Professional Development Opportunities: Short Courses & Webinars
At the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO), our commitment to lifelong learning is central to our mission. As the recognised professional body for prosthetists and orthotists in the UK, we understand the critical role that accessible, high-quality education plays in maintaining clinical standards, advancing practice, and enabling career development.
Our educational programmes are designed to empower practitioners—whether newly qualified or highly experienced—with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to meet the dynamic needs of modern prosthetic and orthotic care. BAPO supports professionals throughout their career journeys, ensuring that learning opportunities are relevant, practical, and impactful.
Webinars
Our wide-ranging webinar series offers engaging content delivered by leading experts in the field. Topics include emerging technologies, clinical best practices, patient case studies, healthcare policy updates, and interdisciplinary approaches. These flexible online sessions provide members with the opportunity to stay abreast of current developments—all from the convenience of their home or workplace.
Structured Short Courses
In addition to webinars, BAPO delivers structured short courses aimed at deepening specialist knowledge and promoting professional excellence. These courses are grounded in real-world practice and aligned with evolving clinical demands, offering hands-on learning and peer collaboration. Participants benefit from interactive formats that encourage dialogue, critical thinking, and practical application.
Member-Led and Accessible
Our educational initiatives are shaped by the profession itself. We actively seek member feedback and encourage topic suggestions, ensuring that our content remains relevant and responsive to the evolving needs of prosthetists and orthotists. Furthermore, BAPO is proud to offer many of our webinars and learning resources at no cost or reduced rates to members, reinforcing our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
Through ongoing investment in education, BAPO is not only supporting the growth and development of individual practitioners but also contributing to the advancement of the profession as a whole.
Course description:
This 2 day face-to-face short course offers participants an opportunity to learn about the orthotic management of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders of the foot and ankle in a group setting (maximum 18 participants). The experienced faculty of Orthotists will share their knowledge and skills in both theory and practical sessions.
Prior to the commencement of the course, registrants will be asked to read four designated full text journal articles.
During the course, participants will attend taught theoretical sessions mixed with active learning which will involve dividing into smaller groups to interpret x-rays and assess each other’s feet and ankles with feedback and guidance from the faculty team.
The course offers participants an intimate, focussed, and friendly learning environment away from the bustle of everyday clinical work to refresh their knowledge with best available evidence and equip them with the skills to enable them to build their confidence and MSK practice.
Aims:
This event aims to equip Orthotists and other AHP’s regularly involved in treating adult MSK foot and ankle conditions with the assessment, diagnostic and image interpretation skills to enable them to differentially diagnose and holistically manage Musculoskeletal foot and ankle conditions.
Faculty:
Simon Dickinson, Clinical Director & Consultant Orthotist, TalarMade Ltd
Chris Cox, Teaching Fellow, National Centre for Prosthetics & Orthotics, University of Strathclyde
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this event the participant will be able to:
Describe normal Foot and Ankle function
Describe a range of MSK Foot and Ankle pathologies
Define the tests required for differential diagnosis of a range of Musculoskeletal Foot and Ankle pathologies
Demonstrate competence in interpreting the outcomes of a range of diagnostic tests
Utilise imaging as part of the MSK patient assessment
Demonstrate the ability to differentially diagnose a range of Musculoskeletal Foot and Ankle conditions
Perform a thorough biomechanical examination to determine the biomechanical deficit
Establish an evidence-based holistic treatment plan to address the presenting issue
Generate a detailed evidence-based orthotic prescription, management plan including anticipated outcome
Intended Participants:
Practising Orthotists who have not previously attended the “Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Foot and Ankle Problems for Orthotists” course
AHP’s regularly involved in treating adult MSK foot and ankle conditions
and
Practising Orthotists who attended the “Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Foot and Ankle Problems for Orthotists” between 2015 – 2016
Please note this course is not available to Students.
Venue:
TalarMade Ltd, Edinburgh House, Millenium Way, Chesterfield, S41 8ND.
We encourage practising Orthotist attendees to apply for reimbursement from OETT
(The Orthotic Education and Training Trust).
Course fee funding for non-BAPO members would be at the BAPO member rate for practising Orthotists only.
Applications can be made on the OETT website at www.oett.org.uk
Requests for reimbursement must include evidence of reflective learning/CPD.
The course aims to improve the skills of the Orthotist when providing
therapeutic footwear to their patients.
Day 1 is presented virtually and covers footwear assessment procedures, what to consider, analysis of the situation and how to use this information to choose the most appropriate type of footwear. The different types of footwear will be discussed, stock, modular, and bespoke footwear (its uses, allowances, benefits and limitations). The mechanics of feet and how they affect footwear and how footwear affects feet is included, with lots of detail about designing bespoke footwear and how each part of it should be specified and designed by the orthotist to achieve the best outcome for the patient.
Days 2 and 3 are face to face and includes practical sessions aiming to improve assessment, measuring skills, casting, fitting, supplying and reviewing skills.
Potential problems at fitting and review and how to resolve them will be discussed and suggestions on how to improve practice will be suggested.
Attendees should be prepared to share a short case study on day 1. This can be either a success or a problem that they experience in their footwear provision. A brief description is all that is needed but photos would help.
Attendees should bring an example of a footwear draft to day 2.
Delegates will need to attend all 3 days of this Short Course.
About the Instructor - Clara Bailey
Clara graduated in 1995 from Paddington College in London with a HND in orthotics. She has worked at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield for the past 24 years, where she is the Clinical Lead Orthotist.
She is also the Blatchford Footwear Clinical Lead.
Winner of the 2020 BAPO Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2023 Advancing Healthcare BAPO Award for Inspirational Innovators in P&O, footwear provision is Clara’s specialty and passion.
She recognises the importance of therapeutic footwear to our ever-growing and aging population and provides mentorship and troubleshooting for colleagues who are having issues with footwear. She especially enjoys providing complex orthopaedic footwear to patients, and seeing how well-fitting, functional footwear can change their lives.
Clara created a footwear training course that she presents within the Blatchford team. The course has recently received its CPD accreditation, opening it up to all orthotists through BAPO. She has also written a book as a compliment to the course.
Clara has been involved with the ongoing development of the Blatchford line of footwear, improving the range and helping write the new catalogue. Clara has also produced many guides and leaflets for use within Blatchford to help with clinical processes.
Intended Participants: This course is open to practising Orthotists only.
BAPO Members, BAPO Member Graduates and non BAPO members.
Please note: this course is not available to Students.
We encourage practising Orthotist attendees to apply for reimbursement from OETT
(The Orthotic Education and Training Trust).
Course fee funding for non-BAPO members would be at the BAPO member rate for practising Orthotists only.
Applications can be made on the OETT website at www.oett.org.uk
Requests for reimbursement must include evidence of reflective learning/CPD.
Conservative Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: Evidence, Bracing Techniques, and Case Studies
Current Evidence and NICE Thresholds
Speaker: Dr. Jill Halstead-Rastrick
Description: Exercise and weight loss are the first-line treatments for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Alongside this, knee braces offer people with knee pain an alternative treatment option, especially for those where first line treatments or knee surgery are not possible, but the evidence is limited.
Knee bracing was reviewed as part of the recent OA NICE guideline update and this will be discussed.
Auditing Knee Brace Provision
Speaker: Matthew Wood
Description: During the Covid-19 pandemic, when elective surgery was suspended on the NHS, the waiting list for total knee replacements got longer with fewer resources available to manage deteriorating patients. We designed an audit to propose appropriate patients are offered an orthotists’ assessment whilst they wait, and a protocol was agreed. This provided us with an opportunity to prove that the research supporting knee bracing could provide benefits to quality of life, improve outcomes, and reduce costs.
In this session, we wish to share the learning from this audit and provide a framework for those interested in addressing local barriers to provision.
Biomechanical Principles and Brace Selection for OA Bracing
Speaker: Giles Leeming
Description: Bracing for knee osteoarthritis relies on biomechanical principles to manage the osteoarthritis (OA) by redistributing the mechanical load across the knee joint. Understanding these principles is crucial for selecting and customising braces to cater to individual patient needs, ensuring effective pain management and functional improvement. Giles Leeming will go through these principles, and will also delve into the principles for accurate brace selection; and present case studies
Giles will also introduce Allan Henshall, a bi-lateral brace user and will also present problem-solving through various case studies.
Past Short Courses & Webinars
