RCOT communities resources

In this section you will find the new brand guidelines and language style guide, standard word document and PowerPoint templates with a guide on how to use these templates as well as virtual meeting backgrounds.

These virtual backgrounds can all be used on Zoom and Teams, but the backgrounds with the logo work on Zoom only.

RCOT is committed to embedding sustainability into our business activities. Where appropriate we are adopting a reduce, reuse, and recycle approach for organisational operations.

To support our communities, we have tote bags, notebooks and pens available. As we have limited quantities available, we ask for your consideration when placing requests.

If you’d like to place a request or have any questions, contact communities@rcot.co.uk.
 

Documents below provide finance guidance for Communities members.

Online Surveys is to be used by all members of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) including staff and its branches (Regional Groups and Specialist Sections) to conduct all knowledge gathering online surveys with members. Please read the guidance on the process for accessing the RCOT user account for Online Surveys:

If your RCOT regional group or Specialist Section is considering undertaking a knowledge-gathering activity the following information is essential reading.

The RCOT project ethics and governance policy is in place to:

• ·ensure the ethical integrity, and adherence to data protection requirements of knowledge gathering activities involving RCOT members or other stakeholders.
• ensure activities carried out have a sound methodology so that collated data and any decisions made are based on high quality information.
• help prevent groups of members from being over-consulted and avoid replication of activities.
• provide a level of protection for RCOT staff and members in terms of potential risks to individuals or the organisation.

The following types of activities will require RCOT project approval prior to the start of any activity/project:

Category A includes:

• Service evaluation or service development activities (including member surveys, focus groups, interviews).
• Audit activities.
• RCOT consultation (depending on the aim, level and method of consultation needed and who needs to be consulted).
• Commissioned projects/consultation.

Please complete a Category A form (below) and email the completed form to the RCOT R&D Administrator, Kinza Ahmad kinza.ahmad@rcot.co.uk.

This type of activity is reviewed, and approved by the R&D Manager; a response is normally received within 10 days of receipt of the form and supporting information.

Category B includes:

Research activity that aims to generate transferable and generalisable new knowledge by addressing clearly defined research questions using systematic and rigorous methods. This may be primary or secondary research.

Please complete a Category B form (below) and email the completed form to the RCOT R&D Administrator, Kinza Ahmad kinza.ahmad@rcot.co.uk.

This type of activity will require review by an RCOT research ethics panel, unless approval will be sought via another research ethics committee or panel. An RCOT panel review will normally be returned within 3 weeks of submitting the application.

Where ethical approval has not been obtained for research via any other Ethics Review and Approval Process (e.g. a Higher Education Institute, or the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) for the permissions and approvals for health and social care/community care research), please contact the R&D Manager, Dr Gillian Ward gillian.ward@rcot.co.uk to discuss the nature of the research and the level of risk, to determine the exact review process.

This document is intended to provide guidance to RCOT community NEC members who have responsibility for handing requests to access their membership for participation in research/ knowledge gathering projects.

A research guide with practical tips on the process of establishing an e-journal club for Specialist Section members is coming soon.