Building a strong foundation: Care principles and professional development for early career OTs
This session is aimed at Occupational Therapy students and new graduates who want to explore core principles of good care that will be guiding them as healthcare professionals. The session will touch on the four pillars of practice, the role of supervision and education, and the importance of continuing professional development throughout their careers. By the end of the session attendees should feel more confident about the foundations of care across a range of clinical settings.
Webinar Parts
Building a strong foundation: Care principles for early career OTs
This session is designed for early career Occupational Therapists to introduce them to the conceptual framework of the Four Pillars of Practice. The session will provide an on overview of the four pillars: Clinical practice, facilitating learning, leadership, and research & development. It explore how each one supports safe, effective, and evidence-based Occupational Therapy.
Learning Outcomes
Part 1:
- Describe the fundamental principles and values that underpin healthcare practice.
- Describe the four pillars of practice and their significance in healthcare.
- Compare and contrast the roles of a supervisor and an educator in healthcare.
- Explain the significance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in maintaining and enhancing professional competence.
Part 2:
- Understand the context and history of the four pillars of practice and its relevance to the development of the UK healthcare workforce.
- Define the four pillars and describe how each pillar supports effective Occupational Therapy practice.
- Identify professional activities that fall under each pillar.
- Reflect on your own learning needs in relation to each pillar.
Meet our Experts

Nicola Murphy is a dedicated and compassionate Occupational Therapist with experience within the inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. Her experience spans across many specialities including oncology, surgery/ vascular, wheelchairs services, and elderly care.
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Katie is an Occupational Therapist with experience across a wide range of settings and health conditions. She currently splits her time between a clinical role and in an AHP workforce development team. She supports delivery of practice education within the organisation, where she designs and delivers training programs for staff and students.

Jayne qualified as an OT in 1996 and has a wide range of clinical experience in acute and community settings. Her recent experience has been in Community Equipment Stores providing training and support to prescribers and commissioners.
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