Orthopaedic Seminar Institute

College of Occupational Therapists COT

106-114 Borough High Street, Southwark,

London SE1 1LB.

Tel: 020 7357 6480

Telephone: 020 7450 2316
E-mail: library@cot.co.uk

Lorna Rutherford - Deputy Librarian
Telephone: 020 7450 2320
E-mail: Lorna.Rutherford@cot.co.uk

The College of Occupational Therapists is a wholly owned subsidiary of BAOT and operates as a registered charity. It represents the profession nationally and internationally, and contributes widely to policy consultations throughout the UK. The College sets the professional and educational standards for occupational therapy. It provides leadership, guidance and information relating to research and development, education, practice and lifelong learning. In addition, 11 accredited specialist sections support expert clinical practice.

Julia Scott
Chief Executive

Occupational therapists work with people of all ages, helping them to carry out the activities that they need or want to do in order to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

There are over 26,000 qualified occupational therapists in the UK. They are highly trained professionals, performing a vital role in hospitals, social care, local communities, schools, businesses, prisons, charities, and various other settings.

Occupational therapists work with people who have physical, mental and/or social problems, either from birth or as a result of accident, illness or ageing. Their aim is to enable people to achieve as much as they can for themselves, so they get the most out of life. When people cannot do things which are important to them - such as getting dressed, having a shower, going to work, socialising or undertaking a favourite hobby - an occupational therapist can help them in many ways, based on each individual person's needs and lifestyle. Their work could involve:

Giving advice on how the home or workplace environment can be changed (for example, ensuring wheelchair ramps are installed)
Helping people to learn new ways of doing things (for e.g., teaching someone with reduced stamina how to conserve energy when performing daily activities)
Adapting materials or equipment (for e.g., adjusting a knife for someone after they have lost hand dexterity)
Consulting in schools to help children overcome writing difficulties and other learning challenges
Assisting an ageing couple to care for one another in their own home
Helping someone suffering from depression to return to the workplace
Travelling to developing countries or war-torn regions to set up rehabilitation programmes
Working with disadvantaged groups, for example the homeless, in their own community

Work settings

NHS and independent hospitals
Person's own home independent practice
Hospices
Local community services e.g. GP practices
Social services and social work departments
Charities and voluntary agencies
Equipment companies
Government agencies
Housing departments
Industrial and commercial organisations
Schools and colleges
Wheelchair services

Practice area / specialisms

Coping with stress and anxiety
Alcohol and substance misuse
Assistive technology services
Burns, plastic surgery
Cardiac rehabilitation
Care management
Community disability services
Community mental health teams
Eating disorders
Employment rehabilitation

Practice settings include

Mental health services
Learning disability services
Childrens services
Assistive technology services
Vocational rehabilitation
Older people's services
Terminal and palliative care services

Mission Statement

The British Association and College of Occupational Therapists aims to provide a clear identity for all its members through the provision of the highest standard of expert, professional opinion and advice informed by research, scholarship, innovation and the promotion of excellence in practice.

The College will provide timely, responsive, specialist support for all members to encourage the personal and intellectual development of confident, competent occupational therapists and support staff.

The College values the contribution of all members and will build upon the trust of its members by establishing an accountable, responsive, learning professional organisation, managed with integrity, probity and sound financial stewardship.

Strategic Objectives

To provide members with a range of high quality services and products
To enhance the profile and influence the profession Nationally & Internationally
To develop evidence of the effectiveness of OT & promote its achievements & its value for service users
To ensure that the UK has an OT profession which is responsive, competent & capable of meeting the needs of the population
To manage BAOT & COT Business & ensure the organisation's health & effective governance