Small Change, Big Impact story wall: Help and FAQs

Go to the story wall and click ‘Submit my story’. Complete the form, answer the three questions and upload your headshot photo (if you wish to share one). Make sure you read the consent request at the end. Then click ‘Submit’.

Each submitted story will be reviewed before it appears on the story wall, so there will be a short delay between submitting your story and it appearing on the wall. You will receive an email to let know when your story has been added to the wall.

A headshot photo of you (head and shoulders only).

Unfortunately we cannot accept any photos that include other people, or are not of you (for example, a photo of nature or an object).

Think of examples in your own practice when you made small changes that had a big impact on the people you work with. Answer these three quick questions – keep your answers short and be specific about the impact of the change.

1. What was the challenge?
2. What was the change?
3. What was the impact?

Please don’t use a service user’s real name – you can change their name to protect their identity.

Due to the Data Protection Act 2018, it is important that we protect the identities of the people who use our services. Therefore, when you submit your story, you must either change their name/s or use a generic term, for example, ‘the person’. Please do not provide any details that could enable the person or people to be identified.

• Think of a small change and the impact it had.
• Use an example of best practice, success against the odds or addressing local challenges.
• Keep your answers short and simple.
• Be specific about the change and impact – only include the necessary details.
• Include an emotional tie in the impact – not just the practical, but what it meant to the person’s/people’s quality of life.
• Make it human – use a first name. Please change your service user’s name to protect their identity.

• Don’t include any information that could easily identify someone.
• Don’t use a service user’s real name – change their name to protect their identity.
• Don’t use real names or organisation names (make sure your service users and employer can’t be identified).
• Don’t name specific rare or uncommon conditions.
  • Use ‘rare condition’ or ‘long-term condition’ instead
• Avoid abbreviations and acronyms, for example, use:
  • Occupational therapists instead of OT
  • Emergency department instead of ED
  • Specialist Section – Independent Practice instead of SS-IP

Only RCOT members can submit stories.

Yes. You can share more than one story on the story wall. We would like to showcase as many stories as possible, so we encourage members with more than one example to submit multiple stories.

Each submitted story will be reviewed before it appears on the story wall, so there will be a delay between submitting your story and it appearing on the wall. We will aim to review all entries within 24-48 hours.

We’re checking to make sure that entries are from members only and that content is appropriate; for example, does not include any recognisable personal information. If there are any queries on the entry, RCOT will get in touch with the member.

You'll receive an email to let you know when your entry has been submitted, and also when the story has been published on the story wall.

This is likely to be for one of two reasons: either it’s waiting to be reviewed, or it’s been reviewed and there is an issue. If there is an issue, the RCOT team will be in touch to try to resolve the issue. If you haven’t heard from RCOT within 24 hours, please email marketing@rcot.co.uk.

During Occupational Therapy Week 2019, some stories were chosen as ‘star stories’ and highlighted on the wall in gold with a star.  

As the Small Change, Big Impact campaign continues, we will choose a star story of the month which will be highlighted on the wall in gold with a star and shared on social media and in OTnews.

How can I get my story highlighted as a ‘star story’?

All submitted stories will be reviewed as potential star stories of the month. Members of the RCOT Practice team will help select the star stories using agreed criteria.

All submitted stories will be reviewed as potential star stories of the month. Members of the RCOT Practice team will help select the star stories using agreed criteria.