Archives for September 2024
BAPO Virtual Events – Teatime Talk – Monday 21 October 2024 6pm – 7pm
This session will explore the biomechanical risk factors associated with knee osteoarthritis and introduce how Apos®, a treatment programme delivered using a foot-worn medical device, aims to address the condition.
It will introduce the device, the supporting technology and how its treatment methodology utilises well-established biomechanical principles for optimal clinical benefit. The session will outline where it fits into clinical practice, whilst discussing the impact, outcomes and evidence.
Additionally, it will discuss real-world case studies and how it has been successfully integrated into NHS knee OA pathways.
Peacocks Course – The Use of Casts and Orthoses to assist in Early Stroke Rehabilitation
There are many potential approaches to rehabilitation following stroke or other neurological insults. Some centres use casting and orthoses.
This event brings together practice from two different sites using casting as an early intervention and share their reasoning and approach.
Early mobilisation post stroke is emphasized as a key component to rehabilitation. The recently updated National Clinical Guideline for Stroke (2023) recommends people with weakness after stroke should be taught task-specific, repetitive, intensive exercises or activities to increase their strength. Exercise and repetitive task practice should be the principal rehabilitation approaches, in preference to other therapy approaches. Additionally, the guidance emphasizes that people with limitations of dorsiflexion or ankle instability causing balance limitations after stroke should be considered for ankle-foot orthoses.
Learning of any kind is dependent on having the appropriate demands on a system. Learning is reinforced by repeatable, consistent, and frequent demands on a system. The biggest demands on our lower limbs is gravity and ground reaction force. Ground reaction force generates moments about our weight bearing joints to which our neuro-muscular system must react to provide the accelerations, decelerations and stabilisation required to produce the smooth and stable pattern we know as gait. This study day will aim to explain the importance of alignment to produce normalised demands on our neuromuscular system, in order to elicit a more normal response after stroke.
Within the day, we will describe a simple clinical test to identify patient response to normal alignment and how orthotic techniques can ensure repeatable optimal alignment as part of a treatment plan. We will highlight the importance of early intervention to prevent secondary complications such as contracture, worsening spasticity and delayed optimisation of function for patients. This is highlighted with a discussion around case studies.
We appreciate the financial challenges on training so have kept costs to a minimum and cost includes lunch and all refreshments.
We hope delegates will share their experiences to add to the day.
We hope you enjoy the event.
Paul Charlton MSc
Orthotist and organiser
On behalf of FORTH (Forward Orthotic Thinking) Peacocks Medical Group
Queries to Paul@Peacocks.net
AHP Day, October 14th 2024
National AHPs Day
As developed by the #AHPCommunity itself, allied health professions (AHPs) day across England on October 14, 2024, is when AHPs/AHP teams connect and celebrate AHPs. We encourage you to celebrate on the day itself and/or throughout the week.
The Chief Allied Health Professions Officer, Professor Suzanne Rastrick’s AHPs live address will take place on Monday 14 October 2024 at 9:30am.
Understanding National AHPs Day
As the third-largest clinical workforce within health and care, Allied Health Professions (AHPs) play a pivotal role in supporting the NHS Long-Term Plan. AHPs Day is an annual occasion for AHPs in England and now internationally to unite and revel in their contribution. This day offers a platform to spotlight the remarkable impact AHPs have on the delivery of care. The collaborations across services, organisations, regions, and nations allow us to achieve:
- Reinforced awareness about the vital roles of each of the individual Allied Health Professions
- Highlighting local service achievements and their profound influence on patient care and public health
- Collaborative efforts with other services and organisations for integrated working
- A showcase for those considering a career as an allied health professional
To read more about National AHPs Day, please visit our team’s dedicated web pages.
This Year’s Theme for AHPs Day
Quality and safety is the key theme for AHPs Day 2024. This aligns with the AHP strategy for England (2022-2027): AHPs Deliver, which emphasises the importance of providing exceptional care to the people and communities we work alongside.
By delivering care that is not only safe and of high quality, but also grounded in research evidence and innovation, we can make a real difference. This approach helps us address health and care inequalities and is in perfect harmony with the aspirations of the ‘people first’ and ‘optimising care’ areas of focus within our AHP strategy.
Let’s embrace AHPs Day 2024 as a celebration of these commitments.
Who’s it for?
AHPs day extends its warm embrace to all facets of the AHP community. Whether you’re a support worker, assistant practitioner, registered professional, pre-registration apprentice, or
a dedicated student, you’re at the heart of this celebration. Yet, it doesn’t end there. Anyone with a desire to honour the remarkable contributions of AHPs and those eager to delve into the world of these exceptional professions is wholeheartedly welcomed.
The Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (England), Live Address | 9:30am – 10:00am, October 14th, 2024
The CAHPO (Chief Allied Health Professions Officer) for England, Professor Suzanne Rastrick OBE, will deliver a live address to the AHP workforce at 9:30am on AHPs’ Day. This address will express gratitude, acknowledgment, and inspiration to our dedicated colleagues. You can access the live stream through this link: AHPs Day Live Address.
The recording will be archived in the National AHPs’ Day Network on the FutureNHS platform’s resource library. To download a copy, please visit the resource library. If you need access, request permission from the workspace manager through this link or email seniorahp-manager@future.nhs.uk.
CAHPO Awards Ceremony | 5:00pm – 8:00pm (Evening)
We are excited to announce the virtual #CAHPOAwards ceremony on Thursday, October 10th. This significant annual event will be live streamed at CAHPO Awards Livestream. No registration is required; the link will be open to all.
The ceremony will run from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and will feature an introductory speech by Suzanne Rastrick, who will announce the winners and highly commended entries in each category. Additionally, Suzanne Rastrick will reveal the overall winner, the AHP of the Year for 2024. We look forward to celebrating our exceptional award recipients.
Please feel free to use the below tools to support AHP Day
Job Advert – Peacocks – Orthotists- West Hertfordshire
Job Advert – Nottingham University Trust – Band 6 Orthotist – Nottingham
Membership Badges
Diversity empowers us to enable a profession where everyone can thrive, this is beneficial for staff and service users in terms of creativity, innovation, and differing perspectives to improve working environments and provide better outcomes for everyone.
BAPO has created some digital member badges to showcase and celebrate the diversity of our profession. These are available in the member badges section once you have logged in, you can find the tab at the top of the page. If you are interested in becoming a member please contact enquiries@bapo.com
The members badges represent all our members including support workers, technicians, prosthetists, orthotists, students and apprentices.
This badge represents our members from the LGBTQ+ community, it incorporates the most recent progress pride flag, and the added elements emphasise inclusion within the LGBTQ+ community and the ongoing struggle for equality. The flag highlights marginalised groups within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly the transgender community, and those from ethnically minoritised groups, and reiterates the importance of progress in the fight for equal rig hts for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
This badge celebrates the neurodiversity of our members and service users, the infinity symbol represents the infinite spectrum of neurological differences and symbolises unity and connection within the neurodiverse community, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and acceptance. It also draws attention to the infinite potential of each person and advocates the need to approach people, attitudes, and tasks with more open-mindedness and creativity.
This badge represents our ethnically diverse membership base, including our international staff and students. Ethnic diversity includes different ethnic groups encompassing a wide range of cultural, linguistic, racial, and national backgrounds. BAPO recognises the benefits of multiculturalism in our profession and how this contributes to the richness of our society more broadly.
This badge represents the Disabled members of our profession including Disabled staff and learners. We understand the importance of inclusive environments and encourage our employment and education sectors to embed the social model of disability, where it is everyone’s responsibility to remove barriers and champion equity for Disabled people. This badge includes the colours from the overcoming flag, designed for the UN by Eros Recio, a professional ballet dancer who has Down syndrome. The colours reference those of the paralympic medals symbolising the overcoming of challenges, the three colours also represent physical, mental, and sensory disabilities including neurodiverse conditions.
This members badge represents all our members including support workers, technicians, prosthetists, orthotists, students and apprentices
Job Advert – Steeper – Clinical Specialist Orthotist – Leeds
Getting Ready For The Workplace Webinar
Beginning on a career in prosthetics and orthotics can be both exciting and challenging. Join us for an insightful webinar, “Getting Ready for the Workplace,” designed to equip new graduates and early-career professionals with the knowledge and support they need to succeed.
This comprehensive session will feature industry experts who will share valuable insights on various key aspects of transitioning into the workforce. Topics include preceptorship, mental health support, equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and international recruitment support. Attendees will also hear from an employer, gain an understanding of the benefits of BAPO membership, and learn about available mentoring opportunities.
Whether you are a recent graduate, an early-career professional, or someone looking to better understand the field, this webinar will provide practical advice and real-world experiences to help you navigate your career path effectively.