Join us and discover what delivering great healthcare should feel like

Data and Innovation Strategy 2021-23

Our RCOT Data and Innovation Strategy 2021-2023 vision is that:  

Every occupational therapist is confident in engaging in a range of activities where data is used, collected and shared for the purpose of improving health outcomes at the individual, service, and population level.

Data literacy learning and development needs - survey findings

In January 2022, we conducted a survey that sought to better understand the data literacy learning and development needs of occupational therapists. We hoped the survey results would help us understand if confidence to collect and use data had any relationship to job role, context of practice and length of practice experience.  

Here's the presentation of the survey findings:

Download the infographic of the survey findings which helps guide occupational therapists to the priority goals for improving the data literacy skills of the profession.  

When considering if a goal is relevant to your role and practice, it could be helpful to view  

Recommendation 1 as all occupational therapists

Recommendation 2 as some occupational therapists

Recommendation 3 as a few occupational therapists

We will lead on bringing together user stories, service examples and leadership journeys which demonstrate how information has been turned into meaningful insight for people who access services, occupational therapists and the wider health and care sector

Recommendation 1: Improve the structure and quality of occupational therapy data recorded in electronic health and care records

The use of electronic record keeping systems and the increased use of digital tools in practice provides us with an opportunity to turn information into meaningful insight.  

As a profession, we need to learn about the benefits and limitations of a range of several types of data (structured, unstructured, semi structured, and multi-faceted) and make informed decisions about when to use them.  

In 2023, we will be reviewing the RCOT Keeping Records Guidance for Occupational Therapists (4th Edition) and will be looking to update the resource to reflect advances in electronic documentation practices.  

Further Resources

Recommendation 2: Become interoperability ready

Our survey identified that occupational therapists need access to multiple electronic record keeping systems to obtain a person’s whole health and care journey.

There is a national steer to improve access to a single source of health and care information e.g., in England (Shared care records) and in Northern Ireland (Encompass project).  

Bodies such as The Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) can help us to improve the structure and quality of our records to better support information sharing. 

Recommendation 3: Develop Data Leadership

Digital and data knowledge and skills is integral to modern practice. A competency based framework has already been developed and is a good starting point for mapping occupational therapy relevant professional development resources.

Over the next year, we are looking to build on this framework through developing a range of occupational therapy leadership stories. The stories will aid understanding of how different digital and data are skills are used at different points in an occupational therapists' career, drawing out the nuances between generalist vs specialist skills.

Organisations and networks that develop data and innovation leadership skills  

Faculty of Clinical Informatics

 - The CCIO handbook  

The Health Foundation  

Q Community and the Social Care Analytics Network  

The NHS England for Scotland's Digital Health and Care Leadership Programme  

The Shuri Network 

Data and innovation case studies

These interviews and case studies provide occupational therapists with an easy way of learning how others are using digital tools and data to transform health and care provision. To hear more about why these were developed, read this OTnews article.

Building a business case for period pants as a practical, manageable, and sustainable alternative to other sanitary products

Innovator: Jacqueline Gordon

Developing project management skills in procurement and delivery of technology-enabled care (TEC) in Adult Social Care (ASC)

Innovators: Claire Collett/Jaime Guercio

Bringing digital and data skills into the profession: A perspective from an early career occupational therapist

Innovator: Anya de Iongh

Get involved by sharing your insights with RCOT

We would be interested to connect with occupational therapists who have some experience of  

  • Developing user stories for the procurement and improvement of record keeping systems and/or other digital tools that enable better access to occupational therapy information and/or occupational therapy services   
  • Structuring occupational therapy information in health and care records for the purposes of information sharing and/or capturing the impact of occupational therapy.  
  • Fostered a culture of data driven innovation within your team or organisation
  • Developing staff and data leadership opportunities in your service/organisation.  
  • Working with data expertise e.g., analysts, academic and industry
  • Working with others to develop dashboards that provide occupational therapists with meaningful information.  
  • Identifying professional development resources appropriate to advancing occupational therapy data literacy. 

Share your story and experience

Share now

Past survey recordings

Faculty of Clinical Informatics Webinar- RCOT Data Literacy Learning and Development needs of Occupational Therapists.
This webinar shares the initial survey findings of the RCOT Data Literacy Learning and Development needs of Occupational Therapists. Two themes are explored from the survey findings 
  1. The functionality of electronic systems to support occupational therapy process 
  2. Meaningful outcomes in social care
RCOT Sessions - Improving Our Data Practice events
Held on 3 February and 8 February 2022, these events were an opportunity for our members to have their say on the priority activities for implementing the Data and Innovation Strategy in 2022.
For further information please contact Suzy.England@rcot.co.uk
The presentation and question and answer sessions are available as two videos below.