Collaboration Across Work & Health Gains New Energy as Sector Leaders Unite

Collaboration Across Work & Health Gains New Energy as Sector Leaders Unite

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A renewed wave of collaboration is taking shape across the work, health, and rehabilitation landscape, as leaders from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, vocational rehabilitation, and case management came together again to share updates and coordinate future efforts. The meeting highlighted a shared determination to strengthen professional visibility, influence national policy, and ensure that the right expertise is represented in conversations about work and health.

One of the most immediate developments comes from ACPOHE, where preparations are underway for a free interdisciplinary webinar on 15 June. The session will bring together physiotherapists, OTs, VR professionals, and an occupational health physician to explore how each profession approaches workplace health challenges. Using simple case studies, the panel aims to highlight the complementary strengths of each discipline and demonstrate how collaborative practice can improve outcomes. ACHPOE also confirmed that a new website will launch within weeks, offering clearer membership pathways, including associate and student membership options that have previously been difficult to navigate.

The Vocational Rehabilitation Association shared updates on its continued commitment to accessibility, including free membership for students and newly qualified professionals. The group discussed the importance of ensuring VR is represented in national conversations, particularly after a recent government-led cancer and work event failed to include VR, OH, or AHP voices. With the Keep Britain Working review now published, the group agreed that the sector is in a stronger position to advocate collectively for meaningful representation in future policy work.

RCOT’s involvement in government policy discussions was also highlighted, with its policy team well connected across Westminster. RCOT is set to play a major role at this year’s OT Show, where case management will feature prominently thanks to CMS UK’s growing involvement. This shift marks a welcome move toward more clinically relevant content at the event, which in previous years had leaned heavily toward equipment and exhibition stands.

Case management organisations, including CMS UK and BABICM, emphasised the importance of ensuring their profession is visible in both conference programming and policy discussions. With case management referenced throughout the Mayfield Review and increasingly recognised as a vital component of return-to-work support, the group agreed that future conferences, particularly the Health & Wellbeing at Work Conference, should reflect this. Encouragingly, ACPOHE and RCOT have already secured agreement to co-chair the MSK stream at the 2026 conference, giving clinicians early influence over programme design. The group intends to build on this momentum by pushing for a dedicated Vocational Rehabilitation stream and exploring how case management can be integrated into the programme.

A recurring theme throughout the meeting was the need for a unified voice in national policy. With occupational health provision becoming increasingly commercialised and concerns raised about algorithmic triage replacing clinical judgement, the group stressed the importance of safeguarding quality and ensuring that human expertise remains central to work and health support. There was strong interest in exploring the formation of an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to give the sector a more formal platform in Westminster. Early advice suggests that securing an MP sponsor will be essential, and several potential routes for engagement were identified.

Looking ahead, the organisations agreed to coordinate their efforts around upcoming opportunities, including conference submissions, government consultations, and sector-specific initiatives. A shared statement is being drafted to address the lack of VR, OH, and AHP representation at the recent cancer and work event, and a follow-up meeting will take place in the coming weeks to maintain momentum.

What emerged from the meeting was a clear sense of shared purpose. Across all professions represented, there is a growing recognition that collaboration is not only beneficial but essential. By working together, these organisations aim to strengthen their collective influence, improve the visibility of their professions, and ensure that the future of work and health is shaped by those with the expertise to make a real difference.

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