The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

News

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University of Plymouth : Preparedness for Practice Research – Study Participation

The University of Plymouth is undertaking research on preparedness for practice, on behalf of the HCPC. As part of this work, they are inviting HCPC stakeholders such as yourselves to take part in a study on HCPC Registrants’ Preparedness for Practice.
 
The work is helping us recognise any areas where additional support may be needed by students and newly qualified registrants. The research will help us to:
  • Develop resources for students and newly qualified registrants (learning materials, guidance documents, learning events, etc)
  • Better engage with education providers to enable them to address areas of challenge through their education programmes
  • Improve our work with employers and professional bodies to ensure additional support is provided where possible; 
  • Provide useful insights for our upcoming review Standards for Education and Training.

 This is an important piece of research that will help us to better understand and improve areas where additional support may be needed for newly qualified HCPC registrants. We hope that you will consider taking part. The requirements are:

  • HCPC registrants who have been practising between 6-18 months about their preparedness for practice.
  • Practice placement supervisors who have supervised students on their first clinical placement
  • Employers who have employed newly qualified HCPC registrants in the past year
  • Commitment to approximately 30 mins for an interview.
Please take time to read the information sheets carefully before deciding whether or not to participate. If you are interested in taking part, please complete the online consent form which is available here. The research team will then contact you to ask you to complete a short online questionnaire and to arrange a convenient time to conduct a research interview (via Microsoft Teams).
 
If you have any questions in the meantime or require more information, then please do not hesitate to contact the Principal Investigator Dr Nicola Brennan at the following e-mail address nicola.brennan@plymouth.ac.uk.
 

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Call for Papers

In 2023, BAPO is running regional events instead of a national conference. The theme of the regional events is “The 4 pillars of prosthetic/orthotic practice”.

Free papers may be about a clinical audit, service improvement, clinical or technical quality improvement, case study, technical note or research study.

We encourage prosthetists, orthotists, technicians, support workers, managers, researchers and students to submit an abstract for a 12-minute presentation about their practice in one or more of the 4 pillars of practice:

  1. Clinical and Technical Practice
  2. Leadership and Management
  3. Education / Facilitating Learning
  4. Evidence, Research and Development

Further information:

  •  Each presentation will be for 15 minutes (12 minutes presentation plus 3 minutes questions/answers).
  • All submissions will be reviewed by a working group of the Education Committee which reserves the right to accept or reject the application.
  • All submissions will receive a written acceptance or reason for not being included in the 2023 regional event.
  • We recognise and value the amount and depth of work which goes into preparing a submission. We want to encourage submissions, which if not accepted for this year may be reconfigured for other events.
  • Submission deadline for free paper abstracts closes Friday 19 May 2023 at 5pm.
  • Free paper speakers to be notified by Friday 26 May 2023

To submit your Abstract, please complete the MSForm template. If you have any questions, please email enquiries@bapo.com

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Science Museum Technicians Gallery – Request For Volunteers

In November 2022 the Science Museum opened Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery to inspire young people aged 11–16 to consider technical careers across a range of industries. You and your organisation helped make this happen by either being featured on gallery, creating workshops that were delivered to schools or by chatting to our team sharing what your technician role entails.

An exciting opportunity has become available to continue the collaboration with you in the look out to find some more technicians that would be interested in sharing their stories with young people.

Where do you come in?

We are recruiting a team of people with technical backgrounds from a range of organisations to participate in authentic and engaging experiences that speak directly to the young people who visit the Science Museum. These experiences include hands-on workshops, demonstrations, and Q&A sessions, delivered in the gallery by real technicians with support from our experienced Public Engagement Team. Your staff’s skills, knowledge and experiences could help young people imagine themselves in the role of a technician and or apprentice!

Our ask of you

Technicians/apprentices that sign up will participate in a free programme of training over 1.5 days.  Working with local young people, they will build their confidence to share their experience, skills and the pivotal moments of their careers, with other young people.  Facilitated by the Museum engagement team your technical staff will participate in careers-focused Q&A Sessions.

  1. The Q&A sessions will last 40-minutes and will be delivered to school groups and families
  2. Your staff will answer young people’s questions about your organisation, and their role as a technician and or apprentice.
  3. They will be able to sign up to 5 volunteering days across the academic term, reaching up to 180 students and their teachers each day

Find out more!

On Thursday 4th May from 17:00 – 18:30, we will be holding an Open Evening at Sci-Fi Lates! Here you can:

  1. Find out more about the exhibits, the stories that have been told and the role that you could play
  2. Take part in an interactive to give you an example of the Science Museum Group’s public engagement approach
  3. Meet some of the Science Museum Team that will be supporting you
  4. Ask any questions you may have

From 18:30, you are free to explore Sci-Fi Lates! Lates is an adults-only after hours event that gives you the chance to explore the museum at night, take part in themed activities and much more! So, expect lots of science-fiction themed fun, food and drink! You will also get a drinks voucher from us to use at Lates to get yourself a free drink.

If you would like to attend or know someone in your team that might be interested, then please do RSVP by emailing STEMVolunteers@sciencemuseum.ac.uk by Friday 28th April.

If you would like to find out more about the gallery and the programme, then please do read the further information below or do drop us an email with any questions you have.

Best wishes,

Technicians Programming Team

Further Info

Who is the programme for?

• Schools – booked education groups only in school termtime

• Family events – for family groups across school holidays

• Special events – programming during the summer holiday period

What will young people gain?

Young people will be able to imagine themselves in a role in a company such as yours through this programme. They will:

• Explore their skills and use their knowledge to work through the same tasks and challenges that technical staff face every day in their jobs.

• Work as part of a team in hands-on experiences using real tools.

• Ask staff the career questions they want answered.

What will you gain from this experience?

• Public speaking and presentation skills – your employees will be supported and trained to highlight their achievements, share knowledge and stories, and inspire young people.

• Experience of working directly with young people and trained learning professionals.

• Experience of working in a different environment, in a world-renowned institution and a national museum – contributing to your employees’ professional development and strengthening their loyalty to your company.

• Partnership building – connecting with schools, colleges and universities gives these institutions broader insight into your industry, opening up opportunities for you to shape the skills being taught to your future workforce.

• Networking opportunities – employees from a variety of different industries will be able to get to know one another and share experiences.

• Having fun, stepping out of their comfort zone and taking on a new challenge.