Gillian

Interesting.. imagine if all carers were trained more and allowed an extra 10 minutes to support some basic exercises. When our Home first team start, there is often evidence of decline in ability to manage food prep/ diet and hygiene- before the health incident which led to admission. #prevention

Children’s OTs – we want to hear from you!

If you work with children and young people – we need your insights. Your feedback will help shape future practice and inform our influencing work.

Please complete by: Monday 2 March 2026.

app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/rcot-surve...

Healthy life expectancy is falling across the UK, according to new data published today.

Read more on the urgent action we need Government to take. www.bma.org.uk/what-we-do/p...

Two occupational therapists in uniforms walking and chatting in a hospital corridor.

Did you know you can qualify as an occupational therapist through an apprenticeship?

Combining paid work (80%) with learning (20%) through an employer such as the @NHS or a social care service – there's more than one route to OT 🎓

How has work-based learning supported you or your team? 💬

A soft pastel illustration of a smiling butterfly with large, patterned wings in warm orange, purple, teal and pink. Above the butterfly, hand lettered text reads: “there’s a past version of you who’s so proud of how far you have come. keep going.” The background is pale peach with subtle texture and small sparkles, giving a warm, encouraging feel. Picture by Nikki miles

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Maya Angelou

Keep going.

You’ve learned, adapted, and grown in ways past versions of you hoped for.

What you’re doing now still counts, so much. You are enough.

🧡
#kindness #growth #belief

Picture by Nikki Miles

🌟 Latest news 🌟

The Disabled Facilities Grant has been increased by £50m, bringing total funding to £761m for 2025–26.

Announced by the UK Government, the funding is expected to help around 5,000 more people access home adaptations and assistive technology.

Read more:
buff.ly/mexVzky

A bright, playful illustration on a white background, framed by a thick, hand drawn green outline shaped like an uneven arch. Inside the frame, bold black hand lettered text reads: “There’s always time to be compassionate and kind.” Two simple flowers sit on either side of the text, one blue with a yellow centre on the left and one red with a pink centre on the right. The style is cheerful, childlike, and hopeful, with soft colours and an uplifting tone. Picture by Luke John Matthew Arnold

“People will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

There is always time for compassion. Always time for kindness. To others, and to ourselves.

🧡

#kindness #compassion #humanness #positivity

Picture by Luke John Matthew Arnold

Advertisement for RCOT's Fit note training session, featuring an image of a person writing a note with a pen on a desk. Event details: Build confidence in fit note conversations; 12:00pm - 1:30pm, Thursday 5 February 2026.

94% of fit notes still say 'not fit for work' and that’s a missed opportunity.

OTs are well placed to shift to 'may be fit' with the right support. This session builds confidence using fit notes in practice. Join here 👉 https://bit.ly/4t46n74

OTs and Social Prescribers to help with return to work my patch👏👏 #Stroud #OccupationalTherapy #PrimaryCare

Leading OT resource creator and respected speaker to deliver our Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture We’re delighted to announce Sue Parkinson as the speaker for our 2026 Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture.

Sue Parkinson's 2026 Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture is coming soon. 💚

Known for her contributions to the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), Sue’s influence on occupation-centred practice is huge.

Online in April 2026, free for all OTs & members. https://bit.ly/4pYd34d

I got an email about this this morning. Although not specific to occupational therapy, each webinar applies to our practice. I’m going to a few of these and thought I’d share ☺️.

Our contracts don’t seem to have kept the pace of the move to Home First. More frequently now needing profiling beds and wheeled commodes as the older person is so shaken by Fall/UTI etc

A few years on, some patients do come out of ED with our Home First team. We still need more investment in community rehab and faster access to equipment to really make more impact on the discharge delays. #OccupationalTherapy #Physiotherapy #HomeFirst #Stroud

Contact with Home First / Reablement is frequently the first contact with carers. Challenging changes to patient and partner/ family often hit before wishes and plans have been discussed.

Training day for Limb Loss. Pain Management. PowerPoint picture.

Very informative and interesting morning at Southmead Hospital. Roll on the practical session in 2 weeks. Plenty to share with our Home First and Reablement team. #LimbLoss #OccupationalTherapy #BEC

ALT text: A gentle illustrated image on a white background titled “Days that can make it all feel a little better”. It shows six small, calming drawings representing comforting moments, including spending time with someone who understands, being alone with a coffee and cake, having no plans with books and blankets, being out in nature with wellington boots and a flask, a peaceful mind, and simply being with a warm drink in hand. The colours are muted and soothing, with a handwritten style throughout. Picture by simply_anxious

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”Anne Lamott.

Even a small pocket of time can help us settle and feel a little better. Soft pauses can so very often matter more than we often realise.

🧡

#peace #SelfCompassion #kindness

Art by simply anxious

Stroud area, Gloucestershire

a group of people are dancing in a dark room Alt: a group of people are dancing in a dark room

Just back from Zumba. Oh I missed dancing so much! Year of recovering from frozen shoulder etc. Best way to clear my head after work and I need fun to liven up going to the gym. ❤️

Quote from RCOT Chief Executive, Gary Waltham, reads 'I'm here to work with our members to make RCOT the best it can be.' Headshot of Gary in top, right hand side.

We’re excited to welcome our new Chief Executive, Gary Waltham.

His priority is simple: to listen, learn and work with you to make RCOT the best it can be.

There are lots of ways to connect with Gary and share your ideas: https://bit.ly/4jju4Uw

Do listen to the deluxe version of the album. Cinnamon is closer to Må sound. Great show at London but also hoping Maneskin are back soon.🤞

Have a Happy New Year 🥳

When the Mind Returns Some people with advanced dementia show sudden, brief returns of clarity near the end of life—speaking, remembering, reconnecting. What is terminal lucidity?

When the Mind Returns - the puzzle of terminal lucidity: www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cons...

A square illustration in layered shades of purple and lilac, made up of soft, rounded cloud like shapes that ripple outwards from the centre. The background features small white polka dots scattered evenly across the layers. In the centre, inside a pale lilac cloud shape outlined in black, handwritten black text reads: “You gain more from trying and failing than from never trying at all.” The illustration has a gentle, playful, hand drawn style with smooth curves and a calming colour palette. The artist’s handle “@joyfulsmothings” appears in the bottom right corner.Picture by joyfulsmothings

“What if I fall?”
“Oh but my darling, what if you fly?”
Erin Hanson

Giving it a go doesn’t mean it has to be perfect. Mistakes are part of our trying, and trying is how we learn what’s possible…

Why not give it a go?

🧡

#belief #kindness #NewYear

🌟Latest news🌟

🔸Young onset dementia resources released by DYNAMIC project buff.ly/MuZbf6a

🔸GP practices in England invited to join social prescribing pathway feasibility study buff.ly/ZrBFzNU

#youngonset #dementia #GP #socialprescribing

On the fifth day of Christmas, I give to you, four starter packs with over 400 occupational therapists.
In order to have a community of OTs on Bluesky we need to follow each other.
Check out the starter packs and start following.
go.bsky.app/Vi6XVVs

On the fourth day of Christmas, I give to you a starter pack of yet more occupational therapists.
If you want a community of OTs on Bluesky, follow all the OTs on my starter packs. Let's see if we can make it happen.
go.bsky.app/JxmUjnc

We can’t treat our way out of health inequalities.

Our Leadership for Population Health programme helps health and care professionals drive wellbeing and equity at scale.

April 2026 applications are open. 👇

https://bit.ly/3JUqSS4

An illustrated image showing a person with closed eyes and a gentle smile, framed inside a large heart shape formed by two orange sleeves and hands meeting at the top. Inside the heart, handwritten text reads: “You deserve the attention and care that you give everyone else.” The background is a warm cream colour with small floral and dot details in orange and brown tones. The overall feel is soft, comforting and reassuring, conveying self care, kindness and emotional warmth. Picture by Joyfulsmolthings

“Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean ‘me first’ … it means ‘me too.’” L.R. Knost.

A reminder that caring for yourself sits alongside caring for others.

You aren’t asking for the world, you’re simply asking for a place in it too.

🧡
#SelfCare #kindness #compassion

Picture by joyfulsmolthings

On the third day of Christmas, I give to you a starter pack with even more occupational therapists to follow.
Wouldn't it be great if we could support each other?

go.bsky.app/A7zkhS7

1 in 5 working-age people in the UK have a health condition that limits their ability to work Click the link to read the feature

1 in 5 working-age people have a health condition that limits their ability to work.  

Our interactive feature explores the unique perspectives behind the statistics, highlighting barriers to work and the need for earlier support in the workplace⬇️

https://bit.ly/4p6wQOl