The British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotics

Education

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Phase 2 of the Supervision Hub on the Gwella HEIW (Health Education and Improvement Wales) Leadership Portalis now live!

Building on the foundations of Phase 1, this updated version provides an improved, more intuitive experience and expanded content to further support high‑quality supervision across health and social care in Wales. These enhancements are informed by user feedback and continue to be aligned with the principles of the A‑EQUIP model, supporting professional development, wellbeing, compassionate leadership, and improved service outcomes.

Key improvements include:

  • A redesigned and more accessible layout
    – making navigation simpler for all
  • Updated guidance, tools, and resources 
    – to better support supervision in practice
  • Expanded profession‑specific information
    – with clearer signposting relevant to different roles and regulatory requirements
  • A more streamlined structure 
    – that helps users quickly find content relevant
  • Improved links to national policies, standards and good practice
    – strengthening shared understanding across the workforce.

We would like to encourage you to explore the new and improved site and make use of the resources available. You can access the profession‑specific information here: 
https://nhswalesleadershipportal.heiw.wales/supervision/role
or to learn more about our work visit:
Supervision Hub for health and social care professionals: Phase 2 – HEIW

We will continue to expand this content further and so feedback remains extremely important. If BAPO members have any comments or suggestions, please share them via our feedback form linked on the site.

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BAPO Tech and Trends Webinar – EDSER -From Scan to Solution: Mastering the Digital O&P Fabrication Workflow

Over the past decade, we’ve seen a major shift from plaster-based workflows to digital fabrication.
The promise of a faster turnaround, better reproducibility, and improved patient experience is the usual hook, but in reality, many clinics discover that digital fabrication introduces new complexities, not fewer. Digital doesn’t automatically mean simple – it means different
This webinar’s goal is simple: to walk through the entire digital fabrication workflow, step by step, and openly discuss what works well, what commonly goes wrong, and how those challenges can be mitigated.
We’ll also talk about why many clinics choose to work with a central manufacturing partner that can support them in the transition to a digital fabrication workflow.

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Prosthetics & Orthotics Apprenticeship – University of Derby

Dear Colleague

You might be aware, through recent consultation meetings, that the University of Derby has been reviewing the viability of its Prosthetics & Orthotics Apprenticeship provision, due to recent low numbers.  We have been delighted by the response of the industry to this consultation and the support that has been shown for the continuation of this delivery.

We are pleased to confirm the commitment from the University to continue these programmes and we are now opening our recruitment for September 2026.  We would like candidate details by the end of June if possible but can be more flexible if required.

Information on our Level 3 Technician Apprenticeship can be found on this web link – https://www.derby.ac.uk/apprenticeships/apprenticeship-courses/level-3-prosthetic-and-orthotic-technician-apprenticeship/

Information on our Level 6 Clinician Degree Apprenticeship is here – https://www.derby.ac.uk/apprenticeships/apprenticeship-courses/prosthetics-and-orthotics-degree-apprenticeship/

We are hosting a webinar for each programme to give you information on how to fund and support apprentices and information on each programme via separate sessions below.  Please complete a booking for one of the sessions and we will then send you an invite to the meeting.

 

We have also been informed by NHS England that they will be providing funding that will be available to support the back-fill of roles during the apprenticeship.  We will send another email with confirmation of this funding as soon as it has been announced formally.