Empowering Lifelong Learning for Prosthetists and Orthotists
Whether you’re a student, early-career graduate, or experienced clinician, this space is your hub for curated tools, trusted resources, and professional development content.
At BAPO, we’re committed to making high-quality education accessible and relevant—supporting your growth across the Four Pillars of Practice:
🔹 Clinical Practice
🔹 Leadership & Management
🔹 Education & Facilitation
🔹 Evidence, Research & Development
📦 What We Offer
🎓 Short Courses
Expert-led deep dives into clinical topics, leadership, and workforce development.
🖥️ Virtual Events
Access webinars, Teatime Talks, and live webinar sessions tailored to all career stages.
👩🏽🏫 Educator Resources
Support for clinical educators, supervisors, and mentors guiding the next generation.
🧑🏾🎓 Pre-Registration Learner Resources
Foundational tools and guidance for students and apprentices entering the profession.
📺 On-Demand Library
Catch up on recorded courses, webinars, and case studies—available anytime, anywhere (members only).
🚀 Getting Started
✔️ Join BAPO to access member-only content like our CPD tracker, on-demand recordings, and exclusive webinars.
📅 See what’s coming up – Check out our events calendar for upcoming short courses, webinars, and Teatime Talks.
🔗 Explore more free resources via our Learners Hub and Educators Network.
💬 Have questions or suggestions?
We’d love to hear from you: enquiries@bapo.com
BAPO Ran Short Courses
BAPO Course – Celebrating Neurodiversity in Prosthetics and Orthotics
Around 15% of the population is estimated to have a neurodevelopmental difference, such as ADHD, dyslexia, or autism. This number tends to be significantly higher in industries that champion creativity and lateral thinking – such as P&O.
This virtual webinar offers an introduction to the topic of neurodiversity, from a neurodivergent perspective.
It explores the most common neurodivergent conditions and seeks to explain why we think, feel, and act the way we do. It looks at practical, holistic ways to accommodate and work with neurodivergent traits – not just for neurodivergent patients, but for neurodivergent staff and other stakeholders too.
This will be followed by a discussion on the NHS England project, what inclusive design looks like in higher education and how this can be applied in Prosthetic and Orthotic placement settings and the workplace to provide equity and inclusion for Disabled people.
This course will be useful for Placement Educators, Managers, Service Leads in P+O and the wider AHP community, Clinical staff, and anyone wanting to learn more about neurodiversity, inclusive design, and Disability in the workplace.
For information on this course, contact enquiries@bapo.com
Tabby Heely
BAPO Clinical Standards Officer
Tabby graduated from the University of Salford in 2017 and began her career working as a prosthetist across the West Midlands and North Wales. Tabby is a Clinical Skills Tutor at the University of Salford and has also taken on the Clinical Standards Officer role within BAPO. She continues to enjoy practising prosthetics as an NHS prosthetist one day a week in Wrexham.
Tabby is openly autistic, and has a special interest in neurodiversity; through her work with the University and with BAPO, she hopes to challenge perceptions of autistic people both within our profession and in the wider world.
Tabby is openly autistic, and has a special interest in neurodiversity; through her work with the University and with BAPO, she hopes to challenge perceptions of autistic people both within our profession and in the wider world.
Gemma Cassidy
BAPO EDI Lead
I gained my qualification in Prosthetics and Orthotics from Salford University in 2004. I have worked as an Orthotist for NHS trusts and private companies in the public and private sectors. I gained my diploma in Hypnotherapy and Advanced Psychotherapy in 2013. My interests lie within P+O, the impact of AHP’s in the healthcare space, in addition to health psychology and health inequalities. I am proud to be a member of the P+O community. I am the BAPO EDI lead, I aim to contribute to a holistic and equitable culture in P+O.
Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-cassidy-9a49a16a
Facebook: Compass health, Orthotics and Counselling | Facebook
Twitter: @gemmacassidyba1
Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-cassidy-9a49a16a
Facebook: Compass health, Orthotics and Counselling | Facebook
Twitter: @gemmacassidyba1
Lilit Movisisyan
Account Management LeadDiversity and Ability (D&A)
Lilit is an amputee (who has the pleasure of using both prosthetic and orthotic devices!). She will share her lived experience and insights into inclusive practice in healthcare, education, and the workplace. Diversity and Ability is an award-winning social enterprise led by and for disabled people. We champion intersectional neurodiversity and disability inclusion, creating positive and lasting culture shifts through bespoke technology, workshops, consultancy, and support. Lilit is a lead Account Manager at Diversity and Ability (D&A), responsible for supporting organisations such as the NHS and Transport for London to remove barriers and create inclusive environments. Her role includes managing AXS Passport, our free digital tool for sharing access needs.
LinkedIn (Diversity and Ability)
Twitter (@DandA_Inclusion)
Instagram (@diversity_and_ability)
YouTube (Diversity and Ability)
Facebook (@dnamatters)
LinkedIn (Diversity and Ability)
Twitter (@DandA_Inclusion)
Instagram (@diversity_and_ability)
YouTube (Diversity and Ability)
Facebook (@dnamatters)
Other
DEBOP
Career and Education Guides
BAPO Careers Development Framework for Prosthetists and Orthotists
BAPO Careers Development Framework for Prosthetists and Orthotists
This framework is written for the prosthetic and orthotic workforce, both the regulated and non-regulated sectors, from support workers and technicians to consultants and Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACP).
Funding to develop this resource has been provided to support the NHS and its workforce.
However, because of the unique commissioning of service provision for P&O, any guidance must also extend to the industry and commercial sector, which partners with the NHS to provide prosthetic and orthotic services to NHS patients.
The framework could be used by individuals and organisations, team leads, and managers who wish to support and engage with career development. It is not prescriptive, nor does it favour a single model of career development.
It favours a growth-based approach to careers that may be hierarchical or heterarchical, and so applies to a diverse range of groups and individuals as well as to different organisational structures.
This framework is written for the prosthetic and orthotic workforce, both the regulated and non-regulated sectors, from support workers and technicians to consultants and Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACP).
Funding to develop this resource has been provided to support the NHS and its workforce.
However, because of the unique commissioning of service provision for P&O, any guidance must also extend to the industry and commercial sector, which partners with the NHS to provide prosthetic and orthotic services to NHS patients.
The framework could be used by individuals and organisations, team leads, and managers who wish to support and engage with career development. It is not prescriptive, nor does it favour a single model of career development.
It favours a growth-based approach to careers that may be hierarchical or heterarchical, and so applies to a diverse range of groups and individuals as well as to different organisational structures.
Prosthetists and Orthotists Preceptorship Guide
Prosthetists and Orthotists Preceptorship Guide
A guide to improving confidence and enhancing competence following professional registration.
A guide to improving confidence and enhancing competence following professional registration.
Broughton W and Harris G. (2022) (Eds.) Principles for Continuing Professional Development and Lifelong Learning in Health and Social Care
BAPO Curriculum Guidance for the pre-registration education of prosthetists and orthotists
BAPO Curriculum Guidance for the pre-registration education of prosthetists and orthotists
This is the first publication of Curriculum guidance for the pre-registration education of prosthetists and orthotists. It was written as part of a programme of work by the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO) funded by NHS England (formerly Health Education England) as part of a wider Allied Health Professions (AHPs) initiative to identify workforce reform priorities for the 21st century relating to the prosthetics and orthotics occupations. It is part of the programme area “AHP modernisation and reform” which also covers modernising the career framework to optimise the professional body and the profession’s engagement in advancing practice and clinical academic careers.
This is the first publication of Curriculum guidance for the pre-registration education of prosthetists and orthotists. It was written as part of a programme of work by the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO) funded by NHS England (formerly Health Education England) as part of a wider Allied Health Professions (AHPs) initiative to identify workforce reform priorities for the 21st century relating to the prosthetics and orthotics occupations. It is part of the programme area “AHP modernisation and reform” which also covers modernising the career framework to optimise the professional body and the profession’s engagement in advancing practice and clinical academic careers.
BAPO Early career guidance framework for prosthetics and orthotics
BAPO Early career guidance framework for prosthetics and orthotics
Welcome to the Prosthetics and Orthotics Early Career Guidance Framework, a
comprehensive resource designed to help enhance the support made available to newly
qualified practitioners as they navigate the transition from university to the workforce.
The framework has been developed in response to the identified need to more effectively
support preparedness among early career professionals, to help them build strong
professional foundations and to go on to enjoy productive and fulfilling careers.
It is crucial that we invest in the development of a capable and resilient workforce to
better meet the needs of patients and adapt to the evolving healthcare landscape. A
recent workforce survey highlighted the contemporary career expectations of students
and newly qualified professionals, which underline the need for ongoing support to
improve workforce retention in prosthetics and orthotics
Welcome to the Prosthetics and Orthotics Early Career Guidance Framework, a
comprehensive resource designed to help enhance the support made available to newly
qualified practitioners as they navigate the transition from university to the workforce.
The framework has been developed in response to the identified need to more effectively
support preparedness among early career professionals, to help them build strong
professional foundations and to go on to enjoy productive and fulfilling careers.
It is crucial that we invest in the development of a capable and resilient workforce to
better meet the needs of patients and adapt to the evolving healthcare landscape. A
recent workforce survey highlighted the contemporary career expectations of students
and newly qualified professionals, which underline the need for ongoing support to
improve workforce retention in prosthetics and orthotics
BAPO Advanced Practice in Prosthetics and Orthotics-Updated July 2024
BAPO Leadership Programme
We also have some introduction presentations available to view:
BAPO Introduction to gait for support workers
BAPO Introduction to lower limb orthoses for support workers
BAPO Introduction to lower limb prosthetics for support workers
BAPO Introduction to upper limb orthoses for support workers
BAPO Introduction to upper limb prosthetics for support workers
BAPO Practice-Based Learning Framework