Thanks to everyone who came to Study Day 2023 and made it such a great day!
Following the success of our 2022 Study Day and AGM, our 2023 Study Day and AGM will be held on Friday 17 November 2023 at the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
ACPOHE Study Day and AGM 2023
Date: Friday 17th November 2023
Time: 08:30 - 17:00
Location: Atrium area and Lecture room LT1, in building Y14 - Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation building (click here for a map showing the building or click here for the online map of the whole campus - it's one of the yellow buildings), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT.
Please note that the afternoon Breakout sessions will be located in the Teaching and Learning building, an eight minute walk across the campus.
We will have students who will guide people on foot from the University train station to the Y14 building and then will take people to the other building for the afternoon session.
Getting there and away
Train & Bus – The campus has a dedicated train station named “University” that is 6-7 minutes direct from Birmingham New Street Station and is directly serviced by several bus routes. See the University travel pages for further information. We will have students who will guide people on foot from the University train station to the Y14 building.
Car – Limited parking is available on the campus and must be paid for either in cash or using the RingGo app. Parking for visitors is in specific areas - click here for instructions.
We advise, whenever possible either car sharing or travelling to the event via public transport.
Cost:
From 5th September 2023 the full price is:
- ACPOHE Members - £75
- Non-ACPOHE members - £125
This includes lunch and refreshments.
Non-members can join ACPOHE here for £50 per year to receive all of the membership benefits.
Who is it for?
Our Study Day is suitable for physios and other health professionals working in the field of occupational health and ergonomics including, but not limited to, occupational therapists, registered general nurses, occupational health advisors, occupational health physicians, graduate ergonomists, Chiropractors and student physiotherapists. Not sure if it's for you? Send an email to admin@acpohe.org.uk to ask us!
Research Posters
Study Day attendees can display a research poster in the sponsors area where all breaks and registration will be held. If you would like to display your poster, contact us on admin@acpohe.org.uk to arrange a space no later than Monday 13th November. It is recommended that your poster is A0 or A1 size. You will be able to speak to attendees and answer questions during the breaks throughout the day.
- CLICK HERE TO BOOK - or scroll down for all of the information about our Study Day
Study Day 2023!
After the huge success of the Study Day in 2022, the event is back and will be bigger and better than ever. Come and join ACPOHE in Birmingham for what promises to be a great event!
The theme of our day is “Breaking Down Barriers”, focusing on obstacles that can limit practice in Occupational Health and Ergonomics. Join us to explore strategies and solutions that empower and assist individuals in these contexts.
We will have experts on hand to clarify how work has changed in the past few years, current legislation and discuss the implications of the changes in the HCPC standards and what that means for AHPs.
There will be plenty of opportunities for networking throughout the day and the evening before the event. The afternoon will be dedicated to fun, interactive and informative workshops run by experts in the field and bespoke to your personal needs and interests.
We also invite any participant to showcase a poster for the day. This can be an academic poster to show research that they have been involved in, presentation of under or post graduate work or a way to share project work or case studies that you feel might be of interest to others. If you would like to display a poster, join us for our webinar on 17th August from 12:00 - 13:00 for our top tips to help you understand how to create the best posters.
This year our event sponsors are back and will be on hand to demonstrate products, arrange in-house training for your workplace and attendees will be in for a chance of winning some great prizes too.
All attendees will have a chance to enter into prize draws to win fabulous prizes such as an Adapt Office Chair from ErgoChair! Just visit our sponsor stands on the day during the breaks for your chance to win.
ACPOHE Study Day and AGM 2023
The Plan For The Day
Note that the afternoon sessions have changed slightly from 1400 to accommodation changes in rooms.
Our study days are always a great opportunity for networking, and there will be plenty of opportunities to connect with others in the industry. Our committee members will also be on hand all day to chat and help people understand how they can break down the barriers to get more involved in ACPOHE. This might be through research, offering student placements, joining working groups to develop guidance, or simply participating in courses or webinars. If you would like to be on the committee, please let us know and speak to us about what we do.
08.30 Registration and Coffee
Your first chance for a catch up with colleagues.
09.15 Welcome
Our chair, Nicola Suckley, will formally open the event with a few words.
9.20 Our First Speakers – Three representatives from the CSP DisAbility Network
Greet Jannsens
Greet graduated in Belgium with a BSC Physiotherapy in 1998, then working in private practice for 10 years, sharpening her interest and skills in respiratory physiotherapy with children and adults, alongside neuro development. Following her move to the UK in 2008, Greet followed her passion in children’s physiotherapy.
In November 2019, Greet had a stroke in the medulla oblongata, affecting her mobility and causing chronic pain in the left side of her body. After returning to children’s physiotherapy, Greet realised how important it is to empathise with patients and families, particularly where neurological events changed their lives at birth or throughout their young lives.
Her hearing impairment, along with the newer disability, means that she can contribute to the quality of newly qualified physiotherapists with a different ability and to those aspiring to become a physiotherapist. Becoming a convenor with the CSP DisAbility network has helped Greet make a difference to the educational, access and application experience, seeking a balance with prospective employers towards reasonable adjustments.
Stephanie Phillips
Steph Phillips qualified as a physiotherapist in 1995. Her career has included Clinical specialisms in Adolescent medicine and Adults with long term pain and fatigue, as well as developing interests in hypermobility and preparing for adulthood.
Steph left her career in the NHS after 26 years following a 2.5 year career break where she found herself needing to navigate her own family’s Special Educational Needs journey. During this time she undertook her SEND Law training, represented parent carers at a strategic level within education, health and care as a parent representative for her local parent carer forum and acted as an Expert by Experience for NHSE CETR panels within the East of England.
During this journey, she also recognised her own neurodivergence and was diagnosed aged 49 as autistic.
Steph now works as Coproduction and Engagement Lead for Children’s Services Central Bedfordshire Council working across the SEND partnership of education, health and care. Steph leads on areas within the SEND Strategy, including Preparing for Adulthood and Autism pathways. Steph is passionate about coproduction, person centred care and the value lived experience brings to the table in service development at a strategic, operational and individual level.
Saadiyah is a neurodivergent physio who had a tricky start to her career with multiple health difficulties, and graduating COVID wave one. Saadiyah is a Senior Rotational Physiotherapist in cardio-respiratory, co-chair of Disability Network at the CSP, ARC agenda committee as the diversity networks representative and on the committee for the newly relaunched London Regional Network.
Saadiyah has also learnt to code to try and make her own solutions to problems, but loves trying a new app that might help support day-to-day life.
This opening talk will focus on:
- Physiotherapists & Physiotherapy students who have a disability
- Their lived experiences in the workplace:
- A known disability and employment
- A disability that presents during employment
- Occupational Health support: what you need to know
09.55 An overview of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and its importance in the workplace to maintain or return people to fitness
Heather McLellan
Heather qualified as a Physiotherapist in 1995, working in occupational health right away and going on to complete post graduate training in workplace ergonomics and OH Physiotherapy, becoming an ACPOHE member in 1997, and later being a tutor on the Occupational Rehabilitation and Return to Work course for over 10 yrs.
Heather has worked across the NHS, private practice, in occupational health in heavy industry and community NHS services and private MSK and community rehabilitation.
The NHS Fitness for Work service that Heather developed won a CSP Service Excellence Award and an NHS England Rehabilitation Innovation Award in 2015. In 2015 Heather also founded Designed2Move which provides evidence based specialist functional rehabilitation for seriously injured clients with poly trauma in the personal injury sector via a nationwide network of physiotherapists.
In 2019 Heather won the Vocational Rehabilitation Association's Practitioner of the Year Award, but within a week was diagnosed with having had a stroke. After navigating her own return to work and rehabilitation, Heather has returned to regular speaking and now provides specialist mentoring services to other business owners following injury or illness.
In 2022 Heather became a Trustee for Day One Trauma Support who provide support to major trauma patients and their families.
- What is VR and how can it be applied to help people overcome obstacles in fulfilling their work?
- Heather's experience as an OH professional but also as having a Stroke in 2019
- Heather will also introduce a new tool kit that she was involved in. The “Stroke VR e-learning and tool kit” was developed by the National VR Task and Finish Group and is aimed for use by all healthcare professionals
10.30 – Q&A for our opening speakers
10.50 – Coffee & Networking
A 20 minute pause to grab a drink and connect with our sponsors and colleagues.
11.10 Legal & Governance Update Panel
Robin Cordell, the Lead for the 2023 SEQOHS Standards review, will provide an update on the changes to the Safe Effective Quality Occupational Health Service (SEQOHS) Standards, helping attendees understand how to overcome the fear or uncertainty of applying for the accreditation.
Mark Landon, a solicitor from Weightmans and FOM committee member will give an update on employment law and what our members should know in light of changes in the past few years to the way we are working.
Clare Aldridge, one of the Professional Advisors from the CSP, will give an update on the changes of the HCPC standard and what that means for AHPs.
After a brief update from each panel member, we will open the panel to questions from the audience. They will be able to provide the medical, legal and CSP perspective on current issues that are of concern for attendees.
Robin Cordell is in day to day clinical practice as an accredited specialist in occupational medicine. He is Chairman of Cordell Health Ltd, a social enterprise delivering occupational health services across a range of organisations in the public, private and charitable sectors. Client organisations include local authorities, universities, UK national research institutions, healthcare, professional services, port and maritime, affordable housing, manufacturing and high technology companies.
Robin served for more than 20 years in clinical and leadership roles in the Defence Medical Services (DMS), and was first appointed as a consultant occupational physician in the DMS in January 2005.
Current work in support of the national health and work agenda in the UK includes Robin’s appointment as a Director of the Council for Work and Health, elected to the Board in 2016, and elected as Deputy Chair since May 2022. He was originally part of the Council for Work and Health in his capacity as President of the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) from 2015 to 2016.
Mark Landon
Mark Landon is an Employment Partner and the national Head of Client Training at Weightmans LLP Solicitors, a top 50 national law firm. Mark has over 30 years’ experience as an Employment specialist, working both in private practice and in-house, and provides advice and training to a wide range of public and private sector clients on employment issues and business skills.
In addition to his day job, Mark is…
- an Honorary Fellow and Ethics Committee member of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine;
- a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health; and
- a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Mark is also a co-author of the equality chapter of the 6th Edition of ‘Fitness for Work’, published by the Oxford University Press, and was previously a member of the Law Society’s Equality & Diversity Committee as well as being a long-serving trustee of the ‘Changing Faces’ national disability charity.
Clare Aldridge
Clare Aldridge is the Professional Advisor for South East Coast at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Working as part of the CSP Practice team Clare carries a portfolio of regional and national projects including co-ordinating the CSP response to HCPC Standards changes.
Clare qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2001 and has worked across a wide variety of sectors and settings. Before joining the CSP, she spent over a decade specialising in and leading therapy teams in SEN settings supporting children and young people with learning disabilities and complex needs.
12.00 Pre-lunch networking break
12.30 Lunch
A buffet lunch will be provided. Dietary requirements can be catered for if indicated at the time of booking.
13.15 ACPOHE Update & AGM
All members and non-members are invited to attend the AGM, where the committee will provide further information on their work, the plans for the coming years and an opportunity for members to vote for new members of the committee. If you would like to get more involved in the work that ACPOHE does, do not hesitate to get in touch with our team to put yourself forwards for election to the committee either as a committee member or to support the projects and research we have ongoing. We would love you to get involved.
The AGM will be held virtually on Teams as well as in person. CLICK HERE for more details and a link to register for the Teams session to watch remotely if you can't attend Study Day in person.
14.00 Coffee & Networking
Another opportunity to speak with colleagues and the committee over a cuppa.
14.30 Breakout Session 1
A choice of one of the four workshops. See below for details.
15.30 Breakout Session 2
A choice of one of the four workshops. See below for details.
16.30 Closing Comments and PRIZE DRAW!
Closing comments from our chair, Nicola Suckley.
The Breakout Sessions
1. Blue and Black flags in the workplace and the context of protected characteristics (BAME, minority groups, age, pregnancy, LGBTQ)
Colette Owen graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy from King’s College London in 1996 and a Masters in Sports Physiotherapy from London South Bank University in 2005. Colette has held clinical, managerial, academic and leadership roles within NHS, university, private and corporate businesses.
Early on in her career, Colette was a CSP Steward and joint chair of Trust-Staff side for many years at a London NHS Trust, and has represented Physiotherapy in Equality groups within the NHS and private companies.
Colette is the Membership officer for ACPOHE whose remit includes Diversity and Belonging.
With Colette will be CSP Diversity Network and CSP Steward representatives including co-presenter Paul Rees.
Paul Rees: I am a cisgender white gay male with pronouns He/Him. I completed my BSc in 1999 (Podiatry) and completed a physiotherapy preregistration MSc in 2006. I work as a physiotherapist employed by Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, specialising in musculoskeletal medicine and more specifically in persistent pain management, working with individuals with longer-term persistent/ chronic pain. I have 12 years of experience working in this speciality, moving into my current role as an advanced clinical practitioner around 4 years ago. I have a small private practice, mostly specialising in trauma as part of a multidisciplinary team, working with case managers, occupational therapists and clinical psychologists.
Whilst working in the NHS, I have been a CSP workplace steward for over 10 years, stepping down in early 2022. During this period, I have been I have supported staff in workplace issues, providing representation. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to support colleagues and collaborate with managers on a wide range of issues.
I have been a member of the CSP’s LGBTQIA+ network since 2018. During this period I have had the privilege to collaborate with network members on a variety of issues, including the CSP’s Equality, Diversity and Belonging strategy which was published in 2021. I have participated in a number of podcasts reflecting on my experiences of being a gay male as an AHP. I have also had the opportunity to lead a panel session discussing LGBTQIA and sport. I have recently taken the role of vice chair and I am thrilled to represent this amazing network.
I recently completed an MSc in Professional Practice (Healthcare) completing primary qualitative research in chronic pain reconceptualisation. Chronic pain reconceptualisation is a key component to my own clinical practice. I am keen to explore this area of therapy further in the future, in order to improve service delivery, benefitting patients’ outcomes as they seek to build their own understanding of their condition.
The session will cover the following:
- A workshop to increase participants’ awareness of the influencing factors related to employees with protected characteristics and Blue and Black flags in the workplace, and the additional barriers these create
- Learn how to identify flags
- What influencing factors may be involved?
- How do we deal with them?
2. Business skills – Top tips for proposals, tenders and service level agreements
Alex Bell graduated from Kings College London in 1996 with a BSc (Hons) in physiotherapy. Shortly after graduating, Alex worked for 5 years in Canada and then the USA where she was first introduced to Industrial Rehabilitation. In 2001, she returned to the UK and founded Back in Action UK, an occupational physiotherapy company. Over the past 20+ years, Back in Action UK has provided physiotherapy services and workplace health solutions to many companies around the UK, with the aim of maintaining and improving employee health and reduce workplace injuries and ill-health. Alex has been on the ACPOHE committee for the last 3 years, taking on the Treasurer role this year.
The aim of the workshop is to collaborate as a group and help participants overcome business related obstacles and increase confidence in going out and winning new business. It will focus on:
- Determining who you want to sell to and knowing your market.
- How to sell your services – looking at sales models, a light touch on sales strategies, the importance of data, and return on investment calculations.
- Things to look out for in a service level agreement.
3. Having difficult conversations to facilitate behavioural change
Prof Colin Greaves is a Chartered Health Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology Applied to Health at the University of Birmingham within the School of Sports Exercise and Rehabilitation . He specialises in developing and evaluating interventions to support health behaviour change. He has helped to develop intervention materials and training courses for NHS service providers to support people patients to lose weight and to improve self-care. He has contributed to NICE guidance and European guidelines on the prevention of type 2 diabetes. He currently holds a 5-year NIHR fellowship on promoting weight loss maintenance.
The aim of the workshop is to help participants overcome the common communication barriers when dealing with sensitive topics, such as tackling obesity, and support clinicians on how to enable patients to overcome the barriers that commonly prevent successful behavioural change interventions. It will focus on:
- Why do we find it difficult to communicate?
- How can we identify patient’s barriers?
- What tips and tricks can we use to overcome these barriers an promote successful communication and successful behaviour change?
4. What is “Reasonable”? - adjustments in the workplace to empower
Juliet Raine, ACPOHE Education Officer, qualified from Northumbria University in 2005 and has been working in the field of ergonomics since 2008. She specialises in ergonomics interventions in a wide variety of work environments, from offices to factories and works with businesses to implement both training and reasonable adjustments.
Juliet will lead this workshop in collaboration with representatives from the DisAbility network.
The aim of this workshop will be to:
- Understand “what is reasonable”?
- Raise awareness amongst participants of some of the adjustments that can be made to enable people to perform at their best in the workplace
- We will use real life examples from a variety of work environments, from the office to a hospital setting
- What can and should be done to support employees with a range of disabilities from neurodiversity to hearing loss or a complex physical disability
Cost
Early bird price, running up to 4th September 2023:
- ACPOHE Members - £60
- Non-ACPOHE members - £110
From 5th September 2023 the full price will be:
- ACPOHE Members - £75
- Non-ACPOHE members - £125
This includes lunch and refreshments.
Location
Morning session & lunch: Atrium area and Lecture room LT1, in building Y14 - Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation building (click here for a map showing the building or click here for the online map of the whole campus - it's one of the yellow buildings), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT.
Afternoon breakout session locations: Please note that the afternoon Breakout sessions will be located in the Teaching and Learning building, an eight minute walk across the campus.
We will have students who will guide people on foot from the University train station to the Y14 building and then will take people to the other building for the afternoon session.
Getting there and away
Train & Bus – The campus has a dedicated train station named “University” that is 6-7 minutes direct from Birmingham New Street Station and is directly serviced by several bus routes. See the University travel pages for further information. We will have students who will guide people on foot from the University train station to the Y14 building.
Car – Limited parking is available on the campus and must be paid for either in cash or using the RingGo app. Parking for visitors is in specific areas - click here for instructions.
We advise, whenever possible either car sharing or travelling to the event via public transport.
How to book your Study Day place
- Use the booking link below to book your place for the study day now. Booking is via eventbrite. Tickets are limited and based on a first-come first-served basis.
- You will be asked to select your breakout sessions in order of preference during the booking process. This will allow us to plan the rooms used for each session. Wherever possible, participants will be allocated to their first two choices.
- Please make sure you indicate any dietary requirements during the booking process. Please also book the correct type of membership ticket.
*** Non ACPOHE members: to take advantage of our reduced ticket rate for ACPOHE members and the other benefits of being an ACPOHE member for just £50 for a year, you can join ACPOHE first by clicking on this link, then click on the link below to book your Study Day ticket. ***
Need help?
Send an email to admin@acpohe.org.uk.
A little about our sponsors
Our study day is kindly being sponsored by the following companies:
Contour Design is a market leader in the research, development and design of ergonomic computer mouse solutions such as RollerMouse, Unimouse and Multimedia Controller. Contour Design’s products are developed not only to relieve pain, but also prevent it. They will be on hand during the day to demonstrate their products and also reveal some exciting new developments.
Kinesis has been a leader in the design of ergonomic keyboard solutions since 1992, known in the UK for their popular Freestyle split adjustable keyboard. The Freestyle2 keyboard will be demoed at the event, along with all Freestyle2 keyboard tenting and palm support accessories. In addition, Kinesis will be offering attendees the opportunity to book a free training session via webinar, suitable for individuals or a whole department, where they will explain the technical differences between their different products and how their products can be used in different ways. This depth of knowledge is a valuable addition for any DSE assessor.
Ergochair are the makers of the popular Adapt chair range. Based near Bristol, they launched in 2002 to offer custom built ergonomic seating to people with disabilities. As they have developed they realised the need for custom built furniture suitable for all and have become a leader in this field. They will be on hand to demonstrate some of their newer products and will be offering the opportunity for one attendee who visits their stand to win their very own, custom built Adapt chair! They will also be around to explain their products, the possible adaptations and how assessors can skill up and become a part of their specialist network of assessors capable of measuring and specifying highly specialist seating.
Activforce 2 is a portable, data-driven solution that enables clinicians to efficiently measure Muscle Force & perform Range of Motion tests. An affordable way for physical therapists to leverage objective data for improved patient outcomes. Meet the ActivBody team during the event and they will show you how versatile their handheld device can be.
What you said about Study Day 2022
We had some great feedback about last year's Study Day:
Very memorable event, has the potential of having more active members which can lead to more research.
Brilliant day, great opportunity to network and focus my development. Lots of food for thought. Thank you all.
A very well organised day which I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend.
From a student perspective who had very limited knowledge of physiotherapy in occupational health and ergonomics, I thought the day was really informative and interesting!