Occupational Therapy Research and Evidenced Based-Practice Network Wales (ORiENT) has been established for Occupational Therapy staff and students in Wales. Our aim is to build a network to support a Welsh occupational therapy research environment and enable occupational therapists to undertake audit, service evaluation and research to improve outcomes for the people of Wales.
If you would like to receive ORiENT announcements and become a member, please sign up here.
The Royal College of Occupational Therapists Career Development Framework (RCOT, 2022) supports self-reflection and career progression through the consideration of 4 pillars of practice. Whilst development requires expansion of knowledge and skills across all pillars which engagement with ORiENT may facilitate, the networks aims and objectives particularly align with activities that encourage knowledge and skill development within the fourth pillar; Evidence, Research and Development.
How the framework supports professional development:
Within the framework each pillar contains nine levels of practice. This is to assist individuals with mapping their current level of practice and supports planning of activities required to facilitate professional development and progression through the career levels described.
The Evidence, Research and Development pillar describes activities for consideration that are relevant for development in this area of practice:
- Access, evaluate and implement evidence to inform practice
- Initiate, design, participate in and disseminate research
- Engage with and influence broader socio-economic and political agendas
Through its ambition to create a network within Wales to support evidence-based practice, quality improvement and research activities to improve health outcomes for people in Wales, ORiENT activities align and can be mapped against this pillar as illustrated:
This website was funded by Occupational Therapy Services in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in 2025-2026, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board in 2024-2025, Swansea Bay University Health Board in 2023-2024, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board in 2022 – 2023, Hywel Dda University Health Board in 2021-2022, Powys Teaching Health Board in 2020-2021 and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in 2019-2020.
Please click here to read ORiENT’s Terms of Reference.