The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

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Footwear Training – Improving Provision of therapeutic footwear

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.​​

Day 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.​

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Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: Evidence, Bracing Techniques, and Case Studies

We are delighted to bring you this new Short Course.  There as just 40 places available!
Open to Orthotists, Nurses and all other AHP’s.

Conservative Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: Evidence, Bracing Techniques, and Case
Studies

Date and Time: Monday 11 November 2024, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM (2.5 hours)
Platform: Microsoft Teams 

Agenda
5:00 PM – 5:05 PM
Introduction 

  • Panel introduction 
  • Accessing course resources 

5:05 PM – 5:35 PM
Dr. Jill Halstead-Rastrick: 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. 

5:35 PM – 6:05 PM 
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. 

6:05 PM – 6:45 PM 
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. 

6:45 PM – 6:55 PM 
Breakout Session 

6:55 PM – 7:15 PM 
General Discussion and Q&A 

7:15 PM – 7:30 PM 
Close 

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Getting Ready for the Workplace

Beginning on a career in prosthetics and orthotics can be both exciting and challenging. Join us for an insightful webinar, “Getting Ready for the Workplace,” designed to equip new graduates and early-career professionals with the knowledge and support they need to succeed.

This comprehensive session will feature industry experts who will share valuable insights on various key aspects of transitioning into the workforce. Topics include preceptorship, mental health support, equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and international recruitment support. Attendees will also hear from an employer, gain an understanding of the benefits of BAPO membership, and learn about available mentoring opportunities.

Whether you are a recent graduate, an early-career professional, or someone looking to better understand the field, this webinar will provide practical advice and real-world experiences to help you navigate your career path effectively.

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AOPA Congress 2024

In 2024 our national congress will be held over October 24th-26th at the National Convention Centre, Canberra. The AOPA Congress brings together the nation’s largest gathering of professionals involved in the provision of orthotic and prosthetic clinical services, education and research; including orthotist/prosthetists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, assistive technology experts and rehabilitation specialists; for three days of education, networking and collaboration.

 

If you would like to promote our event, all information can be found here: https://www.aopa.org.au/events/event/aopa-congress-2024

 

Cross-promotion of our events could include:

– Listing the event within an events calendar online

– Including the event as a news item or on a website noticeboard

– Sharing the event via social media

 

Sharing diverse professional development opportunities with our orthotic/prosthetic practitioners provides invaluable perspective of the wider health field and helps our practitioners provide the highest quality orthotic/prosthetic services to our communities.

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Preceptorship Webinar for Employers, Service Leaders & Line Managers

We are pleased to invite you to this webinar titled “Preceptorship Webinar for Employers, Service Leaders & Line Managers” on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM via Microsoft Teams.

This webinar, led by Dr. Jo Watson, will delve into the importance of preceptorship in supporting new graduates as they transition into their first roles as registered practitioners.

Dr. Watson, who played a pivotal role in developing the BAPO (2024) Early Career Guidance Framework and currently leads an NHS England-funded project under The Creative Health Alliance, will share insights into how effective preceptorship programs benefit both new practitioners and the organizations that employ them.

During this session, we will explore:

  • What a successful preceptorship program entails.
  • Key factors to consider when establishing or enhancing preceptorship offerings.
  • The impact preceptorship can have on staff recruitment, retention, and development.
  • How preceptorship can elevate service quality and improve outcomes for those accessing your services.

This webinar is particularly relevant for employers, service managers, clinic leads, and line managers in the P&O sector, offering practical guidance on how to harness the potential of preceptorship to support your teams and enhance your service delivery.

To confirm your attendance, please [click here to register] . The Teams link for the webinar will be provided upon registration.

Read more about preceptorship here:

  1. BAPO-Early-career-guidance-framework-for-prosthetics-and-orthotics_compressed.pdf
  2. Principles for preceptorship | (hcpc-uk.org)
  3. Allied Health Professional (AHP) Preceptorship Standards and Framework | NHS England | Workforce, training and education (hee.nhs.uk)