Issue 10September2017
Welcome to Issue 10 of the RCOT North West Region e-Newsletter.
SPOTLIGHT
Accessible Festival:

The Regional Committee had a fabulous day running the art tent for the Accessible Festival. The inclusive event brings music, art, cycling and climbing to Bury every year. We hosted a range of art activities - mask-making, art exchange and lots of marbling!
Shout About Practice:
We hope you enjoyed the "Shout About Practice" event in Chester.
Many thanks to everyone who presented at the event:
Helena Culshaw (Shout Out for Constance Owens Occupational Therapy Pioneer and Founder of Occupational Therapy education in Liverpool) , Helen Carey (Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy, Glyndwr University), Joanne Lowe (Occupational Therapy, Expert Witness and Expert Supervisor), Sarah Page (Memory Activity Treatment Guide - for people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment), Andrew Rose(Supervision and Compliance Manager, Northern Case Management) and Ryan Price (Heads Up Therapies - Acquired Brain Injury Occupational Therapy Football Group)​.
Conference Experience:
Annette O’Donoghue, (Occupational Therapist - Furness General Hospital), received a grant from RCOT North West Region towards attending the RCOT Conference this year. She shares her experience here…
"It was a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to attend and celebrate the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) Annual Conference.
From the starting plenary to the finishing plenary the speakers were very motivational, informative, fun and inspiring.
There was a good variety of events to choose from including occupational stations, posters, seminars, papers, debates and workshops; there was something for everybody.
The bit that delighted me the most was the opportunity to engage in occupation at Conference. I attended the Slow Occupation" workshop on the first day. The aim of the workshop was to introduce and explore slow occupation through slow stitching. This was a wonderful opportunity to switch off from the background noise and excitement of the Conference, and to engage in occupation whilst being creative with various textiles, needles and threads. It provided the opportunity to engage with other group members and discuss fabrics, hand stitching techniques, individual passions and abilities, and have a finished product to take home as a memento of the Conference.
One of the most informative events which I attended was on "Sleep, Sleep Problems and Sleep Treatment: Future Directions for Occupational Therapists". This was interesting partly because it extends occupational therapy into a new area of work; albeit an area connected to occupation and environment. The session was an important reminder of the essential nature of good sleep to health and wellbeing, and ways of ensuring it. I could relate to this as I work in an acute hospital setting, and often notice that poor sleep and resulting tiredness prevents patients from engaging in rehabilitation.
The Conference was a fantastic networking event. I met lots of new colleagues as well as catching up with old friends and tutors.
The overall learning experience was very positive and inspiring.
The main message which I took away was that the occupational therapy profession is"MAD" (Making a Difference), and that the role needs to continue, develop and evolve.
CPD EVENTS
Constance Owens Awards:
Applications are open for the Constance Owens Awards - 3 awards of £15,000 for PhD Study.
In honour of the 70th Anniversary of Constance Owens setting up the Liverpool College of Occupational Therapy, trustees wish to offer 3 awards payable over 3 years. Professional links to Liverpool and/or to Constance Owens' commitment to occupational therapy internationally will be looked upon favourable.
Applications are welcome from individuals who are interested in registering or who are registered for full or part time study on the following:
  • PhD studies
  • Professional Doctorates in Occupational Therapy
  • Professional Doctorates in Education
  • Application forms are available from

LOCAL ACTIVITIES AND SHARING KNOWLEDGE
RCOT Roadshow - "Championing Occupational Therapy":
Date:11th October 2017
Venue:Bury Town Hall, Knowsley Street, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0SW
Time: 9.30 am - 4.00 pm
Cost: FREE
Roll up, roll up....registration is now open for our annual RCOT Roadshow in Bury.
This session is designed to ensure occupational therapy staff feel confident and equipped to engage with the "Occupational Therapy Improving Lives, Saving Money" campaign and to signpost our members to available RCOT resources to evidence the value of their service.
The Roadshow will cover the key recommendations from the RCOT report "Reducing the Pressure on Hospitals - the Value of Occupational Therapy" and next steps for the campaign. Members will be asked to identify who they need to talk to and discuss ways of influencing locally, messages they can tailor locally and outcomes they want to achieve.
To register go here:
RCOT NEWS
It's official - we are now the Royal College of Occupational Therapists!
On 19th April, COT was officially renamed the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), after Her Majesty, the Queen, granted permission for the "Royal" title to be used by the College, which can trace its origins back to 1936. RCOT is now unlikely to be passed over in key discussions that shape the delivery of health and social care.
Extended Deadline.
Apply to become a Health and Work Champion! Recruiting up to 30 people across England. Closing date 8th October 2017:
To apply you must work in England and have the support of your employer to deliver training in your organisation as this is a voluntary role. To find out more and apply please go to

If you have any questions please
Resources for Professional Development Support:
We are pleased to report that an exciting new Hub entitled Resources for Professional Development Support has gone live and is replacing our previous Mentorship scheme. The Hub is a curated list of mentorship and coaching services available throughout the UK. These resources have been collected with the aim of helping you in your professional development. Further information can be found here:
Please feel free to pass this information to your networks.
RCOT FELLOWSHIP AND MERIT AWARDS 2018 – CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:
The award of Fellowship is the highest honour the College can bestow on members of the British Association of Occupational Therapists in recognition of exceptional service and outstanding contribution to the profession.
The Merit Awards are for occupational therapists recognised by their peers in the occupational therapy community for excellence in their sphere of work. These awards, introduced in 2008, are open to all BAOT members (students, practitioners, associate members, managers, educators, researchers, new practitioners) with a minimum of two full consecutive membership years.
Additional information and nomination forms:
Deadline for return of Fellowship Awards nominations: Monday 2 October 2017.
Deadline for return of Merit Awards nominations: Monday 27 November 2017.
For more details, please contact Dominique Le Marchand on 020 7450 2317 or
RCOT Awards for Education, Research and Continuing Professional Development 2018:
Applications are now invited for the 2018 RCOT annual awards for education, research and continuing professional development. There are eight award categories available in the 2018 funding round, providing support towards a range of RCOT member activities including, for example: practice evaluations; innovative or developmental projects; dissemination of research or practice at international conferences; small research projects; overseas practice placements. Full details and application forms can be downloaded from the RCOT website at: . The closing date for receipt by RCOT of award applications is 5.00pm on Tuesday 31st October 2017. All enquiries should be directed to the Research and Development Administrator tel: 020 7450 2323, in the first instance.
Quick Facts Documents:
The RCOT is pleased to announce that a new series of ‘Quick Facts’ documents is now available, for members, on the RCOT website at:
Occupational Therapy - Improving Lives, Saving Money Campaign - The Value of Occupational Therapy for Children and Young People:
Building on the successes of the "Occupational Therapy - Improving Lives, Saving Money" campaign, The Royal College of Occupational Therapists will be focusing a workstream on the value of occupational therapy for children and young people over the next year.​
For more information visit:
CONTACTS
Committee Chairman: Helen Rushton
Email:


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Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
All rights reserved.