News
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)
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
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
Job Advert – Nottingham University Hospitals – Band 3 Orthotic Technician, Nottingham
Mental Health Awareness Week
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)
Opportunity to to appoint an advanced clinical practitioner to the Diploma in Geriatric Medicine (DGM) examination board
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is seeking to appoint an advanced clinical practitioner to the Diploma in Geriatric Medicine (DGM) examination board.
The DGM is developed and delivered by the RCP Assessment Unit on behalf of the RCP and British Geriatrics Society (BGS). The DGM examination currently takes place as one knowledge-based assessment (KBA) and two clinical assessment periods annually. The KBA is a three-hour, 100 single best answer, assessment, whilst the clinical examination is a four station OSCE.
Opportunities to appoint two advanced clinical practitioners for Diploma in Geriatric Medicine Development (DGM)
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is seeking to appoint two Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) to the Diploma in Geriatric Medicine (DGM) development group.
The DGM is developed and delivered by the RCP Assessment Unit on behalf of the RCP and British Geriatrics Society (BGS). The DGM examination currently takes place as one knowledge-based assessment (KBA) and two clinical assessment periods annually. The KBA is a three-hour, 100 single best answer, assessment, whilst the clinical examination is a four station OSCE.