Summary
The British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT) and College of Occupational Therapists (COT) are the professional body and trade union for occupational therapy staff, researchers, educators and students in the United Kingdom. COT supports its members in regard to:
- Knowledge management, particularly in the areas of research and development, research governance and information management.
- Practice with expert resources and guidance and by defining standards for the profession.
- Producing COT-driven strategies to promote excellence in practice and client-centred care.
- Involvement in developing and promoting the profession.
Brief quotation:
“The College of Occupational Therapists plays an active and visible role in the development of improving services for people living with dementia. Current actions to support this include: attendance at relevant conferences; promotion of materials to educate and promote best practice for people living with dementia; provision of web-based materials to support NICE guidance; response to consultations and briefings on the dementia strategy; involvement in the Memory Services National Accreditation Programme and working with other organisations and professional bodies; for example reviewing and updating a number of Alzheimer’s Society factsheets. COT works alongside and supports the Specialist Section for Older People that hosts a clinical forum for dementia.”
The two main challenges for the College of Occupational Therapists are:
- Empowering members to work effectively and safely with people living with dementia, their families and carers.
- Ensuring people living with dementia can be supported to lead meaningful and active lives
