RCOT Specialist Section - Older People
We are a dedicated Specialist Section of occupational therapy staff that is passionate about older peoples’ independence, well-being and choice.
We provide professional and clinical information on all aspects of occupational therapy practice related to older people.
All our forums are run by volunteer NEC members of Specialist Section for Older People (SSOP) in their own time. Many are co-leads and hold down busy clinical or educational jobs too. Like our members, we work in a wide range of clinical or educational settings.
All members have a part to play in making the SSOP a dynamic and evolving network of passionate occupational therapists. Everyone can play a role in sharing and driving forward good practice. We know you all do this, and so want to hear from you, and the part you will play in working for Older People.
October 2021 is HCPC re-registration time and being a member of the specialist section will help provide you with a range of activities you can use for reflection and inclusion. But isn’t it better to be in there, helping shape what's happening? See our current vacancies, and you could also be one of our NEC members.
This specialist section provides professional and clinical information on all aspects of occupational therapy practice that relates to older people. As part of our registration with HCPC we have a responsibility to stay current within professional practice, policy and legislation developments and other issues current at that time that affects how we work.
Our members come from all four corners of the United Kingdom, with the variations of clinical practice within health, education and social care that it entails. This is reflected within our NEC whose experiences reflect this and is something we look for when we have vacancies.
Many of our members have joined several forums within SSOP, and taken advantage of the range of webinars, study day events and ad hoc opportunities that come into the SSOP and are shared in our monthly newsletter. This demonstrates the diversity of the work that we cover as occupational therapists across the multitude of settings we work in.
Become a member
Don’t be shy, we are a friendly collective of professionals, with similar aims, looking for similar opportunities to grow and develop – so come and join us. Our membership is open to any RCOT member, interested in furthering their knowledge of older people.
Benefits of being a member
- Networking online and in person with other occupational therapist that share your passion, this allows you to join in with what we are involved with regardless of where your location is. Don’t be geographically isolated
- Share ideas and best practice through our specialist clinical forums in: Acute and Emergency Care; Care Homes Network; Dementia and Older Peoples Mental Health; Falls; Intermediate Care and Reablement; and Research.
- Join the NEC when a vacancy occurs.
- Monthly newsletters updating you as to what is happening with other members and within the world of occupational therapy, and older people.
- Monthly webinars on a range of topics run by each of the forums aiming to cover current and contemporary issues within older people’s occupational therapy.
- Annual study events dedicated to occupational therapists working with older people.
- CPD opportunities as a member of our specialist section, if you engage and reflect on your engagements with:
- Writing something for the newsletter
- Hosting or co-hosting a webinar
- Participating in the e-journal club
- Reviewing a book or article
- Engaging in discussion with other members
- Sharing your achievements from your clinical work with other members
- Attending a conference/study day and sharing with other members.
- Opportunities as a member to apply for SSOP research and development grants.
- Opportunities to comment/advise on national issues including relevant guidance, policy and legislation as they arise.
- Opportunities to contribute to the development of practice guidelines and guidance for occupational therapists.
All these can provide excellent CPD opportunities and evidence for your portfolio. We are currently in the process of designing a certificate of participation for those who share their work with other members, with the reverse side having space for you to include your reflection to meet HCPC and RCOT expectations.
Join us
Annual membership fees:
- RCOT Professional Membership - £35
- RCOT Self Employed Membership - £35
- RCOT Overseas Membership - £15
- RCOT Student Membership - £5
- RCOT Associate Membership - £15
- RCOT Retired Membership - £15
Become a Specialist Section member by joining online.
You will need to log into your website account and select ‘My Specialist Sections’ to join.
From 19 November 2021, all members will need to register for a new website account. Register now then log in and select ‘My Specialist Sections’.
Find out more about registering for your new website account. If you have any queries with registering for an account, please email digital.team@rcot.co.uk.