We're putting prevention and early intervention in the spotlight for OT Week 2025

This year’s Occupational Therapy (OT) Week – 3–9 November – will start a year-long campaign aiming to shift the focus from crisis-driven care to prevention-focused approaches. The campaign from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) – called Right Support, Right Time: Unlocking the Power of OT – will put occupational therapy at the heart of this shift, supporting people earlier, easing pressure across services and improving outcomes.   

The new campaign will show that occupational therapy is a proactive solution to today’s health and care challenges. It calls for a shift toward prevention-focused support by embedding occupational therapy earlier in places where people live, work and seek support. The campaign calls for occupational therapy to be central to the future of health, education and social care, supporting UK-wide plans to shift care into communities and take a more preventative approach. It will also highlight the role of occupational therapy in promoting sustainability, reducing inequalities and improving outcomes by delivering the right support at the right time. 

Occupational therapists around the UK are planning events and meetings to talk to their co-workers, service commissioners, politicians and the people accessing their services about the life-changing power of occupational therapy. They’ll show how it supports people to avoid crises and achieve their potential when they can access support as soon as possible. 

Dr Radha Modgil, an NHS GP, broadcaster and columnist who has worked with occupational therapists, is supporting the campaign. She says: 

As a GP, I know the impact that occupational therapists have on patients, not just physically but also on their mental health, their confidence and their emotional wellbeing. I've seen how, when OTs can provide support to people early, they can prevent their conditions from getting worse, support recovery and enable individuals to be able to do the things they want to do. Occupational therapists are pragmatic, practical and efficient. They talk to people about what they need; they talk to the family about what's helpful or what's important, and they follow up as well. I want to raise awareness about what occupational therapists do, why they're needed, and why they're so important to support us in our health and wellbeing.'  

Occupational therapy plays a vital role in health, social care and society. It enables people to have fulfilling lives at home, at work, at school and everywhere else, through meaningful occupations – any activity that supports physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Occupational therapists consider all aspects of an individual and their environments and work with them to create a plan to reach their goals.     

Karin Orman, Director of Practice and Innovation at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, says: 

Occupational therapists are uniquely placed to support people to carry out the activities – or occupations – they want and need to do, but too often they’re brought in too late, when people can’t cope or are in crisis. We’re calling for a fundamental shift in how and when people access occupational therapy. By embedding occupational therapy earlier in community settings, we can help people stay well, reduce pressure on services and build a more sustainable, preventative health and care system. This campaign is about unlocking the full potential of occupational therapy for individuals, communities and the systems that support them.’ 

Occupational therapy is often misunderstood and undervalued, even among other health and social care professionals. Anyone working within health and social care, employment, or children’s education is encouraged to get involved with the Right Support, Right Time campaign and learn more about occupational therapy and the difference occupational therapists make through early intervention and preventative care. They can speak to their occupational therapist colleagues about what they do and ask them questions about the role occupational therapy plays within prevention and early intervention.