The document provides guidance for new occupational therapy graduates on developing their professional networks through graduate groups. It outlines several resources for networking and continuing professional development, including checking the BAOT and COT websites for news, events and tools. Suggestions are given for inviting regional colleagues and specialists to share their experiences. Reflective practice is emphasized as a way for graduates to document their learning and develop their portfolios for revalidation. A variety of formal and informal CPD activities are listed that graduates can engage in to further their skills and careers.

1. New Graduate Groups
Group activities and contacts
2011-2012

2. Guidance Notes
• The notes forthwith are a reference tool to support the effective
development of your new graduate group
• Use these notes as you wish, to help support discussions, generate
ideas and engage those who are attending for the first time or the
20th time
• BAOT new graduate groups are a key resource to share your
experiences and learn and develop your knowledge and skills as a
practicing OT
• Use these groups as your free CPD. Reflect on the contacts you
make and how you can use them to further your career goals.
Identify the transferable skills of building rapport, leadership, time
management-even money management!
• Lastly, this is not an exhaustive list nor a prescription on how to
develop your network. Enjoy and be open to meeting new people
and learning from their experiences

3. BAOT Resources
• Check the BAOT website for the latest news stories
• Use the BAOT library or download the latest hOT topic on
contemporary practice; for resources that can help you visit
http://www.cot.co.uk/cot-library/cot-library
• Bring in the latest Otnews, look at an article to review and
discuss
• Use the BAOT Facebook page or contact the COT Social
Media Officer (andrew.brown@cot.co.uk) to set up a
Facebook page for your BAOT New Graduate group for your
BAOT region. Use this to invite and advertise your
networking event, post an agenda/topics to be discussed,
or a key speaker who will be attending-this may be
yourself!

4. Regional groups and
Colleagues
• Invite a member of your regional group to the
networking evening to link with the activities of the
region and hear about the experiences and advice that
regional members can share relevant to your local
practice area
• Invite a regional speaker from your University; a tutor
or expert currently researching best practice
• Plan topics ahead of time; approach an OT or member
of the multi-disciplinary health team to come and
share with the group their work, experiences and tips
for developing their career

5. HPC Standards for CPD
• Check the HPC website for information
• http://www.hpc-uk.org/registrants/cpd/standards/
• Develop your portfolio using the attached reflective log
after each networking session
• Bring in your portfolios for advice and comparison
• Visit COT’s website www.cot.org.uk for more CPD
ideas, for example on joining Specialist Sections or
Regional Groups and for CPD tools and resources on
the iLOD (interactive learning opportunites database)

6. COT Specialist Sections
• Research a specialist section of your interest
• Share with the group contact details, event
info or ways to network with professionals
who are members of a specialist section and
have expert knowledge
• Invite a member from a specialist section to
join the group to learn more about what the
specialist section does, opportunities to join
their structures and benefits of membership

7. COT Mentorship
Scheme
• Join the scheme or find out more on how you
can access the support and career
development advice of a mentor
http://www.cot.co.uk/cpd/mentorship-
scheme

8. Get involved with
regional opportunities
• There are a wealth of opportunities for you on
BAOT committees, boards and local groups. See
the website for more information and regular
announcements in OTnews
• Join the BAOT New Graduate e-bulletin for
monthly updates on resources and information
relevant to your career development by
contacting olivia.lokko@cot.co.uk

9. Contacts at COT
• Contact any of the officers at COT for help and
advice. Key contacts are:
• Beriah Nelson, Senior Membership Development Officer:
– Tel: 020 7450 5474 email: beriah.nelson@cot.co.uk
• Louise Cusack, Specialist Sections Manager:
– Tel: 01767 313 266 email: louise.cusack@cot.co.uk
• Fiona Fraser, Education Manager-Student Services
– Tel: 0207 450 2351 email: fiona.fraser@cot.co.uk

10. Reflective log: questions to
guide reflection
What was the nature
of the experience or
event? Explain the
subject.
What do I need to do
Select the part of the
next? How can I put
event that was
my learning into
significant and/ or
practice in another
important to you.
situation?
What were my
desired learning
outcomes? What aspect of the
event went well?
What have I learnt
from the experience?
What were my feelings
What was not so good?
about what happened?

11. Ideas for CPD activity
• The following list should give you an idea of
the kinds of activity that might make up your
continuing professional development.
• Visit COT’s website www.cot.org.uk for more
CPD ideas, for example on joining Specialist
Sections or Regional Groups and for CPD tools
and resources on the iLOD (interactive
learning opportunites database)

12. Work based Professional Formal / Self-directed Other
learning Activity educational learning
• Learning by doing • Membership of and • Membership of and Reading journals/articles • Public service
• Case studies involvement in a professional involvement in a professional • Reviewing books or articles • Voluntary work
• Reflective practice body body • Updating knowledge • Courses
• Clinical audit • Membership of a specialist • Membership of a specialist through the internet or TV
• Coaching from others interest group interest group • Keeping a file of your
• Discussions with colleagues • Lecturing or teaching • Lecturing or teaching progress
• Peer review • Mentoring • Mentoring
• Involvement in wider work • Being an examiner • Being an examiner
of employer (for example, • Being a tutor • Being a tutor
being a representative on a • Branch meetings • Branch meetings
committee) • Organising journal clubs or • Organising journal clubs or
• Work shadowing other specialist groups other specialist groups
• Secondments • Maintaining or developing • Maintaining or developing
• Job rotation specialist skills (for example, specialist skills (for example,
• Journal club management or assessment management or assessment
• In-service training skills) skills)
• Supervising staff or students • Being an expert witness • Being an expert witness
• Visiting other departments
• Membership of other • Membership of other
and reporting back
professional bodies or professional bodies or
• Expanding your role
• Analysing significant events groups groups
• Filling in self-assessment • Giving presentations at • Giving presentations at
questionnaires conferences conferences
• Project work or project • Organising accredited • Organising accredited
management courses courses
• Evidence of learning activities • Supervising research • Supervising research
undertaken as part of your • Being a national assessor • Being a national assessor
progression on the Knowledge
• Being promoted • Being promoted
and Skills Framework or your
Personal development Plan