British Association of Occupational Therapists Limited
2018 COUNCIL ELECTION
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Are you ready for a Leadership role? Or a new challenge? Do you want to play an active role within the occupational therapy professional community? If the answer is Yes, then consider standing for election to the RCOT’s governing Councils.
The Formalities:
You will be a Council member for both BAOT and the RCOT. All members of Council are Directors of the two companies limited by liability, the British Association of Occupational Therapists Limited (BAOT) and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). They are registered as Directors at Companies House and have the full responsibilities of Directors.
The Royal College is also a registered charity. Charity trustees are the people responsible for controlling the management and administration of the charity. Council Members therefore become trustees of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and also have to abide by the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 and the Trustee Act 2000.
What’s Involved:
All members of Council are formally responsible for the governance of the organisation, including financial matters, the management of identified risks and the agreement and monitoring of the organisation’s annual work plan. As well as some of your time, these responsibilities require a commitment to the long term sustainability of the organisation and the profession and should not be undertaken lightly. Holding a Council seat is demanding and requires a willingness to shoulder corporate responsibility and deal with complex and differing issues. It does, of course, also provide intellectual stimulation as well as learning opportunities relating to business management and professional body administration.
Council consists of nine members and there is an expectation that all Council members think strategically and actively contribute to discussions and key decisions extending beyond their own area of practice and experience. Council members are not expected to represent constituent groups of the profession but rather to act as leaders of the profession as a whole. They may be called upon to debate complex issues and make important decisions in order to safeguard the organisation and its members.
Your Commitment:
In terms of the level of input required, Council members are expected to attend four one-day meetings per year, normally held in London and starting at 10.30am. They are also expected to attend the Annual General Meeting held during the Annual Conference. Expenses are refunded in line with the organisation’s agreed expenses rates. There is a considerable volume of documents to read and consider before each Council meeting. There are also routine Council mailings and emailing which may, for example, involve members in responding to consultations or feeding back specific information within defined deadlines.
Your Development:
Being a Council Member is a demanding but fulfilling role and you are advised to gain the support of your manager so that he/she is aware of the time away from work, which the responsibility of holding a national office involves. Those who have previously served on Council have reported the experience as stimulating, educational and rewarding. This is an opportunity to develop your skills in a new sphere, to act as a leader in the professional community and to support your professional body.
The independent scrutineer for the forthcoming ballot, appointed in accordance with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, will be Electoral Reform Services. The election results willbe announced at the Annual General Meeting in June 2018.
The following seats are available for nominations:
- Chair of Council –The key tasks for this role are to provide leadership to the Association/ Royal College, to chair Council and to ensure that Council functions effectively and carries out its duties.
Council Member, English Board – This role is for an individual who is working and / or resident in England and who will become the Chair or Vice-Chair) of the English Board
Council Member, Industrial Relations – this role is for an individual who is a BAOT steward, who will become a member of the BAOT/UNISON Occupational Therapy Panel.
Council Member, Northern Ireland Board – this role is for an individual who is working and / or resident in Northern Ireland, and who will become the Chair (or Vice-Chair) of the Northern Ireland Board.
Council Member, Scottish Board – this role is for an individual who is working and / or resident in Scotland and who will become the Chair (or Vice-Chair) of the Scottish Board.
Council Member, Welsh Board - this role is for an individual who is working and /or resident in Wales and who will become the Chair (or Vice-Chair) of the Welsh Board.
NOTES
- All nominees must be BAOT professional members in good standing (of at least five years in good standing for the role of Chair).
- Proposers and seconders must be members of BAOT in good standing.
The Chair of Council is elected annually. The term of office for the other seats is three years.
- Election will be by a ballot of BAOT members in good standing (in the case of the Council Members forEngland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, theseindividuals will be elected by a ballot of all members in good standing in their respective countries).
Please contact Dominique Le Marchand, Senior Administrative Officer ( or 020 7450 2317) for a nomination form or additional information. See also:
The deadline for receipt of nominations is noon on Friday 9 March 2018 by either hard or electronic copy.
Julia Scott
Secretary and Chief Executive