RCOT Policy Northern Ireland

Health & social care in Northern Ireland are at a tipping point. Yesterday’s NICON briefing on the budget was stark, it's clear that urgent action is needed. Occupational therapists are key to keeping people well in their communities. Our Workforce Strategy shows how 👉 www.rcot.co.uk/support-the-...

It was great to have Professor Michelle Tennyson, Chief AHP Officer and Dr Gill Ward, Head of Research and Innovation at @thercot.bsky.social in Belfast recently for OT Week celebrations. Pictured here with Maria Hilditch, Head of Service at Belfast Trust #TeamOT #RightTimeOT

Fantastic couple of days celebrating #OTWeek with members in Belfast and South Eastern Trusts. Inspiring showcase of the life changing power of occupational therapy #RightTimeOT #OTWeek25 💚

Grateful to Linda Dillon MLA, member of the Health Committee, for her powerful statement at Stormont today marking #OTWeek 💚

Occupational therapists drive recovery, independence & system change. Let’s invest in the future of health & social care #RightTimeOT @thercot.bsky.social

#RightTimeOT NI's Reset Plan aims to bring care closer to home. OTs are already doing it, supporting people to live well, avoid hospital and recover safely at home. To build a prevention-first system that meets real needs, occupational therapy must be central to future planning. #OTweek25

Thank you to our Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA for this fantastic video in support of #OTWeek #RightTimeOT @thercot.bsky.social

What if we stopped waiting for crisis? 💭

OT at the right time helps people stay well for longer, preventing problems before they escalate.

Right Support, Right Time: Unlocking the Power of OT shows why OT support at the right time changes everything:https://loom.ly/993ED8g

#OTWeek25 #RightTimeOT

Happy OT Week to all of my amazing colleagues in Northern Ireland. Today, we launched our new annual campaign Right Support, Right Time: Unlocking the Power of OT 💚

Great to spend yesterday at Ulster University in Magee with Dolores, one of the amazing lecturers and 50 fantastic future occupational therapists. Too busy chatting to get many pics but amazing conversations about the future of the profession 💚 lots of excitement ahead of OT Week on Monday!

What a fabulous, uplifting night at the AHP Awards- celebrating our amazing occupational therapists and all the AHP community

What a fabulous, uplifting night at the AHP Awards- celebrating our amazing occupational therapists and all the AHP community

Panel discussion

Our indefatigable Chief AHP Officer Prof Michelle Tennyson talking about the many ways that allied health professionals can support people to attain or stay in employment. Great shout out for the fantastic Condition Management Programme

Great panel today at #NICON25 with the Chief AHP Officer Michelle Tennyson and senior civil servants Mike Farrar and Paddy Rooney, discussing economic inactivity and how health professionals can better help people back to work. Occupational therapists well positioned to support

Fantastic to hear Prof Sir Michael Marmot this morning at #nicon2025

Minister for Health making clear that budget position of a 600million deficit is not sustainable and stating he has asked the Northern Ireland Executive for additional funding

Minister for Health taking the stage at #nicon2025

Great to be at #nicon2025 and looking forward to speaking to many of the 600 delegates about the life-changing power of occupational therapy 💚

Happy #AHPsDay2025 to all Allied Health Professionals across Northern Ireland!

Alongside fellow professional bodies and trade union partners, we're calling for continued investment, recognition and development of AHP support workers — a vital part of our workforce: loom.ly/ikuHCWI

Great to spend this morning at the @duponline.bsky.social conference. Good engagement with Party Leader Gavin Robinson, Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen and Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds about the life-changing impact of occupational therapy 💚 #teamOT

What a fantastic venue for the Western Trust OT conference today - Glenpark Estate in Omagh.

CRA members meeting with Alliance Party

CRA members meeting with the DUP

CRA members meeting with SDLP

We are proud members of the Community Rehabilitation Alliance and in recent months, we have been working with @health-ni.gov.uk on the development of a Rehabilitation Framework for Northern Ireland. We also attended a series of political roundtables, building support for a Rehab Lead in NI

Happy #RehabAwarenessWeek

Rehab empowers people to live well at home & in the community. OT-led reablement builds independence & reduces reliance on care.

Through our Workforce Strategy, we’re championing a workforce focused on prevention and early intervention. Read more: tinyurl.com/544cmbpf

Distressed by reports of racist abuse toward colleagues in the Western Trust. RCOT stands firmly against racism in all its forms. To those affected: you are seen, valued, and supported. Please report incidents to police and your employer where appropriate.

Who would you love to hear inspire us for the Elizabeth Casson lecture? Have a think and nominate here 👇💚

Yesterday I joined AHP Federation colleagues for a productive meeting with Permanent Secretary @healthdpt.bsky.social and CAHPO discussing the many AHP solutions to our health and social care challenges. Looking forward to regular engagement to improve outcomes for all in NI

So proud of our amazing member Emma, who delivered an excellent lecture as part of the Feile festival last week.

Really enjoyed the Stroke to Strength lecture at Féile!
@emmadunn1.bsky.social delivered a brilliant talk about stroke recovery and rehab and Will McClean’s told his powerful and personal stroke survivor story! #Féile2025 #OccupationalTherapy
@carolinewilson2.bsky.social @rcotpolicyni.bsky.social

It was a privilege to speak at the Féile Health Lecture on stroke prevention, recovery and rehab. Techs role in OT rehab was explored alongside Will McLeans story and musical performance.
@niamhkeav.bsky.social @rcotpolicyni.bsky.social
@belfasttrust.bsky.social
@carolinewilson2.bsky.social

Great to join @niconfederation.bsky.social event this afternoon, hearing from @health-ni.gov.uk Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar about the newly published Reset Plan. As the system considers how we can keep people well for longer, occupational therapy must be a key part of this journey #TeamOT

Looking forward to working with our amazing members in Northern Ireland to celebrate #OTWeek2025 and launch our annual campaign 💚