Welcome to the specialist sections homepage
Specialist Sections are groups of occupational therapists, occupational therapy students, support workers and other individuals with a common interest or similar areas of work that work to promote their area of clinical interest. They are called a specialist section as they have met all the criteria of becoming a recognised group set by the College of Occupational Therapists (COT Policy statement revised, April 2002). They are part of the College and work in partnership with all aspects of COT activity.
A Specialist Section is set up in the following ways:
- Usually a group of OTs have been meeting for several years previously, and grown out of an interested group or network of OTs who are working in a particular area of clinical activity.
- These groups are often co-ordinated by a few motivated individuals in the first instance, and as the interest and membership develops and grows, activities are co-ordinated by a committee. In turn, these groups, networks, or forums often hold a seminar or study day to generate interest. Out of this, a national network is established and more formal communication networks and links agreed.
- These networks or groups may have been running for several years before they become more established and decide to contact the specialist section officer at the College to formally consider specialist section status.
Specialist Sections Branch Committees Terms of Reference (21KB 
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Specialist Sections Business Forum Terms of Reference (22KB *)
Specialist Sections Clinical Forum Terms of Reference (18KB *)
Briefing: Information for Specialist Sections (155KB *)
Specialist Sections Reports:
Children, Young People & Families
Annual report 2006-07(52KB*) Business Plan 2006-07(43KB*) Business Plan 2007-08(53KB*) Activity for annual report 2007(53KB*)
HIV/AIDs, Oncology & Palliative Care
HIV/AIDs, Oncology & Palliative Care 2007-09 (87KB *)
Housing
Annual Report 2006-07 (110KB 
*) Budget forecast 2007-08 (16KB *) Business Plan 2006-07 (9KB *) Completed business plan 2007-08 (45KB *)
Independent Practice
Annual Report 2006-07 (201KB *)
Mental Health
Annual Report 2006-07 (65KB *) Business Plan & Budget Forecast 2007-08 (44KB *) Business plan-outcomes from previous year (32KB *)
Neurological Practice
Business Plan 2007-08 (77KB *) Annual Report 2007 (84KB *)
Older People
Annual Report 2006-07 (80KB *) Business Plan 2007-08 (189KB *) Business Plan Outcomes Review 2006-07 (182KB *)
People with Learning Disabilities
Annual Report 2006-07 (62KB *) Business Plan 2006-07 (111KB *) Business Plan 2007-08 (73KB *)
Rheumatology
Annual Report 2006-07(97KB *) Budget 2007-08 (24KB *)
Trauma & Orthopaedics
Annual Report 2006-07 (615KB *)
Work
Annual Report 2006-07 (150KB *)
The current Specialist Sections are:
- The College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section - Children, Young People & Families
- The College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section - HIV/AIDs, Oncology & Palliative Care
- The College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section - Housing
- The College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section - Independent Practice
- The College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section - Mental Health
- The College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section - Neurological Practice
- The College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section - Older People
- The College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section - People with Learning Disabilities
- The College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section - Rheumatology
- The College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section - Trauma & Orthopaedics
- The College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section - Work
Specialist Sections Application for Funding Projects
The Specialist Sections contribute enormously to the work of the College of Occupational Therapists in terms of developing and promoting good practice, assisting with national consultations and providing additional support to members working within particular domains of practice. This procedure builds on the agreement that Specialist Sections can bid for monies for project work within the existing COT Business Planning process. It incorporates the research governance procedures in place to enable ethical review of proposed projects.Project Funding Briefing (98KB
*)
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) is the term used for a group or network of OTs meeting to discuss like minded subjects or clinical areas. They have always benefited from the use of free meeting rooms and refreshments, although they do pay for lunches.
Members of these groups do sometimes represent COT on committees of other organisations, ie OTs interested in Riding for the Disabled represent OTs within that organisation.
Although we have always worked to support, encourage and develop SIGs they do not have formal recognition at COT, but they do receive full support from the Specialist Sections Officer when and if they do decide to apply for Special Section status.
The following steps need to be implemented to allow progression from a SIG to Specialist Section:
- SIG: usually a group of OTs have been meeting for several years, growing out of an interested group or network of OTs working in related areas of clinical activity.In the first instance these groups are usually co-ordinated by a few motivated individuals, and as the interest and membership develops and grows activities are co-ordinated by a Committee.
- In turn these groups, networks or forums often hold seminars or study days to generate interest, and out of this a national network is established, with more formal communication networks and links agreed.
- These networks/groups may have been running for several years before becoming more fully established before the decision is made to contact the Specialist Sections Officer at COT to formally consider applying for Specialist Sections status.
- SIGs that wish to be considered for Specialist Section status must work with the Specialist Sections Officer.
Following the Specialist Sections Administration and Business Review, the COT Policy and Application Process is being reviewed.
- Please refer to Briefing 72
Information for Specialist Sections (155KB *)
- Research Governance Frequently Asked Questions (64KB *)
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