Our guest is Steve Ford, CEO of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. Steve shares how listening was the key to developing their new strategy. He also talks about the practical steps they have taken to turn the strategy into action – including some of the difficult choices they had to make. Towards the end of the episode, we touch on why and how professional bodies need to change to remain relevant in the future.
RCOT, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists has championed the profession and the people behind it for over 80 years. Today, they are thriving with over 36,000 members. Then and now, they help achieve life-changing breakthroughs for their members, for the people their members support, and for society as a whole.
As the Chief Executive of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Steve has more than 30 years’ leadership experience in the health and social care sector and a strong record of transforming organisations both strategically and culturally.
Before taking up his role at RCOT, Steve was Chief Executive at Parkinson’s UK for 15 years. He led the charity through a time of significant growth, developing the services and support that are available to people affected by Parkinson’s, as well as building a new and innovative approach to research. Steve has always recognised the importance of good quality health and social care and so developed the UK Parkinson’s Excellence Network, as an innovative partnership between the charity and health professionals to drive up standards.
Previously Steve was a general manager and chief executive in the NHS, most recently as Chief Executive of South West Kent Primary Care Trust. Throughout his career, Steve has worked closely with occupational therapists and has been a champion of multidisciplinary care.
Steve Ford