingham on 20 April. 📍 Don't miss out on your member-exclusive early bird ticket to this practical, creative and occupation-focused event. CPD, networking and collaboration guide this event. See the full agenda 🔗 https://bit.ly/4rUOOov

Occupational therapy in schools is evolving 💚 More OTs are working in classrooms, supporting whole-school approaches and helping children take part in everyday routines that support their development and wellbeing. 'What matters most is children’s natural context.' More 👉 https://bit.ly/4tJ5nFW

How occupational therapists’ role in schools is changing

It used to be the case that occupational therapists only really helped individual pupils with complex needs, but now they are increasingly working to a much broader brief with schools, finds Zofia Nie...

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Gary and Odeth visited OTs across Northern Ireland last week, hearing directly about the pressures teams are facing and the impact OT-led services are making. Their reflections are now live: https://bit.ly/4s02uzh

Good news for children, families and OTs 👏 The new schools White Paper recognises occupational therapy through the ‘Experts at Hand’ model, giving schools earlier specialist help. Next focus: funding, workforce capacity and delivery. 💚 More updates soon.

Youth unemployment is rising and too many young people are falling through the gaps. We’ve told the Alan Milburn Review why occupational therapists must be part of the solution. Read more 👉 https://bit.ly/4sa7yR8

Why occupational therapists are essential to tackling rising youth unemployment

We've submitted evidence to the Alan Milburn Review on youth unemployment, setting out why occupational therapists must be part of the solution.

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Plans for an 'experts at hand' service could improve access to specialist support in schools. But the workforce is already under pressure. RCOT’s Karin Orman told @tesmagazine.bsky.social the investment is welcome, but funding must reach frontline teams. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3N7kqZo

New ‘experts at hand’ won’t arrive fast enough, DfE warned

Professional bodies back bigger roles in schools for educational psychologists, occupational and speech and language therapists - but say they already struggle to meet demand

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OTs now have a stronger voice in Parliament. A new All-Party Parliamentary Group for AHPs brings MPs and Peers together to focus on the workforce. We’ll make sure occupational therapy expertise helps shape national decisions. Read more 👉 https://bit.ly/3P2WgzO

Good news for the AHP workforce

A new All-Party Parliamentary Group for Allied Health Professionals has been registered.

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Our new restrictive equipment guidance is now live. 📣 
Practical support to help Occupational Therapists make safe, ethical decisions. Download your copy here: 🔗 https://bit.ly/48KrF09

Gary has kicked off his UK visits in Scotland. Two days meeting OTs in Edinburgh and Glasgow – hearing about workforce pressures, innovation and prevention in action. Your voices will shape our next steps. Read more in the blog 👉 https://bit.ly/4tJ54e7

Independent OT practice is demanding - but you don’t have to do it alone. Join us in London for a one-day training event to help you sustain your work, diversify income an build a future-proof practice. 📆 11 March 2026 | 9.30am – 5pm 👉 https://bit.ly/4rK9Abb

🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQIA+ History Month Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist Niall Kirrane talks about simple actions that can create social change and explores how we can support LGBTQIA+ people using occupational therapy services. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4b7PLV1

🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQIA+ History Month Niall Kirrane reflects on activism through an occupational lens and how everyday actions shape social change in occupational therapy. 📹 https://bit.ly/4b7PLV1 Explore more LGBTQIA+ History Month content in our Communities space where members share ideas and experiences.

Children thrive when support is in place early. The schools White Paper recognises the role of OTs in schools and neighbourhood teams. Now we need workforce and funding to turn ambition into action. Read more in our response. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3MGWgVG

Mandy didn’t expect her school-based placement to reshape her confidence, but it did. Working independently, leading a handwriting project and supporting pupils through transition helped her see just how much OT can offer in education. 📘 Read Mandy’s full story: https://bit.ly/4b8W6Ag

WFOT Congress wrapped up on a high. 52 RCOT members took part – sharing research and building global connections. AI in practice and draft early career standards sparked strong interest. New BJOT opportunities are already emerging.

Gary’s first month reflections: what you’ve told him so far 👋 Over 100 members met, visits across the UK, and lots of honest conversations. Gary’s shared what he’s hearing from OTs and how your insights are shaping his next steps. Read the blog: 🔗 https://bit.ly/3MtONZL

Did you know you can qualify as an occupational therapist through an apprenticeship? Combining paid work (80%) with learning (20%) through an employer such as the @NHS or a social care service – there's more than one route to OT 🎓 How has work-based learning supported you or your team? 💬

We bring far more to social care than equipment & adaptations. Amy Howard explores the role of OTs in Care Act assessments, prevention & early intervention & how this supports personalised care & allows people to do the occupations they want & need to do Read more 👉 https://bit.ly/4tqBDNK