Press and media information

What we can help you with

As a member of the media, here you can find:

how to contact us
our spokespeople from across the UK
areas we can comment on
case studies we can help facilitate
information about our latest news and social media.

How to contact us:

For all queries about press and media please contact:

Who we are

We are the professional body for occupational therapy, representing over 36,000 members across the UK. We’re here to help achieve life-changing breakthroughs for our members, for the people they support and for society as a whole.

What do occupational therapists do?

Occupational therapists see beyond diagnoses and limitations to hopes and aspirations. They look at relationships between the activities you do every day – your occupations – alongside your illness or disability and your environment to recommend adjustments. These are practical, realistic and personal to you, to help you achieve the breakthroughs you need to elevate your everyday life.

First-person stories

We can help facilitate first-person stories of occupational therapists throughout the UK, as well as the people accessing their services.

Spokespeople

We have spokespeople across the UK who can provide background information and on-the-record comment for stories relating to occupational therapy, as well as wider health and social care matters and policy.

Who do we have?

Karin Orman - Director of Practice and Innovation

Karin leads the Practice and Innovation team and is responsible for ensuring that RCOT and the profession have a strong voice and presence nationally as well as working with members and external stakeholder to ensure occupational therapy is a resilient and sustainable workforce.

Topics: workforce; health equity (equality in healthcare); older people; sustainability in healthcare

Follow @RCOT_Karin

Lauren Walker - Professional Advisor

Topics: COVID-19 and Long Covid; rehabilitation; housing; public health

Follow @RCOT_Lauren

Genevieve Smyth - Professional Advisor

Topics: mental health; primary care; occupational therapists in GP clinics

Follow Gen @RCOT-Gen

Dr Sally Payne - Professional Advisor

Topics: children, young people, and families; occupational therapy in schools; Dyspraxia; mental health in children and adults

Follow Sally @RCOT_Sally

Joe Brunwin – Head of Policy and Practice

Joe is Head of Policy and Practice, working to shape and influence policy discussions that impact occupational therapy. He engages with policymakers, stakeholders, and decision-makers to ensure RCOT has a strong voice in legislative and policy developments.

Topics: UK health and social care policy; workforce and professional issues; public affairs strategy; political engagement; policy impact on occupational therapy.

Katie MacGregor – Policy and Public Affairs Lead, Scotland

Katie leads on our policy and public affairs activities in Scotland. She is responsible for ensuring that RCOT and the profession are represented strategically at national level. This work is aimed at politicians, primarily at Holyrood, and at employers of an occupational therapy workforce across health, social care, education and research. By aligning policy with practice, Katie’s work helps the occupational therapy workforce deliver a contemporary service to the populations we serve in Scotland.

Topics: Health and social care policy in Scotland; primary care in Scotland; NHS and local authority workforce in Scotland.

Cliona McSherry – Policy and Public Affairs Lead, Northern Ireland

Cliona’s main focus is working with our members and stakeholders to ensure the occupational therapy workforce in Northern Ireland has everything it needs to thrive and continue to transform lives.

Topics: Health and social care transformation in Northern Ireland.

Paul Smith – Policy and Public Affairs Lead, Wales

Paul is responsible for the RCOT's policy and public affairs activities in Wales, engaging with Occupational Therapists across the country and telling their stories to key stakeholders including Welsh Ministers, MSs and local authorities to enact change. With over 10 years’ experience in Welsh politics, including in the Senedd as the Chief of the Staff to the Official Opposition, Paul works closely with policymakers to provide a strong voice for OTs.

Topics: Health and social care in Wales; Welsh NHS; political impact on occupational therapy; devolution; and Senedd legislation.

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