How we developed our strategy

Our strategy has been informed by the occupational therapy workforce across the UK, including our members, staff and stakeholders such as the Executive Director of World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), Chief Allied Health Professions Officers/Adviser, AHP national and regional leads and representatives from government departments with responsibility for workforce. 

The findings were drawn from a series of 10 workforce summits, an education summit and a workforce survey. We also held a roundtable with stakeholders in each nation, and used our RCOT Boards, working groups and forums to develop our vision and scope.  

We also referred to the WFOT HR Strategy, policies and delivery plans in each country. 

Scope of the strategy: 

The themes that are in scope of our strategy include: 

• real-world and academic examples of workforce models and impact metrics that have led to improved outcomes (ref IHI Triple aim) 
• how to use and contribute to data and intelligence about the occupational therapy workforce 
• recommendations of ways to grow, reform and retain the occupational therapy workforce at all levels of practice 
• the importance and value of occupational therapy leadership in workforce transformation to meet people’s needs. 

The themes that are out of scope are: 

• the promotion of occupational therapy as a career, attracting people into the profession to build the workforce. Instead, we will do this through our marketing activities 
• the collection of data and intelligence about the occupational therapy workforce. Instead, we will do this through data sharing agreements with key partners and stakeholders including NHS England, NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, Health and Social Care Northern Ireland, Health Education and Improvement Wales, Skills for Care, Health and Care Professions Council and our pre-registration occupational therapy education providers 
• the setting of continual professional development standards across career pathways for the occupational therapy workforce 
• the working terms and conditions of the occupational therapy workforce. We will do this through our partnership with UNISON.