Reports from Specialist Sections on various aspects of their activities

Children, Young People & Families

 

HIV/AIDs, Oncology & Palliative Care

 

Housing

 

Independent Practice

 

Mental Health

 

Neurological Practice

 

Older People

 

People with Learning Disabilities

 

Rheumatology

 

Trauma & Orthopaedics

 

Work

 

The current Specialist Sections are:

 

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 PDF help*)

 

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

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