The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO) is one of ten Allied Health Professional (AHP) professional bodies working together to support the growth and quality of practice-based learning in pre-registration education.
Last year, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) teamed up to develop a set of principles that offer a clear direction for creating quality, practice-based learning opportunities for both physiotherapy and occupational therapy learners (students and apprentices).
Recognising that no profession works alone, BAPO is now joining CSP and RCOT, along with seven other professional bodies and will be coming together to launch a co-badged and updated version of the principles in the autumn.
BAPO is coming together with:
Tamsin Baird, CSP Education Advisor and Carolyn Hay, RCOT’s Head of Education are excited to be able to work with so many other professional bodies to support the further embedding of the principles of practice-based learning. Since their launch in October 2022 the principles have been well received by educators, university teams and learners. CSP and RCOT made the principles freely available to all AHPs and the new co-badged version will continue with this open insight.
The principles act as a catalyst for conversation and structure thinking to support the thousands of practitioners who are delivering practice-based learning opportunities for our future workforce. Without a growing number of quality, sustainable placement opportunities we will not be able to prepare the AHPs of the future for practice. These principles provide a common-sense approach detailing current evidence and practical pointers to support the breadth of placement opportunities needed.
On joining this collaboration Sandy Sexton, Education and Practice Development Officer from BAPO says “we are collaborating on the Principles to support the development of quality, sustainable placement opportunities for pre-registration prosthetists and orthotists”.
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BAPO recognises that the publication of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan represents a major opportunity for England’s health and care systems. Publication will be seen as an achievement for everyone who has supported the process and BAPO applauds those stakeholders responsible for its delivery. BAPO will play an active part in supporting those measures, including apprenticeships, which strengthen our workforce and enable members and colleagues to improve the care to those within our population, whose wellbeing and health rely on the skills and commitment of our prosthetists, orthotists, technicians and support workers.
A new digital handbook for healthcare support workers (HCSWs) has been developed by NHS England elearning for healthcare in partnership with the London region HCSW programme team.
The handbook serves as a ‘one stop shop’ of resources that are relevant to existing and future HCSWs. It captures many areas of the HCSW’s journey including applying for a HCSW role, Care Certificate, career development, skills and “day in the life of” videos to showcase all the opportunities a HCSW can work in.
There is also a support section which signposts learners to further information such as raising concerns, health and wellbeing, and buddying.
The resource is aimed at HCSWs, people interested in a HCSW role, HCSW leads in Trusts, nursing leads and educational leads.
For more information and to access the handbook, please visit the HSCW Handbook programme page.
The government has committed to a number of measures to support integrated care systems in response to two key reports.
Responding to the Hewitt Review which reported its findings on 4 April and the recent Health and Social Care Select Committee (HSCC) Inquiry into the workings of the local health and care systems, the government reaffirmed its support for integrated care systems.
In its response, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) outlines the steps it will take working with NHS England and local health and care systems, to support learning and improvement and join up care for patients and communities. As part of this the department will review and streamline national targets to ensure that systems are able to focus on improving health for their populations.
In line with the recommendations of the reviews, the government has also committed to:
The actions from the government’s response will support health and care systems to be more effective, making them a vital tool for improving the speed at which people will receive care in their local areas and in some cases reducing their need to be placed on an NHS waiting list where community support is available.
Government will be looking to take these commitments forward over the coming months, working with national partners and systems.
Minister for Care Helen Whately said:
“Integrated care systems are already making a difference by bringing together local NHS organisations along with social care and the voluntary sector. We know that joined up care benefits patients and that’s exactly what ICSs are there to provide.
“We have listened to the reports and the actions we’re going to take, like reviewing how we reduce admin burdens on local systems, will build on the excellent work that ICSs are already doing.”
Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, said:
“Integrated care systems have the power to change the way the NHS provides care for people while working alongside local government to ensure people live healthier lives.
“Health systems across the country are already making a real impact and we will continue to support local areas to improve outcomes for patients.”
Integrated care systems bring together NHS, local government, social care providers, charities and other partners to deliver on four goals:
Each ICS has an integrated care board that includes representatives from local authorities, primary care and NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts, who make decisions on commissioning health and care services in their local areas.
The Health and Social Care Committee launched its inquiry into integrated care systems in July 2022. Subsequently, the Health and Social Care Secretary commissioned Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt to lead a separate, independent review in November 2022, to examine how the oversight and governance of these systems can best enable them to succeed.
Both reviews covered ICSs in England including considering the NHS targets and priorities for which ICBs are accountable, including those set out in the government’s mandate to NHS England.
Drawing on the insights of leaders from across the NHS, local government, social care providers, the charitable and the voluntary and social enterprise sectors, the Hewitt review looked at how best to empower local leaders to focus on improving outcomes for their populations.
Further information