Consultant OTs

The resources on this page are to help managers and senior OTs develop and aspire to consultant status

A consultant occupational therapist is a senior clinical and leadership role. This is a pivotal role for enabling the profession to retain clinical excellence within the career structure and provides opportunities for experts in occupational therapy practice to be retained in senior clinical leadership roles.

A new way of measuring the limb tremor which affects people with Multiple Sclerosis tested by Glasgow Caledonian University research team

The MS Society has awarded Project Supervisor Dr Ben Stansfield and his team £74,966 to fund the three-year study. Upper limb tremor affects around 30 per cent of people who live with MS. The tremor can make it difficult to complete everyday tasks independently and usually worsens as the condition progresses.
Here is another example of how Dr Jenny Preston, Consultant Occupational Therapist demonstrates collaborative and partnership working within research and academia. Dr Jenny Preston, Consultant Occupational Therapist and a co-investigator on the project, emphasised the importance of clinical collaboration for academics. ''My joint role as GCU academic and NHS practitioner has provided a vital link, ensuring the relevance of the academic enquiry to clinical practice.''
''This is an excellent opportunity for clinicians and researchers to work together to make a difference for people with MS.''
www.gcu.ac.uk/newsevents/news/article.php?id=48571

Dr Jenny Preston
Consultant Occupational Therapist
Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Centre
NHS Ayrshire and Arran Occupational Therapy Services
 

2010 Excellence in Stroke Care Award winner

Thérèse Jackson is a Consultant OT within stroke services and is the winner of our 2010 Excellence in Stroke Care Award. This film shows the contribution Therese makes within this domain of practice:

 

Consultant occupational therapists work in a variety of settings, crossing traditional boundaries and developing new ways of working

There are consultant occupational therapists working in varying areas of clinical practice, from mental health and learning disabilities to stroke and chronic fatigue.  These posts have a wider role in influencing and driving strategic and service change, and using research and evidence based practice to improve outcomes for service users. A consultant occupational therapist has five core functions:

1. expert clinical practice, which is central to the role
2. practice and service development
3. professional leadership and consultancy
4. research, audit and evaluation
5. education, training and development.

 
For more information on the roles of consultant occupational therapists and the work they do access these resources in conjunction with COT Briefing 21 - Consultant Occupational Therapist and the career planning section of the Interactive Learning Opportunities Database (ILOD):
 

• Private File:
  Download Occupational Therapy Consultant Information Sheet
  Find out about the development of occupational therapy consultant posts, and the purpose and role of these positions.
• Public File:
  Download Developing Yourself for a Consultant Therapist
  This worksheet has been developed to assist you to reflect on your current skills and knowledge with a view to developing your career as a consultant occupational therapist.

 

Thérèse Jackson, Consultant Occupational Therapist in Stroke withNHS Grampian, has kindly given us permission to share the following posters she has produced on Consultancy:

• Public File:
  The Consultant Occupational Therapist in Stroke Services: Leadership in the NHS
• Consultant Occupational Therapist Career Route

The College supports a group of consultant OTs

The Consultant Occupational Therapy Forum is for consultant OTs and is open to all consultant OTs who are also members of BAOT. The Forum meets twice a year to influence and support activities, policy, publications and guidance within the profession.