BA COT Northern Ireland Newsletter Issue 90

BA/COT Northern Ireland
Members’ Newsletter
Issue 90: 9 July 2014
Celebration as Northern Ireland Occupational Therapists receive Awards
Congratulations to Aisling Curran, Lourene Abbi and Patricia McIlwaine who attended
an event in COT, London on 3 July 2014 to receive awards.
Aisling who manages
the Mental Health and
Learning Disability
occupational therapy
service in BHSCT was
awarded a COT Merit
Award and Lourene
and Patricia who both
work in Whiteabbey
Hospital, NHSCT,
were awarded a UK
Occupational Therapy
Research Fund
(UKOTRF) Research Priority Grant in partnership with the University of Ulster to carry
out a randomised control trial with their Mirror Box research.
Pictured in the photo above are Lourene Abbi, NHSCT, Aisling Curran BHSCT ,
Patricia McIlwaine, NHSCT and Julia Scott, Chief Executive of COT.
COT Fellowship and Merit awards 2015 now open!
Merit & Fellowship Awards - Recognizing excellence in the occupational
therapy community
Every year, BAOT members are invited to nominate their colleagues for a Fellowship
of the College of Occupational Therapists or a Merit Award in recognition of their
special contribution to the profession.
Deadline for return of completed forms for the Fellowship Award is
Thursday 18 September 2014 and Merit Award is Friday 28 November
2014.
For more information, go to http://www.cot.co.uk/merit-fellowship-awards/meritfellowship-awards or contact Dominique Le Marchand, Senior Administrative Officer,
COT on 020 7450 2317 or [email protected].
Start to prepare your abstract so that it is ready for submission so that you
benefit from:
• Collecting
valuable evidence
for your CPD
portfolio
• Raising the profile
of your work
• Sharing good
practice within
your profession
• Showcasing your
work to a
worldwide
audience in the
Annual
Conference online
BJOT supplement
For more information go to http://cotannualconference.org.uk/call-for-papers.
Northern Ireland Board welcomes new members
The Northern Ireland Board met on 26th June and Joan Speed, Occupational Therapist,
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and Catherine McLaughlin, Independent
Occupational Therapist were welcomed to the Board as new members serving a term of
office. Both Joan and Catherine bring a wealth of knowledge and experience and Dr
Patricia McClure, Chair and Council Member welcomed them to the meeting and thanked
them for their willingness to work on the Board on behalf of members and the
profession in Northern Ireland.
June 2014: Members of the Northern Ireland Board
Current members of the Northern Ireland Board are:
Dr Patricia McClure, Chair and Council Member
Ruth Watkins, Board Member and BAOT/Unison Stewards Representative
Connie Begley, Board Member
Aisling Curran, Board Member
David Gullifer, Board Member
Jane Mitchell, Board Member
Joan Speed, Board Member
Catherine McLaughlin, Board Member
Joy Hammond, Co-opted Board Member and Regional Representative
For more information or to contact a member of the Northern Ireland Board, go to
http://www.cot.co.uk/people-structure/northern-ireland-board-policy-officer.
BA/COT Newsletter – issue 90 9 July 2014
COT Specialist Sections/Special Interest Groups
COT Specialist Section Neurological Practice:
Next meeting, Wednesday 17 September 2014 at 5.15pm in RABIU,
Musgrave Park Hospital. The topic for this meeting will be ‘Multiple
Sclerosis’ with guest speaker Dr Gavin McDonnell, Neurologist.
Cost: SSNP members, students & non-practising graduates £1 Nonmembers £3. Please confirm your attendance with
[email protected].
COTSS Independent Practice
Annual Conference
“Going for Gold” The Best in Professionalism and Standards
20-21 October 2014, Reading
Contact [email protected] for the flyer and application for
more information. Early rate booking until 1 August 2014.
HIV, Aids, Oncology and Palliative Care
Next meeting will take place in October 2014 on the topic of
‘Vocational Rehab’.
More information on this meeting will follow shortly.
COT Events
Establishing an activity culture in care homes: Training care home staff to
support activity
Wednesday 26 November 2014, College of Occupational Therapists, London
This event aims to give occupational therapists the skills to introduce the Living Well
through Activity Toolkit in care homes effectively - training OTs to train care staff to
make activity an integral part of their interaction with residents and day to day work.
The event is for OTs who are working in a care home settings or offer provide in reach
services to care homes. For more information please download the application form
and flyer go to http://www.cot.co.uk/event/establishing-activity-culture-care-homestraining-care-home-staff-support-activity.
College of Occupational Therapists' Information Management (COTIM)
The College of Occupational Therapists' Information Management e-newsletter
(COTIM) keeps members informed of the latest developments and issues relating to
informatics, including information and communication technologies and information
management.
To view the latest issue (no 178) and previous issues, go to
http://www.cot.co.uk/ehealth-information-management/cotim-newsletter
Consultations
Minister McCausland seeks views on the Work Capability Assessment (DSD,
closing 15 August 2014)
http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/media-centre/news-departments/newsdsd/news-dsd-100416-minister-mccausland-seeks.htm
Contact Kate Lesslar if you want to send comments for a COT response.
Consultation on Proposals for New Mental Capacity Legislation for Northern
Ireland (DHSSPS, closing 2 September 2014)
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/showconsultations?txtid=68523
If you have any comments or views please send to; [email protected]. The
DHSSPSNI are looking for open comments; Genevieve has prepared a list of subject
headings which would be helpful to go by. If you have not already received them please
contact [email protected] to request.
Supporting Young People in their Community: Consultation and Equality
Impact Assessment on Social Care Services for Young People (aged 11-17)
(BHSCT, closing 25 September 2014)
http://www.belfasttrust.hscni.net/ConsultationSupportingYoungPeopleintheirCommunity.htm
Shaping RQIA's Priorities: 2015-18: Your Views Wanted
In preparation for the development of RQIA’s Corporate Strategy and Three Year
Review Programme for the next three years (2015 to 2018) they would like to hear
what you think RQIA’s priorities should be for the next three years. For more
information on how to send suggestions, please go to
http://www.rqia.org.uk/publications/corporate_strategy_and_three_year_review_programme_con
sulation_2015___18.cfm.
Consultation reports
Making Life Better – A Whole System Framework for Public Health 20132023
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/phealth/php/making-life-better.htm
Making Choices: Meeting the current and future accommodation needs of
older people’
A copy of the consultation report is available on the Health and Social Care Board’s
website http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/consult/.
Articles of Interest
Supported living key to an inclusive society say Ministers (26 June 2014)
Poots launches new website for young people with emotional and mental
health difficulties (25 June 2014)
Stormont Departments seek views on new Mental Capacity Law (16 June 2014)
http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news/news-dhssps.htm.
BA/COT Newsletter – issue 90 9 July 2014
Questions in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Written Questions to the Minister for Employment and Learning
Benefits of the Condition Management Programme
Robin Swann (UUP, North Antrim) asked the Minister for Employment and
Learning to outline the benefits of the Condition Management Programme. (AQW
33710/11-15)
Dr Stephen Farry: The Condition Management Programme (CMP) is a personcentred, work-focused rehabilitation programme. The key aim of the programme is to
help and support people with health related barriers to employment to progress
towards and make a successful return to work. Clients referred to CMP present with
both physical and mental health difficulties and the vast majority are unemployed.
This, in turn, impacts negatively on their confidence, self-esteem and mood. Almost
60% of CMP referrals present with a mental illness as their primary condition. The
programme, which is delivered by healthcare professionals on behalf of the
Department for Employment and Learning, is helping many of these individuals to
improve their health and well-being, as well as make a positive move towards
employment.
On completion of CMP, participants understand more about their health condition and
how it can be positively managed. It also actively encourages people to consider work
as a means of ongoing health recovery and provides the individual with a number of
strategies to help them deal with their own condition. During the 2013/14 year, of the
1,211 people who participated on CMP, 98% indicated a positive attitude towards work
and training as a result. There has also been a number of telephone surveys carried
out with participants six months after they completed the programme. On average,
20% had made a successful transition into paid employment, whilst others had
progressed into employment programmes or vocational training courses. Some of the
specific feedback from individuals included: greater confidence about seeking work and
the prospect of remaining in work; less fear about their illness as they would now
recognise the early signs of a relapse or worsening of the condition and therefore
would be more able to take appropriate, timely steps to address the problem or seek
appropriate help.
Funding for the Condition Management Programme
Robin Swann (UUP, North Antrim) asked the Minister for Employment and
Learning how much funding his Department provided to the Condition Management
Programme in each of the last three years; and to detail the budget for this year and
proposed budget for next year. (AQW 33711/11-15)
Dr Stephen Farry: In the last three years, the Department for Employment and
Learning has provided the following level of annual funding to the Condition
Management Programme (CMP):
2011/12: £3,964,000
2012/13: £3,750,000
2013/14: £3,500,000
In November 2013, following extensive, but ultimately unsuccessful negotiations with
the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) regarding a
proposed partnership approach to the funding and management of this health and
employment programme, I took the decision to continue my Department’s
support for the CMP at existing funding levels (£3.5m) for the 2014/15
financial year.
I can confirm that it would be my intention to continue funding the
Condition Management Programme beyond this financial year. However, given
the many priorities and pressures within the Employment Service at this time, the level
of funding available from my Department for the CMP will be reduced to £2.5million for
2015/16. Officials from my Department’s Disability Employment Service will be meeting
with each of the CMP teams over the next month to discuss the implications of the
reduced funding, as well as proposals to ensure that the programme has a greater
focus on measurable employment outcomes. In the meantime, if the DHSSPS or other
interested stakeholders are willing to make a financial contribution to the funding of
the programme, my officials, and of course, the respective CMP management staff,
would be very happy to discuss the options and potential benefits thereof.
Focus on ‘Sight Loss’ – a new SPEaR topic
The latest SPEaR provides signposting to policy, evidence and practical resources
available to support occupational therapists working with adults with sight loss or visual
impairment.
This Supporting Practice Evidence and Resources topic was developed in collaboration
with Suzy England, Occupational Therapy and Sight Loss Consultant with the Thomas
Pocklington Trust.
To view this and the twenty three further SPEaR topics, go to the COT website at:
http://www.cot.co.uk/supporting-practice/evidence-and-resources.
A new briefing: Legislation, policy and research related to housing for
individuals with autistic spectrum disorder and challenging behaviour
This briefing identifies other published material which may be useful, focusing on the
home environment. It will also be of helpful to managers, commissioners and other
professionals working in the housing sector. For more information and to download this
briefing, go to: http://www.cot.co.uk/news/cotss-children-young-people-families/newbriefing-legislation-policy-and-research-related-housi#sthash.k7vYXABm.dpuf.
BA/COT Newsletter – issue 90 9 July 2014
Please find below information which has been forwarded for circulation and may be of interest to some members
Please note the circulation/publication of information by outside agencies does not constitute endorsement by the College of Occupational Therapists
2015 Health & Social Care R&D Doctoral Fellowships
The Health & Social Care Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency
(HSC R&D Division) is pleased to announce its 2015 Doctoral Fellowship Award Scheme is
open.
HSC R&D Division offers Doctoral Fellowships to support research training in order to
increase the Health and Social Care (HSC) R&D capacity and to build an evaluative
evidence-based culture.
The scheme is intended to enable an individual to develop a research career in the HSC by
undertaking research training leading to a PhD.
It is open to individuals already employed in the HSC or in voluntary/not-for-profit
organisations in Northern Ireland involved in health or social care provision. Those who
may apply include allied health professionals, dentists, health and social care managers,
healthcare scientists, medical staff, nurses, optometrists, pharmacists, social workers and
other independent contractors. Awardees will continue to be employed within the HSC or
the voluntary/not-for-profit organisation for the duration of the Fellowship. The closing
date for applications is 10 October 2014.
Full guidance notes and application forms can be found at:
http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/directorate-public-health/hsc-research-anddevelopment/2015-health-social-care-rd-doctoral-fellowshi
Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust and QUB
Music in Mind: The Role of Music Therapy in Child and Adolescent Mental
Health - A One Day Conference
9.00am – 3.30pm, Thursday 23rd October 2014
Riddel Hall, Queen’s University Belfast
It is a free and open event but availability is limited and demand is anticipated to be high
therefore places must be pre-booked. To book a place for this Conference, please register
at [email protected]
Briefing Seminar: Mental Capacity Bill (NI) – Implications for Children and
Young People
NICVA 9.30am -12.30pm 30 July 2014
The Children’s Law Centre are holding a free briefing seminar on the proposed reforms to
mental health and capacity law, currently out for consultation until 2 September 2014.
This seminar aims to assist you in making consultation responses with a focus on:
 Provisions for under 16s
 Provisions for 16 and 17 year olds
 Proposals for children in the criminal justice system
With a view to ensuring that the new Mental Capacity legislative framework provides fully
rights based legal protections for all vulnerable children and young people, we hope this
seminar will provide a platform for information sharing.
For further information please contact: [email protected] or
[email protected]. Further details to follow.
Calls published under The Third EU Health Programme
Proposals ‘Health-2014’ within the framework of the 3rd Programme of the Union’s action in
the field of health (2014-2020) have been published in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
This call for applications consists of the following parts:

A call for proposals for project grants; and

A call for proposals for operating grants.
Deadlines for online submissions of the proposals are 25 September 2014.
All the information, including the work programme for 2014 for implementation of the third
Health Programme, specifying the topics for the calls and the selection, award and other
criteria are available via the EU Research & Innovation Participant Portal.
http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/3hp/index.html
MRC Hub for Trials Methodology Research Roadshow
2 September 2014, Sir Samuel Irwin Lecture Theatre, RVH, Belfast. This half day event
features an introduction to the Hub and the Network of Hubs, and the Northern Ireland
Clinical Trials Unit. It will be an opportunity to hear about the key steps involved in trial
design, and you can also book a confidential one-to-one clinic with Hub staff to discuss
specific challenges with your trial. This may include issues in an existing trial (such as lower
than predicted recruitment), planning for an upcoming trial or just finding out how to get
started with an idea for one. The key aim of the Roadshow is help those involved in trials in
Northern Ireland improve the quality of their applications and the eventual trials, and to
provide advice on trials methodology.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided, but please confirm your attendance via email to
Georgie Holmes ([email protected]), stating any dietary or access requirements.
If you would like to avail of the trial clinic, please submit your inquiries in advance to allow
the Hub team to consider possible solutions (your enquiries will be treated in confidence). If
you would like a copy of the simple 1-page form to submit an inquiry please contact Georgie
([email protected]). Completed forms will need to be submitted by 28 August 2014.
Newsletter Subscriptions
Please find below a list of e-newsletters which may be of interest. You to subscribe to these
using the following emails/links.
Children and Young Peoples Strategic Partnership - [email protected]
Northern Ireland Youth Forum - [email protected]
Dementia Services Development Centre - [email protected]
Voice of Young People in Care - www.voypic.org