Run a VIP event

Inviting a VIP, such as a politician, to your service is an excellent way of promoting the profession

You can show the VIP what a difference occupational therapy makes through organising demonstrations, arranging meetings with service users and carers and, in the process, you can attract media coverage.

You need to consider the messages you want to convey, which will depend on the interest of the VIP. For example, a politician may be interested in broad strategic health and social care matters and funding, whereas a commissioner of services (including your organisation’s chief executive), will be interested in how to allocate funds and decide priorities for health and social care services. 

Messages 

• OT helps your budgets go further
• OT will improve your service delivery
• OT enables people to lead independent lives
• OT reduces the cost of care packages
• OT helps people to return to work
• OT promotes reablement and prevention services

Advice on hosting an event

If you are in a hospital setting, you may want to show how a care plan is created, or if you are in social care, you may prefer to arrange a visit to a home where new equipment is being installed. Here are some tips that may help you organise a visit from a VIP:

• Send a written invitation to the VIP requesting they visit your service, include in your invite why you would like them to attend
• Specify how long you want them during the visit – it is advisable to limit this to an hour
• In the letter, outline what they are going to do. This could include a new equipment demonstration, a home visit, and a service open day. The VIP is more likely to accept your invitation if he/she feels they have a definite role during the visit, so if you have new equipment or services ask them to launch this.
• Tell them who they are going to meet. If service users are available, make sure the VIP has time to speak to them.
• Allow the VIP the chance to see for themselves how the equipment works or how the service is delivered
• Make sure you have facts and figures available for the visit. e.g. the number of service users your department is currently helping; the age profile of your service users; the range of conditions your service users have; how many service users are able to remain at home as a result of OT intervention?

Remember, don’t use the visit to air your concerns or talk about problems that you may be facing in your service.  Make this visit a pleasurable experience for your VIP. You can always follow up the visit with a letter where you can specify issues you are facing.

Don’t forget to invite the local press

If the press are not able to attend your event, make sure you write a press release and take photos that you can send to the local media. Don’t forget to include local community websites in your distribution, and also send the information about the visit to your in-house magazine.

Writing to VIPs

If you are unable to organise an event, you can still influence politicians and other stakeholders by writing to them. Politicians are more likely to take notice of letters written by their constituent members, particularly as a general election is looming.

• Download template letter inviting a VIP
• Download template letter inviting a service commissioner
• Download template letter inviting a politician