Join us and discover what delivering great healthcare should feel like

Join our Council and be a leader in the OT community

RCOT
15 February 2024

Are you interested in getting involved with the governing of BAOT and RCOT, or know someone who'd be great at it? Our Council has seven positions open for nominations – Chair, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Industrial Relations, Learning and Development and International Affairs (WFOT). Being a member of Council is demanding but rewarding:

I’ve really valued my time as a Council Member it’s given me many new opportunities and it’s great to be involved in decision making at the top level of our profession. You never realise the range of activities and tasks involved in running a professional body and to be able to contribute to these and make a difference for members is a privilege, as well as being a fantastic CPD opportunity.

– Kalimah Ibrahiim, Council member, England.

An intellectually stimulating volunteer role

Being a Council member gives you the opportunity to learn about business management and professional body administration, where you’ll:

  • debate issues and help make decisions that influence our organisation and profession
  • hold the management team to account for their proposed actions
  • become a leader in the occupational therapy community and be vital in the governing of BAOT and RCOT.

Nominations are open from Thursday 15 February–Tuesday 16 April.

Contact governance@rcot.co.uk for the application/nomination pack and additional information about the nomination process.

Who are we looking for?

  • Chair of Council: an inspiring and confident leader who’ll manage our organisation, chair Council meetings and ensure the Council function effectively. You must have a professional member for at least five years.
  • Council member, Northern Ireland: a member working or living in Northern Ireland who wants to be a key part of our organisational governance and champion occupational therapy.
  • Council Member, Scotland: a member working or living in Scotland who wants to be a key part of our organisational governance and champion occupational therapy.
  • Council member, England: a member working or living in England who wants to be a key part of our organisational governance and champion occupational therapy.
  • Council member, Industrial Relations: a member and a BAOT steward who shall become a member of the BAOT/UNISON Occupational Therapy Panel.
  • Council member, Learning and Development: a member working within a higher education establishment providing occupational therapy programmes accredited by RCOT.
  • Council member, International Affairs (WFOT): a member with individual WFOT membership who’ll become the representative of BAOT and RCOT on WFOT.

Who can become a member of BAOT/RCOT Council?

We value the diversity of our membership, and we strongly encourage all sections of our community to apply, especially those from under-represented groups. And we welcome broad perspectives, skills and experiences.

  • Nominees must be BAOT/RCOT professional members.
  • Nominees for Chair need to have been a member for five years or more.
  • Get the support of your manager. Holding these posts requires time away from work which they need to be aware of.
  • Current holders of these Council positions are able to stand for re-election should they wish to.

What is a Council member?

  • RCOT is a registered charity and wholly owned subsidiary of BAOT, which acts on behalf of all members of BAOT.
  • A Council member of both BAOT and RCOT.
  • A director of both BAOT and RCOT (registered at Companies House).
  • As RCOT is a charity, you’ll also become a trustee of RCOT.

What’ll you do as a Council member?

  • Attend four one-day Council meetings a year, primarily held in London, as well as a development/strategy day and any extraordinary Council meetings as necessary.
  • Attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Annual Conference.
  • Be formally responsible for the governance of the organisation, including financial matters, managing identified risks and agreeing and monitoring the organisation’s strategic plan.
  • Be ready to consider issues you might not have experience of, thinking beyond your own role and personal views.
  • Ensure corporate governance and act as a leader of the profession.
  • Be ready to consider issues you might not have experience of, thinking beyond your own role and personal views.
  • Contribute to discussions and decisions extending beyond your own area of practice and experience to safeguard the organisation and its members.
  • Be responsible for controlling the management and administration of the charity and abide by the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006.
  • Read and consider a large number of documents before each Council meeting. You’ll also receive emails which may ask you to supply specific information by a deadline.

How to nominate someone

  • Contact governance@rcot.co.uk for the application/nomination pack and additional information about the nomination process.
  • Nominators and seconders must be members of BAOT/RCOT.
  • Send your nominations in either a hard or electronic copy.
  • We’ll accept nominations until 12pm (midday) on Tuesday 16 April 2024.

How is someone elected?

Election will be by a ballot of BAOT members. The independent scrutineer for the ballot, appointed in accordance with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, will be Civica Election Services. Election results will be announced at the AGM on Thursday 27 June 2024.

How can you find out more?

  • Attend a webinar (4–5pm, Wednesday 3 April) with Steve Ford, CEO, and Odeth Richardson, Chair. This will be a relaxed conversation with potential candidates about the role of Council and Council members – to attend you can contant governance@rcot.co.uk to request a link to the online meeting.
  • If you’d like a confidential informal discussion with Steve Ford or Odeth Richardson, contact governance@rcot.co.uk

What happens after I send a nomination?

If we receive only one nomination for a vacancy, this person will be considered elected. If we receive more than one nomination, the BAOT/RCOT Council will hold an electronic ballot to elect the next member. The results of the ballot will be announced at the AGM on Thursday 27 June 2024 when new Council members start their term of office and in June OTnews.