1. Introduction to:
British Association and College of
Occupational Therapists
Facilitated by:
Louise Cusack, Specialist Section Manager
Beriah Nelson, Senior Membership Development
Officer

2. The purpose of this
slideshow
• Introduce the structure and role of the organisation
• To provide information for members and direct you
to resources
• Support members who volunteer within the
organisation
• Increase your knowledge and understanding of your
professional association
• Provide a valuable CPD resource

3. The British Association of Occupational Therapists
• Professional Body and Trade Union for occupational
therapy staff in the UK
• The Council of BAOT is made up of members of the
BAOT and takes decisions about the management,
direction and functioning of the organisation

4. The College of
Occupational Therapists
•A registered educational charity (Trustees)
•Is a subsidiary of the BAOT
•Staff/Officers are employed to provide the membership benefits
you receive
•The Council of BAOT/COT takes decisions about the management,
direction and functioning of the organisation
•As members of BAOT you can influence the work of carried out by
staff at COT

5. Why be a member of a professional body?
A Membership Run by Members for
Organisation Members A ‘Governing’
Providing Body
Services for
Members Setting
(Professional Educational
Indemnity, Requirements
Badges, for Entry
Journals)
Setting
Standards for
Trade Union Practice
Services Political Lobbying
Promoting Occupational Therapy and the Profession

6. How are decisions
made within BAOT?
• Council–20 members who are Directors of
BAOT and Trustees of COT
• Boards (Country and Functional)
• Sub committees
• Projects groups
• Time limited working groups
• Policy working groups
• Commissioned work

7. Education and
Learning
Careers
Finance/Human Students
Membership and External
Resources Pre and post Affairs
Finance qualifying BJOT
Facilities HEI OTNews
Membership Website
Administration Union services
IT and HR Membership services
COT
Marketing
Communication
Structure Research and
Development
Publications
Library
Marketing literature
UKOT Research
Branding Foundation
Events Awards
Professional
Practice
Practice Enquiry line
Chief Publications
Executive and Specialist Sections
Secretariat
UK Policy
Council support
Consultancy Service
Company Secretariat

8. How you formally influence the
organisation

9. How informally influence the
organisation
• An article for OTnews/British Journal of Occupational Therapy
• Twitter/ Facebook/LinkedIn
• Write for Specialist Sections newsletter
• Assist with a study day/support an event
• Write for publication- Practice Publications Group
• Participate in audit/surveys/research
• Become a reviewer/expert for the COT Consultancy Service
• Participate in UK national guideline development
• Take an active part in a Specialist Sections and/or a BAOT local
groups
• Promote OT
• Comment, feedback, email, write letters, join in discussion forums
and web articles, many more………

10. Specialist Sections are groups
of Occupational Therapists
and support staff with a
common practice interest.
They are known as a
Specialist Section, a Branch of
the College of Occupational
Therapists.

12. 12

13. 13

14. Scottish
Scottish Northern
Western and
Eastern
4 countries
Northern
Northern
and
12 BAOT regions
Ireland
Yorkshire 100 BAOT local
groups
North West Trent
West Midlands Eastern
Wales London
South East
South West

15. Resources available to you
for your CPD
• COT website – www.cot.org.uk
• ILOD - Interactive Learning Opportunities Database
• Career History (CV) and Current Job Description
• Personal Development Plan (PDP) and most current
Performance Appraisal
• Reflection Logs
• Post Qualifying Framework
• Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice
• Sample Achievements of Learning (e.g. research paper,
improved client outcomes in practice, design of new
rehabilitation programme)
• Other (e.g. course certificates; letters from users,
carers, colleagues, etc)

16. Practical Resources
• Professional enquiries line 0207450 2330,
• OTnews, British Journal of Occupational Therapy
• COT facilities: (for BA/COT groups only) room booking
• Library and Information Service: current awareness
bulletins, archiving journals, providing knowledge to
inform your practice
• Web team: website construction, updates, changes,
expert advice
• Financial support: research grants
• Support for committee and project work: funding for local
group events

19. Questions?
• Phone, email, write to us
• http://www.cot.org.uk/committee-resources/committee-
resources for more information and resources

20. Feedback
Louise Cusack louise.cusack@cot.co.uk
or Beriah Nelson beriah.nelson@cot.co.uk