The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

News

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HCPC

It’s nearly time to renew your HCPC registration.

HCPC has confirmed there will not be a fee increase for this two year period.

The renewal window for your Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration as a registered prosthetist/orthotist is coming up on 1 July 2023. The window is open for 3 months and closes on 30 September 2023.

It’s important that you renew your registration successfully and on time, so you can continue to practise as a prosthetist/orthotist for the next two-year cycle.

To be best prepared ahead of your renewal we advise you to:

  • Make sure your email address and contact details are correct in advance – you can update them on your HCPC online account.
  • Set a reminder and don’t leave it to the last minute – you can renew via your HCPC online account as soon as the window opens on 1 July 2023.

You can find more details and renewal guidance on the HCPC website HERE

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BAPO Chair Peter Iliff in London for joint roundtable meeting with the Chief Medical Officer

Peter Iliff has represented BAPO in London at a meeting between the AHP professions,  the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Allied Health Professions Officer, Suzanne Rastrick.

The meeting was an opportunity to promote the role of prosthetists and orthotists in positively influence healthy ageing within the population. 

Document – BAPO Healthy ageing and the role of prosthetics and orthotics personnel

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Nationally recognised allied health profession-specific training programmes for healthcare workers to be developed by The University of Salford and Coventry University.

BAPO is delighted to be supporting the development of a specific P&O training programme, that will provide a recognised qualification and stepping stone for those within our profession to transition to a higher level of practice. We encourage all members to support the programme as it develops, to assist us in retaining skilled and capable staff, enabling them to benefit from rich and rewarding careers.

A message from The ECP project team at the University of Salford and Coventry University:

The University of Salford and Coventry University have been chosen by the NHSE (formerly HEE) to develop a new nationally recognised allied health profession-specific training programmes for healthcare workers.

The training will be available for practitioners across seven allied health professions (Dietetics, Diagnostic Radiography, Occupational Therapy, Operating Department Practitioners, Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Prosthetics and Orthotics).

The new Enhanced Clinical Practice (ECP) project will provide a framework for structured education pathways and apprenticeships for allied health professionals, helping to support career progression and retain staff, many of whom leave in their early to mid-stage careers. It will aim to support the development of the workforce, ensuring people can continually grow and update the skills they need throughout their careers.

Dr Gill Rawlinson, Director of Allied and Public Health at the University of Salford, said: “There are significant issues with retention and a lack of clear career development opportunities for allied health professionals and we really hope that through this work with NHSE we will be able to address this need. “This new training framework will offer a means for people to develop their careers further and feel more valued without having to leave the profession they love and are skilled at. The University of Salford and Coventry University are both among the largest providers of Allied and Public Health subjects in England, and we are proud and excited to be working together to develop and deliver this innovative new programme.”

Amanda Royston, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Coventry University, said: “We are proud to be undertaking this important project with the University of Salford; using our combined strength and expertise in the education and development of allied health professionals to deliver new education pathways and apprenticeships for the health and social care sector across England.”

Dr Kim Stuart, AHP Professional Development Lead at Coventry University stated that: “We are working with NHSE, health and social care employers across England, professional bodies, and allied health professionals to ensure that the new education pathways and apprenticeships are fit for purpose and deliver the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to deliver high-quality person-centred care.”

At this moment in time, we are looking to gain an understanding of the priority areas within the P&O profession. 

The ECP team will be attending the ‘Prosthetics and Orthotics Workforce Summit’ in Birmingham on the 15th of June to provide more information on the project and collect feedback from P+O stakeholders. If you would like to attend, please register for the event using the following link: https://www.bapo.com/2023/05/12/prosthetics-and-workforce-summit/

Your insight would be very valuable to us.

Thank you.

The ECP project team at the University of Salford and Coventry University

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Mental Health Awareness Week 15th – 21st May 2023

The theme for this year’s mental health awareness week is anxiety. Pressures such as exams, work, relationships, life events, starting a new job, or unemployment can create feelings of anxiety. In addition to the standard life stresses, we are recovering from the impact of Covid-19 as well as dealing with a cost-of-living crisis.

The mental health foundation commissioned a survey in November 2022, they surveyed 3000 adults aged 18 and over and found that 29% of adults experienced stress, 34% experienced anxiety and 10% said they felt hopeless because of financial worries during the previous month.[1]

We can all experience anxiety, however if it escalates it can become a mental health issue, therefore ways to deal with anxiety can improve our mental health.

The mental health foundation has complied a list of helpful strategies to combat anxiety including breathing techniques, mindfulness, movement, and reflection in this link. MHAW23-coping-with-anxiety-tips.pdf (mentalhealth.org.uk)

Those who manage staff play a key role in improving workplace wellbeing, parity of esteem is valuing mental health on a par with physical health, this can increase employee resilience and engagement and reduce sickness absence rates. Mental ill health, musculoskeletal injuries, stress and acute medical conditions are the most common causes of long-term absence (four weeks or more) from the CIPD health and wellbeing at work survey.[2]

Katie Prosser’s 2019 Orthotic job satisfaction survey, indicated that both NHS and company orthotists face similar issues of attrition, feeling undervalued and high workload pressures. The strongest predicting variable for intent to leave was how well orthotists feel they were treated by their employer.[3] 

A Leeds university review into effective treatment and prevention of burnout and stress found that organisational interventions produce longer-lasting effects than individual approaches, with changes to workload or working practices appearing to reduce stressors and factors that can lead to burnout.[4]

Mental health first aid England have produced a guide for line managers to use as part of their toolkit in supporting employees.

Line Managers Resource Screen.pdf (windows.net)

[1] Stress, anxiety and hopelessness over personal finances widespread across UK – new mental health survey | Mental Health Foundation

[2] Health and wellbeing at work 2021: survey report (cipd.org)

[3]Job satisfaction among NHS and private orthotists: a cross-sectional comparative study | Request PDF (researchgate.net)

[4] 25022016_Burnout_Rapid_Review_2015709.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

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Are you a prosthetist who works with children and families? Have your say in research!

Hi,

My name is Caile Gordon and I am a trainee clinical psychologist at Lancaster University. I am conducting a research project to submit as part of my thesis for the Doctorate of Clinical Psychology to better understand the experiences of prosthetists managing the psychological aspects of their work with children and families.

To better understand how prosthetists experience and make sense of these aspects of their role, I am conducting up to 1 hour interviews asking you to answer questions like “what are the positives aspects of your relationships with patients?” and, “Can you tell me about a time when you feel you found it difficult to manage the psychological needs of patients?”. The interview will be recorded to analyse an anonymised version of our transcript.

To take part, we ask that you have been practicing as prosthetist for at least 1 year in the UK, that you currently work with children and families and, that you are able to speak English. If you would like to learn more about this study and leave your email address for the lead researcher, Caile Gordon, to get in touch please click on the link below:

https://lancasteruni.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1M8iYFaC2OWVxvo

Participant Information Sheet

Best wishes,

Caile Gordon (He/Him)
Trainee Clinical Psychologist
Email: e.c.gordon@lancaster.ac.uk

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Prosthetics and Orthotics Workforce Summit (NHS England)

NHS England wishes to gather as many prosthetists, orthotists, technicians, students, apprentices and managers to help shape future growth in the prosthetics and orthotics professions.
At the summit you will hear about the findings of the recent national workforce survey conducted by the University of Staffordshire. There will be active discussion about the best way to grow our professions and we will explore opportunities to expand the skills in our workforce.

Please direct any questions to juliet.sturgess@hee.nhs.uk 

WHEN
Thursday 15th June 2023
Registration from 9.30am
Finish 4pm

WHERE
Burlington Hotel, Birmingham
https://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/burlington/guest-information/how-to-get-here

This is a free in person event. Register your interest here

Prosthetics and Orthotics Workforce Summit Flyer