1. Headline
December 2009 Issue
Welcome to Headline What can your committee do for you?
Headline is the new quarterly newsletter for The regional committee aims to support
the BAOT Northern and Yorkshire Region. members to develop the profile of
This first issue includes information on the Occupational Therapy, increase
opportunities to network and develop skills
upcoming regional elections in January
through shared knowledge and learning
2010, the role of your committee, a student
experiences. The first regional newsletter is
zone, a UNISON update, what the being launched at the region’s annual life
committee has been up to in recent long learning event to celebrate the
months and news on our membership. We committee’s ongoing commitment to
appreciate your feedback on Headline providing opportunities to support OT’s
and welcome your articles for future issues. development within the region. We hope
to support you to share ideas, run CPD
A note from our Chair events and as a committee we can
provide advice, materials and funding to
As a committee we are very keen to ensure you have the best opportunity to
represent you and the Occupational work alongside colleagues in the region.
Therapy profession. We are well aware that Philip Harrison, our local group coordinator
our 3000 members are working in a is always on hand to offer advice and
number of different specialties and support to anyone in the region wishing to
increasingly in non-traditional roles. We are develop a local group. We also have a
proud to have the largest number of new careers advisor, Brett Lambert who is keen
members of the association in England. In to turn none believers to the OT dark side.
The committee is made up of a number of
order for this newsletter to be a success
different OT’s and advisors so that we are
and a resource for Occupational Therapist able to offer the best service to our
we are very keen to hear from you so that members so please get in touch and start
we can keep the newsletter vibrant and using your committee today.
interesting.
Email: ny.baot@googlemail.com
Tania Tulloch
Chair

2. we support. It has been a very busy time,
sourcing and ordering promotional goods,
writing adverts and liaising closely with
COT. However, it has also been a very
enjoyable and rewarding experience.
The regional committee has a number of
positions coming up for election in January Treasurer: The role of treasurer involves a
2010. Below is some information from the level of responsibility, accountability,
current members to wet your appetite on attention to detail and an interest in
the benefits of getting involved.
figures/finance is helpful. The treasurer is
Chair: I have found being chair a very more often than not involved in every
rewarding experience. Although I have activity of the Committee as any incoming
been an Occupational Therapist for many or outgoing finance attached to the
years, I found that my understanding of activities passes via the person in this role. I
how the professional body was working for would be very happy to discuss the role
me was greatly enhanced by the with anyone who is interested in putting
experience. I also believe that as members themselves forward as the “treasurer of the
of the professional body, it’s important to future”.
be able to influence and shape it by
If you are interested in a position on the
getting our voices heard. Being part of a
committee or would like to attend one of
regional committee provides a good
our meetings please email us, we hope to
opportunity to do this.
see you there soon!
Vice Chair: The major role of the vice chair
ny.baot@googlemail.com
is attending the English Board meetings at
COT. The English Board meets 4 times a Student Zone
year and reports on the activities from the Congratulations to the Teesside Student
regions. This allows regional committees to Group for organising this year’s regional
feed the views and opinions of its members student conference, which was a
complete success. We understand that
to COT council. Opportunities to support
students from Cumbria University are
other COT activities, for example in interested in hosting the event next year.
December I will representing the English
Board at a COT Think Tank day looking at There are many student groups in the
updating COT professional standards; region. To advertise your group or to find
allows the opportunity for insight into the out if there is a group at your Uni just send
issues impacting on our profession. me an email;
ny.baot@googlemail.com
Publicity: In my role as publicity
coordinator I am involved in many The regional committee's student
representative position is due to be
activities that seek to promote the role of
elected in January. If you are a BAOT
the Occupational Therapist and generally student member studying in the region
raise the profile of the profession. I liaise then you are eligible to stand for the post.
closely with the marketing team at COT If you would like to know more email
and ensure that regional events have the ny.baot@googlemail.com
appropriate publicity materials. I
contribute to the planning and Rob Berry
Student Representative
organisation of the regional groups
Lifelong Learning event and other events

3. Help, we need somebody! appropriate, however some assistants
attending the event appeared to take
away something from the practical
elements we discussed.
The regional committee is hoping to
distribute a newsletter on a quarterly basis. Recently Shirley and I also ran a stall at the
However, it will be nothing without you. We Leeds Community Trust/PCT conference on
need your stories of good practice, events Monday 2nd November. They were very
you are holding, information on a local pleased to see us there, and I took this
group in the area, anything you want to opportunity to hand out flyers for the LLL
shout about to colleagues in the region. event (Always plugging something!). This
No article is too big or small; if it is of gave us an opportunity to promote OT and
interest to you it will be of interest to others inform people what the regional
in the region. committee can offer. All in all a good few
months recruiting.
You may have also noticed the recent
launch of the new website. It is hoped in Rachel Booth
the near future we will be able to post Recruitment Officer
information on this page and have more Calling all Stewards
editorial control of its contents. Therefore
we would welcome any information you This year’s UNISON seminar was held on 22
may wish to include such as local group & 23 October 2009 in Edinburgh. There was
contact information and events. positive feedback following the event.
Stewards were particularly pleased at
We really would welcome the feedback of being able to network with fellow stewards
you all to make the web page and the and participate in workshops on topics
newsletter something that is of use to you such as TUPE and handling grievance
within the region. Please provide us with cases. Further feedback will be included in
the December edition of OTN.
your comments
Any stewards who would like copies of the
Email: ny.baot@googlemail.com
presentations and workshop materials from
Didn’t they do well?! the seminar should email
baotstewards@unison.co.uk
Remember, UNISON runs regular training
courses for stewards on handling
casework, representing members and
introduction to workplace law such as
redundancy, unfair dismissal and race,
Sophie and I recently presented a seminar disability and sex discrimination law. For
on OT at the recent DNEX event in more info on courses being run in your
Newcastle. It is always hard to know who region contact your local union learning
rep or regional education officer or go to
your audience is going to be, on the first
day there did not appear to be many http://www.unison.org.uk/events/training.a
school and college students, the audience sp
for the presentation was mainly OT staff, so
our presentation was not really Shirley Palfreeman
UNISON Representative

4. Going From Strength to Strength
Recently the BAOT in England has seen its
membership numbers grow by nearly 500
new members.
On a regional level the Northern & RCOMH was launched at the Royal
Yorkshire region has seen the most growth Society of Medicine on the 29th January
in membership as compared to others. 2009. Its mission is to: 'to develop world
Recently our membership has increased by class research in occupation and mental
169 to 3590 members. Other regions saw health to influence best practice'. If you
their membership increase by between 18 would like to receive information about
to 83 members. Good work everyone on RCOMH's work sign up to our e-bulletin, The
promoting BAOT membership within the Bridge at www.yorksj.ac.uk/RCOMH.
region.
What’s on?
HEI’s
January
Northumbria University’s Occupational 8th – Northumbria Student Conference
Therapy programs still remain full to 19th – Healthy Lifestyles: Using cycling in
capacity year on year. Graduate Occupational Therapy @ COT, London
recruitment is positive with a number of 29th – MOHOST workshop @ COT, London
graduates seeking employment in non- 29th – Masterclass - Assessing and Treating
traditional roles. Fatigue: skills and strategies for
Occupational Therapy practice @ COT,
Northumbria is also celebrating the success London
of a member of staff and two students
being selected to present at the 2010 February
WFOT Congress in Chile. As well as staff 4th – Dame Alan’s School careers event,
and student papers being accepted for Newcastle
the next COT annual conference in 9th – Mount School careers event, York
Brighton. 15-19th – AMPS course @ COT, London
Staff and a student from Teesside University March
will also be attending the 2010 WFOT 10th – Masterclass, Obesity Management
Congress so there should be a good and Health Promotion in Forensic Settings
representation of the talent within our @ COT, London
region. 11th – UKOTRF Outcome Measures and
Effective Practice @ COT, London
As discussed in the Student Zone, staff and
speakers who attended the recent student For more information visit www.cot.co.uk,
conference hosted by Teesside have said alternatively if you would like to support
the event was excellent and a great any of the regional events listed or would
representation of what students in the like further information please email:
region can achieve. ny.baot@googlemail.com
Well done to all 2007 graduates from Leeds
Newsletter content edited
Metropolitan University for successfully
by
gaining OT posts.
Sarah-Jayne Berry
Casual Website Coordinator
Samantha Shann
Education Representative