The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

Education

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BAPo Teatime Talk – Empowering the Technician Workforce

Details

Empowering the Technician Workforce explores the vital role technicians play in amputee rehabilitation, shared from my perspective as a prosthetic technician with 10 years of experience, current workshop lead, and chair of the technician committee. I’ll discuss how we can build a work environment that is inclusive, encouraging, and collaborative—one where every team member feels valued and empowered.

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BAPO Teatime Talk: AHP Day: The Three Shifts · From hospital to community · From treatment to prevention · From analogue to digital

Details

I will explore ahead of AHP day what we have to celebrate. We will take stock and consider what makes us unique and how we best serve our patients. I will look at what the 3 elements of the future shift and will be exploring opportunities. 

I will recommend: – ways in which I believe we can thrive as AHPs in the future shift. where we should position ourselves and what I believe to be the key factors for AHP success. I will share some practical examples and ideas, and appreciate discussion through questions.

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BAPO Tech & Trend Webinar: Assisting Hip Flexion with Passive Orthoses, enhancing gait kinematics and performance in Neurological Conditions

Details

Webinar Objectives:

Describe the basic Design and Mechanism of action of passive hip flexion assist orthoses
Explain the observed impacts of passive hip flexion orthoses on gait kinematics in individuals with MS specifically how these devices can lead to an increase in peak hip flexion angle in the assisted limb. 

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BAPO Webinar: Creating Awareness for Prosthetics & Orthotics through Research and Education

P&O Day UK: Working Together

Details

Join us for a special P&O Day UK webinar as we celebrate a profession built on collaboration and innovation. This year, we shine a spotlight on the role of research and education in raising awareness of prosthetics and orthotics, both within healthcare and beyond.

In this 90-minute session, three leading voices from the field—Dr. Alix Chadwell, Eileen Morrow, and Dr. Chantle Ostler—will each deliver a 15-minute talk exploring how research can shape the future of P&O practice, policy, and education.

Featured Talks

 

🔹 Evidence, Empowerment & Equity: Why P&O Must Lead our Research
Speaker: Eileen Morrow
This session will highlight the critical role orthotists and prosthetists play in delivering outcome-driven, preventative care—and why their voices must be included in research that shapes clinical policy. Drawing from her work in paediatric orthopaedics and national trials, Eileen offers a compelling case for embedding research in daily clinical practice and outlines how strong evidence can secure the future of the profession.

🔹 Research in Your Career
Speaker: Dr. Chantle Ostler
What does research in a P&O career really look like? This session explores a spectrum of possibilities—from using evidence in day-to-day practice to pursuing a clinical academic career. Chantle will share practical pathways, funding options, and insights into building a research-positive culture, including an example from the Portsmouth Enablement Centre.

🔹 Talk by Dr. Alix Chadwell
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Plus:

A panel-led discussion on how we can work together across professions to build greater visibility and understanding of P&O

An interactive Q&A session with all three speakers

This event is open to prosthetists, orthotists, AHPs, researchers, educators, and all those interested in strengthening the role of P&O through evidence and education.

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BAPO Webinar – Enhanced Clinical Practice for P&O – All your questions answered!

Details

An introduction to the Enhanced Clinical Practice (ECP) PGCert course at the University of Salford. This exciting opportunity is being offered as an Apprenticeship or Direct route for registered clinicians who have completed at least 1 year of post-registration work.  

After setting the scene for the NEED for this ECP programme, we will provide an overview to the course; what it entails, how to navigate the Apprenticeship standard KSBs, who should apply and where to go for more information.  

There will be time at the end for all your pressing questions!

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BAPO Teatime Talk – The Power of Peer Support – what does effective and sustainable peer support for the amputee community look like?

Details

In September 2023 NHS England published its own guidelines on developing and commissioning peer support. Recognising peer support as an important self-management intervention, the guidelines highlight the need to consider the resources required, how peer mentors are supported themselves, quality assurance and evaluation methods.  

 

Over the last 6 years the Limbless Association has been building on the foundations of its Volunteer Visitor VV peer support programme, originally set up over 30 years ago. The LA’s new VV programme has seen significant investment (funding from National Lottery England Reaching Communities) and is being included in several research studies in England and Wales. It’s included in the findings and outcomes of an NIHR funded study which was recently completed at De Montfort University in Leicester. Peer support resource – preamp.dmu.ac.uk 

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BAPO Short Course – Improving Provision of Therapeutic Footwear

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. 

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BAPO Teatime Tak – Communication between PO clinicians and Technicians: A qualitative Study

Details

Communication between prosthetic / orthotic clinicians and technicians plays a vital role in Prosthetics and Orthotics. Both parties have to exchange clinical and technical information which needs to be accurately understood to ensure the unique needs of patients are integrated into the design and fabrication process. Due to the limited literature investigating this topic, a qualitative study which aims to explore the impact of communication on PO devices and their relationship are required. 

Methods 

Semi-structured interviews were performed, targeting the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered prosthetists, orthotists and technicians who worked at four main Opcare centres in Midlands region and two in East Anglia region. Transcribed interviews were input into NVivo software and thematic analysis was employed to identify explore key themes arising from the qualitative data.  

Results 

Ten respondents took part in this study, seven clinicians and three technicians. Participants used a variety of communication methods; however, verbal communication was mostly preferred. Specification which was too long and ambiguous were identified as a main obstacle to effective written communication. The effectiveness of communication encounters challenges in the context of offsite manufacturing. The importance of device quality was emphasized as a significant factor affecting communication. The study also found that open and honest communication enriched team collaboration and respect among team members. 

Conclusions 

This qualitative study provides comprehensive and rich data which explores the impact of communication on PO device and relationships and offers recommendations for researchers and practitioners to enhance patient care and foster a friendly work environment through effective communication.