Overview

RCOT accreditation: benefits for education providers

RCOT’s accreditation process ensures that UK occupational therapy pre-registration programmes:

• meet the education standards set by the profession;
• meet the education standards set by the international community;
• are responsive to current and predicted local, national and global issues which may affect the profession;
• produce graduates who are fit for academic award, practice, purpose and the profession;
• produce graduates who hold a qualification recognised in any WFOT member country.

The ongoing quality monitoring offered to RCOT accredited pre-registration programmes ensures there is a formal process for ensuring quality in the delivery of education and that pre-registration programmes continue to meet the defined learning and development standards.

Inclusion of the education provider and pre-registration programme details in:

• the RCOT #ChooseOT careers website
• all RCOT national recruitment initiatives and activities that encourage and promote prospective learners to apply for accredited pre-registration programmes;
• the careers enquiry service; which is RCOT’s professional guidance service offered to prospective learners enquiring about occupational therapy careers;
• the WFOT online directory of internationally recognised pre-registration programmes.

Opportunity to be included in the compiled annual monitoring report (AMR), used to benchmark individual pre-registration programmes and provide a national picture of occupational therapy education in the UK.

Advice and guidance for newly-appointed Programme Leads – Operational Level on suitably experienced educators^? who are available as mentors.

Access to an annually-updated external examiners register, which holds the details and areas of expertise of relevant qualified occupational therapist RCOT members who are willing to serve as external examiners for occupational therapy pre-registration programmes.

Access to CPD, study days, training and networking opportunities for the pre-registration programme team^? including those related to:

• an induction and overview of the work of RCOT, the resources available to members and the expectations of RCOT Accreditation;
• practice-based learning^?;
• research;
• apprenticeship pre-registration programmes^?.

Membership of the Council of Occupational Therapy Education Directors (COTED) and associated subgroups.

Opportunity for RCOT’s experienced staff to support the pre-registration programme team in their influencing activities. This may include the provision of mediation services, tailored to the individual education provider’s needs, such as influencing senior management to expand resources and support provided to the pre-registration programme. RCOT covers the travel and subsistence costs of RCOT representatives invited to participate in events. Where RCOT staff are not available, details of experienced senior educators who may be able to offer support will be provided.

Induction of learner cohorts to the profession and RCOT student membership package including:

• an overview of the RCOT services and benefits tailored to learners;
• advice and support to education providers and learners on registering and activating their RCOT student membership.

Copies of core RCOT publications sent directly to education provider’s subject librarians for inclusion in library. Copy of all newly-produced RCOT policy and guidance documents sent to the Professional Lead – Strategic Level^? overseeing the pre-registration programmes.

Opportunity for the education provider’s subject librarian(s) to attend RCOT study days hosted by RCOT’s Library and Information Service Team.

Access to unique RCOT resources which support educators and practice educators^? involved in the provision of practice-based learning across all settings.

The opportunity to actively participate in the review, evaluation and reflection of RCOT’s Learning and development standards for pre-registration education, and accompanying processes.

The opportunity to bid for a visit by RCOT’s Patron, HRH The Princess Royal. RCOT’s Communications and Marketing Department is responsible for co-ordinating and overseeing all royal visits undertaken by The Princess Royal as our Patron, and provides support and advice to ensure that all events are successful and meets royal protocol and HRH’s requirements.

RCOT accreditation: benefits for learners^?

Learners enrolled in accredited pre-registration programmes are eligible to apply for RCOT student membership, which has the following benefits:

• professional indemnity insurance;
• union membership with UNISON: ;
• access to the British Journal of Occupational Therapy (BJOT);
• access to Occupational Therapy News (OTnews);
• hard copy of RCOT’s Professional standards for occupation therapy practice, conduct and ethics;
• full access to the RCOT website, including member-only content;
• access to practice resources;
• access to research resources;
• access to RCOT’s library resources, including international journals;
• voting rights for RCOT Council representatives;
• discounted rates for some events, study days, conferences and publications;
• dedicated support from RCOT staff working on behalf of learners;
• optional membership of RCOT specialist sections and WFOT;
• opportunities to engage with RCOT regional or local groups, RCOT Boards, committees and working groups;
• free attendance at RCOT’s Conference for two learners from every RCOT Accredited education provider.

RCOT Accreditation ensures graduates of pre-registration programmes are fit for the occupational therapy profession.

RCOT Accreditation ensures graduates of pre-registration programmes are qualified to work internationally, as their qualification will be recognised in any WFOT member country.