As part of #OTalk’s 10th Birthday celebrations we are hosting special #OTalk’s during #OTWeek on this year’s theme #OTsForEquity. Thursday 4th November OT Show’s/ The OT Service, @adamferry3 will be leading the chat.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by the year 2030 (United Nations, 2020)
The sustainable development goals cover 17 aspects of global targets, from poverty, through to good health and wellbeing, and climate action. As part of health equality, given the many facets of health, it is important to consider our roles, both personally and professionally in supporting the outcomes.
This session will consider specific targets within the SDGS and reflect on how occupational therapy is, or can, influence success.
Specifically, targets covered within this #OTalk will be:
good health and wellbeing – target 3.8:
‘Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection and access to quality essential health-care services’
End poverty in all its forms, everywhere – target 1.4:
‘Ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services’
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development – target 17.17:
‘Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships’
We will consider the potential challenges within current health and social care systems in meeting these targets and reflect on opportunities within the profession to maximise long-term health and well-being for all.
Evidence your CPD. If you joined in this chat you can download the below transcript as evidence for your CPD, but remember the HCPC are interested in what you have learnt. So why not complete one of our reflection logs to evidence your learning?
Throughout October #OTalk has been asking the community to help us celebrate #OTalkTurnsTen in three different ways,
Share why you love #OTalk #OTalkTurnsTen
Bake #OTalk a Birthday cake and share it #OTalkDoesBakeOff
Apply to become a member of either the #OTalk team or the #OTalk Research team #BecomeAnOTalkTeamMember
We are so pleased with your efforts even though some of you forgot to include the hashtags, that naughty step is getting crowded.
Please do join us on Tuesday 26th Oct at the usual #OTalk time of 8pm for a relaxed chat to celebrate our birthday. With time, ask us questions and reflect on the last ten years, bring your own cake!
To say thank you and to continue with the ten year celebration of weekly free CPD.
We have three gifts for you.
Our New Look, we have been working hard in the background to update the website and are so pleased to launch our new logos.
Occupational Therapy Week Collaboration – This year the Royal College of Occupational Therapy (RCOT) has chosen the hot topic of #OTsForEquity as the theme for OT Week (1st – 7th November). To mark the event, we will be running extra #Otalks during OT Week and supporting events organised by RCOT and The OT Show.
Monday 1st November RCOT are hosting a launch event 6-7.30pm online
‘Watch Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Director of the Institute of Health Equity, deliver his opening plenary Social justice and health equity, originally broadcast at Annual Conference 2021. Then join in the live Q&A session with a panel of occupational therapists and allied health professionals, including representatives from Public Health England and the BAMEOT UK, AbleOT UK, LGBTQIA+OT UK networks, as well as RCOT. You will be able to ask your questions using the online question box.’ Our @OT_rach will be one of the panel members
Tuesday 2nd of November 8-9pm #OTalk Research tweet chat hosted by @ot_withsherri_This month our research chat will explore research and the evidence base in relation to health inequalities
Wednesday 3 November 8-9pm The RCOT will be hosting an extra #OTalk special hosted by Karin Orman, RCOT Assistant Director – Professional Practice. The chat will help us to shine a light on the role occupational therapists can and do play in addressing health equity.
Thursday 4th Of November 8-9pm The OT Show will be hosting a further OTalk special ‘Health equality and sustainable development goals’ hosted by Adam Ferry @adamferry3 of The OT Service
Friday 5 November, 12noon-1pm – a new way to use twitter. RCOT are hosting a ‘Twitter Spaces’, a new way to have live audio conversations on Twitter – it’s like a radio call-in panel show, but on Twitter! – Join Chief Executive Steve Ford in Twitter Spaces to discuss #OTsForEquity. More information from RCOT hereWhat are Twitter Spaces find out more here
POST CHAT
Host: @OTalk_
Support on OTalk Account: @OT_rach
Evidence your CPD. If you joined in this chat you can download the below transcript as evidence for your CPD, but remember the HCPC are interested in what you have learnt. So why not complete one of our reflection logs to evidence your learning?
HCPC Standards for CPD.
Maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of their CPD activities.
Demonstrate that their CPD activities are a mixture of learning activities relevant to current or future practice.
Seek to ensure that their CPD has contributed to the quality of their practice and service delivery.
Seek to ensure that their CPD benefits the service user.
Upon request, present a written profile (which must be their own work and supported by evidence) explaining how they have met the Standards for CPD.
This October 25th 2021 #OTalkTurnsTen Can you believe it? We have a number of things lined up to celebrate, including a few surprises, and we require the OTalk community to help with three of them.
Share why you love #OTalk #OTalkTurnsTen
Bake #OTalk a birthday cake and share it #OTalkDoesBakeOff
Apply to become a member of either the #OTalk team or the #OTalk Research team #BecomeAnOTalkTeamMember
Share the Love #OTalkTurnsTen
Can you tell us what you like about #OTalk and why you engage? We would love the community to share this, in tweets, video clips, or even a blog post, feel free to share on any of our social media platforms, using the hashtag #OTalkTurnsTen from now until our Birthday on 25th October.
So start thinking and start sharing your memories and thoughts, here are a few suggestions to get you started.
What do you love about #OTalk?
How did you find out about #OTalk?
What is your most Memorable #OTalk chat?
What has #OTalk meant for your career?
Have you ever had a light bulb moment during #OTalk?
Have you ever hosted a chat? What was that experience like?
Have you met any of the #OTalk team in person? Share any pictures/videos.
Have you ever been put on the naughty step for forgetting to include the hashtag?
Did you come to one of our meetup events at a conference, what was it like?
Remember when sharing always include #OTalkTurnsTen By sharing you are giving @OTalk_ permission to use content*
Bake #OTalk a Birthday Cake #OTalkTurnsTen #OTalkDoesBakeOff
As the Great British Bake Off has returned, and has the cheek to air during our time slot, Tuesdays 8pm, we would love you to make @OTalk_ a birthday cake. We are looking forward to seeing how creative the OTalk community is at this meaningful occupation. The #OTalk team will be sharing their efforts too, trust us there will be some funny ones.
So get baking and don’t forget to share your images (no matter the outcome, it’s the processes that are important) on social media used the three hashtags #OTalkTurnsTen #GBBO #OTalkDoesBakeOff
By sharing you are giving @OTalk_ permission to use content*
Become an #OTalk or #OTalk Research Team member #OTalkTurnsTen #BecomeAnOTalkTeamMember
#OTalk is a free resource for the community and is run by volunteers. #OTalk aims to remain a free resource, and anything that team members might get involved in that has a cost attached is self funded by that member. It can be a demand on your free time, but it’s worth it, and it can be fun. Plus as a team we have always supported each other.
The #OTalk research team currently has only two members who work solely on identifying hosts and curating 12 research chats a year on the 1st Tuesday of the month. There is some admin involved including posting blog posts and communicating with hosts, plus supporting the monthly chat. You will not be required to do every month as this will be shared with other research team members. You will be given some mentoring to start with. If you’re interested in research and have some basic knowledge of Twitter and other platforms this might be a perfect voluntary role for you. It’s a great opportunity for you to develop your networks within the research community too.
The #OTalk team currently has 6 members, this team might be a little more demanding on your time. Jobs that the team shares include; .
Maininting the blog/website
Managing the email account
Managing and liaising with those that offer to host
Posting blog posts
Collecting data and transcripts of chats
Taking it in turns to support the weekly chats
Liaise with anyone contacting the team via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and email
Promoting #OTalk at events e.g. manning a stall and/or running workshops or giving presentations about #OTalk and social media as a CPD and Therapeutic tool, when invited to do so at OT events across the UK. This is self funded.
Working with stakeholders such as The RCOT and The OT show on projects.
So if you’re a fan of doing lots of work, just for the joy of it; think of yourself as an OTGeek; want to network more; and develop your organisational, social media and tech skills then you might just be a good fit. We will of course give guidance and support.
Lastly we have a few other surprises in store; including a 10th Birthday Gift for you, but more about that later! We can’t wait to see what you come up with!!!!
*By sharing posts using any of these hashtags #OTalkTurnsTen #GBBO #OTalkDoseBakeOff You are consenting to the OTalk team using what you have shared, to promote our birthday. We do not keep any personal information, but will search social media for your posts using the hashtags and share them across all of our platforms.
This week our very own @OT_rach will try her best to guild you thorough the British Prime minister announcement from Tuesday 7th September, that has been described as ‘A once in a generation’ shake-up of adult social care and how it is to be funded.
The cabinets have agreed upon a new plan to modernise the social care system, ensuring it is better integrated with healthcare, that will be financed through tax rises.
Photo credit Sky News – Social Care Graphic
The Guardian reported
‘In the short term, much of the money being raised will finance the NHS to catch up with elective surgery and other appointments delayed due to Covid. While the financing plan is UK-wide, the actual implementation of health and social care is run by each UK nation.
‘Next year, national insurance contributions for employees, employers and the self-employed will rise by 1.25%, then in April 2023, while the rises will stay the same, the tax rise will be rebranded as a health and social care levy, which will appear separately on people’s tax records.’
The Observer goes on to reports that Downing Street says the tax increase will raise an additional £12bn a year. A total of £36bn over three years of which the following has been allocated:
£16bn Direct NHS funding in England
£8.9bn for ‘health-based Covid response’ in Englan
£5.4bn for social care in England, of which £500,000 is for training £5.7bn for devolved nations, to support health and social care.
£5.7bn for devolved nations, to support health and social care.
Source: HM Government
Changes are also being made to the contributions people will pay towards social care, if and when they may need these services.
Currently in England if you have
Assets less than £23,250 – Care is completely funded by state.
Assists over 23,250 – care is self-funded with no cap.
Those above the state pension age who still work do not normally pay national insurance.
The changes from October 2023 will mean if you have
Assets less than £20,000 – Care is completely funded by state.
Assets £20,000 to £100,000 – Care is self-funded with a cap of total contributions at £86,000 or until you reach less than 20,000
As of 2023, those above state pension age will begin to pay the new rebranded ‘health and social care levy’.
This is where it gets a bit more complicated well for me at least. National insurance is a UK-wide system, it is reported that income from theses changes will be distributed across the four UK nations, and that by 2024-25.
Scotland, will benefit from an extra £1.1bn
Wales an extra £700m
Northern Ireland an extra £400m
Although those living in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales contributions towards their social care need may differ form those in explained above for England.
Lastly other than the prospect of a white paper to develop longer-term plans. The overhaul of social care and promise to bring health and social care systems together, has very little further detail.
“We’re pleased that the government is starting to look at the future for social care, but today’s announcement is thin on detail other than on the levy. There is also little on how the government proposes to break down the historic divisions between health and social care, beyond a short reference to the development of a future integration plan and vague mention of reform.
“Social care should be provided to all who need it and free at the point of use, to help address the inequalities COVID-19 has shone a light on in the sector. Whilst today’s announcement will provide relief to some, the announcement of £5.4bn over three years with no guarantees of sustainable funding beyond this is a big concern for the long-term future of care.
“Nor does it say the government will address the real issues in the social care workforce which are leading to chronic shortages all over the country. Occupational therapists as well as other allied health professions will have listened in vain to hear about how the government intends to tackle the issues they face on a daily basis.
“Whilst it is positive that in principle the government has committed at least £500m of funding for the development of the social care workforce, it is not nearly enough to fund this, mental health support, and also reform key aspects of the workforce. For social care staff it is offset by the extra levy that they and their employers will pay, which will take more resources out of the system.
“It is now the time to improve access, quality, and levels of social care and rehabilitation support, so that those who need it receive the care they need, when they need it. Those working in social care must have parity of esteem with the NHS workforce and be given proper development opportunities. We cannot wait until 2023 to start tackling these issues, we need to start now.”
So taking all this in to account and your own experiences of working in health and social care fields the chat will ask the following questions.
The Questions
What were your initial thoughts following this announcement?
Why should our profession concern itself with the details of this ‘once in a generation’ shake-up of adult social care?
Who do you think will befit most and least from the Prime Ministers announcement on social care?
How might these changes impact Occupational Therapy practice?
Are you happy with The RCOT response to this announcement?
Evidence your CPD. If you joined in this chat you can download the below transcript as evidence for your CPD, but remember the HCPC are interested in what you have learnt. So why not complete one of our reflection logs to evidence your learning?
This week #OTalk will be hosted by Steve Ford @SteveFord New CEO for The Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
I started as CEO for RCOT in April 2021. My first priority has been to get a deep understanding of the profession. So that was why I launched the #TalktoSteve campaign – I wanted to have 100 conversations with 100 Occupational Therapists in my first 100 days. I achieved that. Many more people wanted to speak to me and so I will continue until I’ve met with everyone!
And here’s a short summary of what I have heard.
Occupational therapy is a fantastic profession, you love what you do and can see the difference you make every day. You are optimistic about the future but fear that you’re missing opportunities. And at times you feel like the underdog, compared to other professions who are better understood, more confident, better supported and connected, and able to grasp opportunities.
The profession is changing, with new recruits being more confident and demanding and having a greater focus on personal and professional development. The new skills and ways of working that have come about over the last 18 months are driving the profession. The inclusion agenda is seen as vital, but we’ve been slow and reactive, especially when dealing with minority groups.
Our membership offer seems less relevant to students and junior staff. It’s not until you become more senior and get involved that you better understand and appreciate the whole offer. There is real appreciation of local staff and volunteers, but overall, we can be seen as slow, bureaucratic, and cautious.
Many of you would like to have broader involvement in both the profession and RCOT. And while there are many impressive local leaders, who are driving forward strategic change, this influential community doesn’t feel connected or support by RCOT.
Some of the campaigns that we’ve run have been meaningful and engaged members, but in general we are often in broadcast mode rather than engaging with members. The Specialist Sections and Regions have, especially through the pandemic, been an impetus for change, but the current structure isn’t working for everyone.
The importance of research and the need for stronger evidence base is recognised and the research strategy and top 10 priorities provide a good basis to move forward. But research is not always prominent in the mindset of occupational therapists, there are challenges to methodology and limited career opportunities for clinical research.
In the light of this feedback I have identified 4 possible strategic themes for the profession and RCOT and I’m eager to hear people’s views on whether these are the right ones for us to focus on together:
1 Movement
Build a social movement of proud and confident occupational therapists that show the world the power of what we do
We need to speak more powerfully and clearly. We need to strengthen our brand and campaigns. RCOT is wider membership sharing their collective experience and expertise. We want everyone to feel that they belong to and have a voice in this powerful movement
2 Excellence:
A real, practical offer to support every occupational therapist to be the best that they can be.
We want to make our membership offer relevant for every occupational therapist wherever they are in their career. This will include a refreshed approach to learning and development – using modern approaches to equip therapists with the skills that they need to make maximum impact
3. Evolve
Grasp the biggest opportunities for occupational therapy to evolve and maximise our impact in a changing world.
This is now the time for occupational therapy. We need to be on the front foot, clear about the opportunities and establishing our case assertively. We need to support our influential local leaders with the tools and resources that they need. And we need to be dynamic in sharing emerging best practice across all of our services,
4. Transform
Become a modern, high-performing, insight informed and values-led organisation.
If we are to deliver these three themes, RCOT needs to modernise and focus its resources where they will deliver biggest impact. We need better data and insight to help us work effectively and we need to live out values that meet the expectation and needs of our members.
5 Questions
How do you feel about these themes? What is missing? What needs to be dialed up?
Do you feel part of a movement? What could make this a reality?
How could RCOT help you to be the best possible occupational therapist?
What do you think are the biggest opportunities for occupational therapy over the next ten years? How do we grasp them?
What would make you proud of your professional body? What values are important to you?
Post Chat
Host: @SteveFord CEO for The RCOT Support on OTalk Account: @Kirstie_OT
Evidence your CPD. If you joined in the chat you can download the below as evidence for your CPD, but remember the HCPC are interested in what you have learnt. So why not complete one of our reflection logs to evidence your learning?
OTalk 