The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

Education

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Social Prescribing

RSPH have just launched a new framework for social prescribing for AHPs

Social prescribing, sometimes referred to as community referral, is a means of enabling people to be referred to a range of local, non-medical services. 

Recognising that people’s health is determined primarily by a range of social, economic and environmental factors, social prescribing seeks to address people’s needs in a holistic way. It also aims to support people to take greater control of their own health.

Social prescribing can meet a wide range of needs, with many schemes aiming to improve mental health and physical wellbeing. It can be used to support adults, young people and children as well as people with learning disabilities or mental health problems. It can take place in primary and secondary care. Social prescribing can also help to address social issues such as debt, unemployment, gambling and loneliness.

Social prescribing and community-based support is part of the NHS Long-Term Plan’s commitment to make personalised care[i] business as usual across the health and care system in England. The NHS Long Term Plan[ii] published in January 2019 has a commitment to personalised care and increasing access to social prescribing for the whole population. 

This approach to holistic care is not new to allied health professionals who frequently have conversations and provide support related to the wider factors influencing the health of the people they work with. 

To illustrate the way AHPs already support this agenda and to provide a framework to support them to do more; a new social prescribing framework for AHPs[iii] has been developed by the Royal Society for Public Health, Public Health England, NHS Improvement and NHS England along with AHP professional bodies and voluntary sector partners.

The framework is divided into 4 sections to reflect the varying intensity of AHP interventions, these include:

  • Active signposting – a light-touch approach where staff provide information and choice to signpost people to services, using local knowledge and resource directories.  This works best for clients who are confident and skilled enough to find their own way to services after a brief conversation. 
  • Referral to a link worker – In cases where a person needs more support than active signposting can provide, it may be appropriate to refer them to non-medical link workers who can provide more time to understand what matters to the individual and connect them to relevant community groups and other agencies for practical and emotional support.
  • Undertaking social prescribing – AHPs are likely to undertake social prescribing themselves when they are already providing long-term intensive support to a person as part of their job role. It will involve supporting people to work out which local groups and services would be beneficial to them and helping them to access them in a variety of ways. You may need to work through multiple options with a client and accompany them on first visits. Some AHPs are likely to do this than others because of the nature of their role.
  • Supporting the development of social prescribing – for example by providing community groups and services and providing guidance, supervision and training to link workers.

Over 2500 AHPs engaged with the development of this framework by completing a survey, joining a twitter chat, providing feedback on early drafts and submitting case studies.  This shows the enthusiasm for this agenda amongst the professions.  We hope the framework will support all AHPs to articulate their current role in social prescribing and consider how they could do more.

Click here to access the site

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[i] https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/

[ii] https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-term-plan/

[iii] https://www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/resources/ahp-social-prescribing-frameworks/ahps-promoting-growing-and-developing-social-prescribing.html

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E-Learning, Public Health and Returning to Work

The new Work and Health e-learning programme, developed by Public Health England and Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare, helps healthcare professionals to recognise the value in talking to patients about work.

The e-learning will support them to make brief interventions such as discussing the health benefits of work with patients, talking about return to work and advising on adjustments at work.

Good work is crucial to good health – in fact, unemployment increases the risk of early death by 63%.  Healthcare professionals can play a key role in helping patients to improve their health outcomes by remaining in or returning to work.

In recognition of the impact that work can have on our health, the Association of Medical Royal Colleges, the Royal College of Nursing and the Allied Health Professions Federation have published a Health and Work Consensus Statement for Action – this sets out a commitment to support healthcare professionals in supporting this agenda.

For more information about the e-learning programme and details of how to access it visit: https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/work-and-health/.



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National AHP Dementia WEBEX

The Scottish AHP Dementia programme delivers webinars to help clinicians and support good practice, they have invited all members of AHPFS (Allied Health Professional Federation Scotland) of which BAPO is a member, to join the National AHP Dementia WEBEX – sharing practice; connecting people, connecting support.

 

Date   –   Wednesday 24th April 2019

Time   –   3.30 – 4.30pm

Topic  –    CPR for feet – the impact of pressure ulcerations on the foot and how to reduce the risk.

Guest presenters – Karen Mellon, podiatrist, Dunfermline NHS Fife

 

To join the WEBEX you need to

  1. Reply to wendy.chambers@nhs.net to register (if you are joining as a group then only 1 person needs to register the group)
  2. Have access to internet/computer to view the slide show during the WEBEX
  3. Have access to a landline phone to join the audio; listening to the presentation and joining the WEBEX discussion

 

Please ensure you have registered by the 23rd April. Requests after this date will not be able to join.

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CPD Statement

A working group comprising organisations from across a range of health and social care sectors has launched a set of principles for continuing professional development (CPD) and lifelong learning.

The principles are designed to guide individuals, employers and wider systems to create a culture of continuous improvement, workforce development and improve outcomes for service users. People working in the health and social care workforce operate in a changing, challenging and complex environment. Practicing safely and effectively, now and in the future is essential.

The five principles are that CPD and Lifelong Learning should;
1. be each person’s responsibility and be made possible and supported by your employer
2. benefit the service users
3. improve the quality of service delivery
4. be balanced and relevant to each person’s area of practice or employment
5. be recorded and show the effect on each person’s area of practice

Will Broughton, Director of Professional Standards for the College of Paramedics and Chair of the working group, said:
“We believe that the health and social care workforce should have the opportunity to undertake CPD activity and these five principles clearly illustrate how developing new knowledge, skills and evidence-based working will produce an effective workforce, who are well-equipped and prepared to deliver high quality services.
It is our intention to evaluate the impact of the principles next year ahead of a review in January 2021. We welcome feedback from people working across the health and social care workforce that will contribute to further versions of this document.
Thank you to all members of the working group, the organisations who hosted our meetings and for the behind the scene support that got this to finished project.”

Please follow this link to access the publication:
https://www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk/publications/principles-for-cpd

or Click Here to Dowload

The Interprofessional CPD and Lifelong Learning UK Working Group is made up of: Allied Health Professions Federation Scotland, Association of Clinical Scientists, British Association of Art Therapists, British Association of Music Therapy, British and Irish Orthoptic Society, British Dietetic Association, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, College of Operating Department Practitioners, College of Paramedics, Institute of Biomedical Science, Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists, The British Psychological Society, The Royal College of Midwives, The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, The Society and College of Radiographers, UNISON and Unite the union.

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Promotional Videos

SIHED is working hard to continue to promote our professions and in conjunction with the NHS campaigns team have created some promotional videos.

You can see these going out on Facebook and Twitter this week or you can download them @ https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/77/resources/4284

These can be used at any careers event or within NHS trusts to encourage people to consider P&O as a career.

 

 

 

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Online workshop on #advancedpractice

BAPO members have been sent an Invitation to join an online workshop on #advancedpractice

Below is a Letter from Beverley Harden, the AHP Lead for Health Education England

I am writing to announce the launch of an online workshop on multi-professional advanced and consultant practice and to ask you join the discussion.

The workshop will run, initially, for a period of two weeks until Friday 16 November. During that time we are keen to get as many people involved in the discussion so that we can develop a much clearer understanding what is happening across health and care in advanced practice now, but even more importantly, what needs to change. Your views are critical to help Health Education England, NHSE and NHSI and others develop this role, working with employers, healthcare professionals, educators and trainers, professional bodies and regulators.

Participating is easy; simply register at the following site (https://advancedpractice.clevertogether.com) and get thinking! You can observe the discussion, post ideas or comments, or simply press a voting button to express support for an idea already up there. It really is that simple. What’s more it’s anonymous and moderated by our partners, innovation agency, Clever Together.

Please could you share widely across your networks, your communications teams and encourage people to ALSO sign up to https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/advanced-clinical-practice/virtual-reference-group to stay updated after the workshop.

More background information is set out below, but once again, we’d really appreciate your participation so please do get involved.

With best wishes,

Beverley Harden

HEE AHP lead and National Lead for Multi-professional Advanced and Consultant Practice

 

Background

Why is this debate so important? The health and care system in England is evolving rapidly to deliver innovative models of care to meet the developing needs of individuals, families and communities. There is a growing consensus that if high quality patient care is to be sustained in the future, new and emerging roles will need to play a crucial part in the NHS.

One such group is likely to be those working at an advanced level of practice, experienced clinicians* who meet the four pillars of the Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England or the ’in development’ Multi-professional framework for consultant practice in England. This online workshop has been designed to enable us to listen to the views of all stakeholders as we in Health Education England seek to play our part in developing the workforce of the future.

The NHS (in England) Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England described the high-level imperative for a new approach to development and assurance for advanced clinical practice. This has been reiterated by many other individuals and organisations, such as the Nuffield Trust in their recent report looking at acute medical care in small hospitals. Advanced practice roles are seen across all areas of care e.g. in diagnostics, mental health, acute care, urgent and emergency care, rehabilitation, primary and community care, cancer, maternity, children’s and young people the list goes on.

But we need to take this further. We know we need to understand better the needs of employers, what the opportunities, risks and issues are for service, as well as any barriers which may exist to the development of these roles, including access to, and assurance of, the right education and training.

 

*In this context ‘experienced clinicians’ refers to all registered healthcare professionals, except registered medical professionals/doctors.

 

Our aims for this online workshop

  • Develop a better and more detailed understanding of the opportunities for advanced clinical practice and especially the needs of patients and how these roles can help NHS and other employers
  • Identify the challenges in developing advanced clinical practice in the workplace and what further assurance is needed in their education, training and supervision
  • Consider whether some form of supporting infrastructure is needed to develop advanced practice further, what its purpose would be and what roles it should undertake

 

How will the debate work?

  • The platform acts as an online workshop, where some broad questions are asked but in which participants lead the debate on what they see as important for advanced practice.
  • Participants’ contributions are anonymised. This ensures a safe space which allows for real conversation and innovation as peers judge ideas on their merit, not their author.
  • We’re seeking your views, experience and evidence. These can be on any topic or issue related to advanced clinical practice.
  • We invite you to rate and comment upon the contributions of your peers, too. This is really helpful in assessing whether issues are isolated, or whether they are reflected across organisations or systems.
  • As with a physical workshop, there may be strongly different views. Please respect the right of those with views differing from your own to express them.
  • This debate is designed for anyone with an interest in advanced practice but especially: patient representative organisations; healthcare professionals; NHS employers; other employing organisations; professional bodies; regulators; and arms-length bodies.
  • This is an independent debate: Clever Together has been asked to complete a thematic analysis to reveal priorities for HEE’s consideration.
  • Colleagues at HEE will report back on how they use the results of this debate to help steer and guide their planning and change programmes.
  • You will be able to see how your voice has been heard and how your inputs have been used, and by who (IT IS NOT A “BLACK HOLE” SURVEY).
  • Finally, although HEE’s remit is England only, we welcome feedback from everyone, we are keen to learn from experience across the UK or internationally.

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Charcot-Marie-Tooth Awareness Month 2018

Charity calls on Orthotists to help it find the missing 20,000!

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Awareness Month 2018

 

Charcot Marie Tooth UK is A charity that supports people with the little known, genetic, neurological disorder called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is using its September CMT Awareness Month 2018 to raise awareness of the condition and its symptoms among orthotists

Leading neurological expert, Professor Mary Reilly, estimates around 23,000 people in the UK have CMT, which can cause uncontrollable pain, chronic fatigue and deformities in the hands, lower legs and feet, leading to balance problems and falls.  The charity, Charcot-Marie-Tooth UK only knows of 3,000 with the condition and believes that some of the 20,000 remaining are still undiagnosed and suffering in silence – it is asking orthotists to help find them.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth is named after the three scientists who discovered it.  Steadily progressive, it causes muscle weakness and wasting in the lower legs and feet, leading to problems like hammer toes, restricted mobility, and uncontrollable pain.  The hands and fingers are also affected, making tasks needing fine motor skills, such as fastening shoe laces and buttons, very difficult.  Although CMT is not life-threatening, for many, it will impact on and significantly reduce the quality of their lives, with some people even ending up as wheelchair users.

CMT UK’s chief operating officer, Karen Butcher said: “People with undiagnosed CMT may have been referred to an orthotist and we would really like them to be more aware of CMT so patients can get a quicker diagnosis if the GP has missed it.

One of our members was only diagnosed two years ago at the age of 78, having gone through most of her life never knowing why she was always in pain and tripping up and falling; she is only getting the help she needs now, at this late stage.

Orthotists should look out for patients presenting with corns, callouses or hard skin on their feet, which comes about when people have to walk on a different part of their foot due to muscle wastage in the legs.  There could also be a change of shape in the foot such as a high arch or flat foot and hammer or claw toes.  Patients may also mention other classic signs of CMT such as clumsiness, pain, balance problems leading to unsteadiness, trips and falls and chronic fatigue.

These signs don’t necessarily mean the patient has CMT, but it is a good indication and if CMT is suspected, then they should be told to visit their GP who can refer them to a neurologist who is able to undertake a full assessment, including nerve conduction tests, to make a diagnosis.

While CMT is currently incurable, early, accurate diagnosis can improve the lives of those with the condition as it can be managed more effectively, and proper genetic counselling can be received so the risks to the next generation can be learned.

We would also appreciate it if orthotists would refer anyone with CMT to our charity so we can offer advice on how to manage the condition as well as information on benefits, jobs and family issues.

Professor of Clinical Neurology and Consultant Neurologist at UCLH, Mary Reilly, is also Patron of Charcot-Marie-Tooth UK.  She explains: “CMT has many different characteristics, but commonly there is weakening and loss of muscle and reduced sensation, predominantly in the feet and legs, but also in the hands and arms in the advanced stages of disease.  These lead to a range of orthopaedic complications, leading to a variety of mobility and dexterity problems, and sometimes scoliosis.

CMT does not describe a single disorder, but a group of conditions. It is important to determine exactly what kind of CMT someone has, in order to improve their quality of life and this can only be done once a diagnosis is considered in a patient.  Anecdotal evidence from CMT UK tells us this takes much longer than we would like and many people put up with CMT for a long time thinking they are clumsy or have funny feet, suffering in silence when they could be receiving help and support.

As a Professor of Clinical Neurology, whose main clinical and research interest is inherited neuropathies like CMT, I have first-hand experience of how useful and critical the input from Charcot-Marie-Tooth UK is to this patient community. The charity provides an excellent information resource for patients and everyone we see in the clinic is given its details to access its literature, website resources and online discussion forums.”

Charcot-Marie-Tooth UK offers advice on how to manage the condition as well as support with benefits, jobs and family issues.  It says that while CMT is currently incurable, it can be managed effectively, so the right referrals to the right clinicians are crucial to improve the lives of those with the condition and proper genetic counselling should be received so the risks to the next generation can be learned.

CMT Awareness Month is being launched by charity Charcot-Marie-Tooth UK on Saturday 1 September 2018.  Last year, the campaign received an unexpected boost when former Girls Aloud star, Cheryl Tweedy, posted on Instagram about the condition, which affects her friend’s son.

Find out more at www.cmt.org.uk or contact 0300 323 6316

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NICE in Action – webinar series

Launch of NICE into Action webinar series for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs)

 

Evaluating, improving and evidencing the impact of AHP services in health, care and wellbeing is a priority for AHPs into Action, so we are delighted to share the launch of the NICE into Action webinars.

 

This series of four free webinars from NHS Improvement, NICE and NHS England will help AHPs to:

  • understand and engage with NICE’s work
  • influence guideline development
  • take structured approaches to implementing guidelines and using quality standards
  • support greater uptake of NICE guidance to improve care and outcomes for patients and service-users.

 

The webinars will take place once a month, over lunchtime:

 

Further information on each session is available via the hyperlinks above. The webinars have been designed to complement each other as a series, or accessed as standalone sessions – we hope people will gain the most value by taking part in them all. They can be joined live or viewed afterwards, and registration for each webinar is also via the links above.

 

For more information about CAHPR see their website