Occupational
Therapy

Electronic
Bulletin

Issue 2
February 2009

Please click here to open a web version of this bulletin

Please send comments, ideas and suggestions for the next issue to:
j.gallacher @unison.co.uk

Scottish Occupational Therapy Forum:
 

Joint Chairs:

Sandra Dee Masson

&

Gail Coughlan

Please forward this e-bulletin to other OT and OTA's in your workplace.

Equipment and Adaptations
The Scottish Government has organised a number of consultation meetings on the proposed new policy. All the meetings are due to commence at 10 am and conclude at 3.00 pm - lunch is provided.

Glasgow	Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre	3 March
Edinburgh	Edinburgh Airport Marriot	11 March
Aberdeen	Aberdeen Exhibition Centre	24 March

 

 

 

 

 

The policy document can be downloaded in pdf format here.

You can download the attendance form in word format here.

Please note that Diane Anderson of UNISON's policy team is now coordinating UNISON Scotland's response to the consultation. You can email Diane by clicking here.

 

Independent Safeguarding Authority

Links to the latest UNISON branch and member briefings on the ISA scheme are available here. Please note that this scheme does not apply to Scotland - however a similar scheme is to be introduced in Scotland. The details of the scheme for Scotland have yet to be published.
 

BAOT Stewards’ Network directory – updated January 2009

An updated version of the OT Stewards directory is now available on the UNISON section of the BAOT website click here. You will need your BAOT membership number to log-in.

 

BAOT/UNISON Stewards listed in this directory have agreed to share their contact details with fellow stewards to encourage information sharing and networking. Please complete the OT Stewards’ Network Questionnaire to update, remove or add your details. Please download the questionnaire here

 

Do you receive COT’s Highlight?

BAOT members can sign up to receive Highlight, a twice-monthly e-mail bulletin of occupational news to inform your practice. To receive Highlight direct to your inbox click here

Positively Public briefing – January 2009

The latest 2009 edition of UNISON’s Positively Public briefing is available to download here:

In this edition:
* Public services needed in a recession
* Credit Crunch update
* Sodexo quits school meals contract
* ‘Death by misadventure’ at ISTC
* Local government privatisation accelerates

Preceptorship for Band 5 OTs in the NHS

Preceptorship is part of the Agenda for Change agreement and all NHS organisations are obliged to put preceptorship in place. Newly qualified Band 5 staff should receive an automatic incremental uplift at 6 months and 12 months after appointment to their first Basic Grade OT post. Eligible staff are entitled to back payment from October 2004 when the AFC terms and conditions went live. We regularly hear of instances where Band 5 staff are not getting their preceptorship entitlement.

 

A guidance briefing on preceptorship in word format is available by clicking here. A model preceptorship policy in pdf format which has been adopted in various NHS organisations is available by clicking here. You may want to circulate this information to colleagues who are having difficulties having preceptorship properly implemented in their workplace and urge them to elect a BAOT steward to help take this issue forward.
Next Meeting

The next meeting of the OT Forum will take place at the UNISON Scotland Office, 14 West Campbell Street, GLASGOW G2 6RW commencing at 10 am on 17 March 2009. The meeting will conclude at 1.00 pm and lunch is provided. Please click here to register your attendance. The meeting is open to ALL UNISON OTs and OTAs.

 

And Finally! If you don't ask - they won't join You can download a UNISON membership application form by clicking here