Assistive Technology Practitioner The Newsletter of the Healthcare and Assistive Technology Society
RetroFundraising
Your Society Welcome to the latest issue of Assistive Technology Practitioner, exclusively for members of the Healthcare and Assistive Technology Society. Last week I was very pleased to report to both the BHTA Board and the Society Advisory Group that we have now reached 600+ members – a fantastic achievement. It’s so important to get recognition for the hundreds of ‘unsung heros’ who, on a daily basis, support and assist professionals to make informed choices about their clients & patients. There have also been a few incidences where Assistive Technology suppliers have been questioned before entering and even prevented from entering premises because they weren’t registered with a recognised body
contents Your Society 1 RetroFundraising 1 Assitive Tech and me 2 Baroness in a barrow 2 NHS Autism Guidelines 3 Dementia Friend 3 License Payment 4 CPD Diary 5 Member Profile 6 Contact us 7
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and therefore couldn’t be ‘verified’ – Acknowledgement and recognition of the Society from our customers, professional associates, procurement teams etc. goes hand in hand with building the membership and is something the Council are now very focussed on. It was great to be in Leeds recently and meet with Society member, Michelle Re, at the Posture & Mobility Group Conference. Michelle talked about different aspects of her job and you can read all about it on page 6. We have also been working really hard to try and pull together the documentation needed to complete the pilot of the PSA accredited register – a random selection of members will soon receive an invite to join the pilot and for those who complete the process, you will become the founder members of the Society accredited register. Our work has also been brought to the attention of NHS England as they strive to make the NHS the safest healthcare system in the world and hope to report more on this aspect of our work in the next issue. This a very exciting time for the Society and I would urge all members to encourage colleagues and other industry partners to join the cause. Kay Purnell, Chair Society Council
Garry and Kirstie (his daughter) with Ben McGrail on BBC Somerset 95.5FM interviewing them about the fundraising.
HMS Mobility sponsor and organise an annual charity fundraising event in the Picturesque Somerset village of Martock. As Society Member, Garry Hellings explains; this years event was on Sunday 5th July where 300 vintage and classic vehicles gathered from all corners of the UK, with the furthest vehicle driving down from Kilmarnock 465 miles each way! Every year, the road closes at 10am where the pavements are lined with hundreds of spectators who watch, wave and cheer through a 300 vehicle cavalcade. Then at 11am the family show opens with bar, live music, 25 retro shops and stalls, 100 seater undercover mobile carvery Sunday lunch, ice cream, bouncy castle, face painting, pedal car racing and lots more. The show has now become the largest event held at the village, a staggering £7,300 was raised and
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donated to Martock Charity Shop who, since opening in 2006, have donated £300k, yes £300k, selling bric a brac to help disabled children in Somerset and the South West. This brings the Retro Fundraising total to almost £15k in the 3 years we have put on the event which has grown considerably from the dream of mustering 25 classic minis and raising £1k to MCS. Full details www. retrofundraising.co.uk It takes Garry and his daughter Kirstie, 12 months of their spare time to put the event on. Next year is already being booked up for Sunday 3rd July 2016. Support Garry and Kirstie for a very worthwhile cause by visiting the event next year! Garry Hellings, Member from HMS Mobility Solutions Ltd. Garry is personally vetted by Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Buy With Confidence Scheme.
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Assistive Technology and me I am a Chartered Physiotherapist, working in private practice, who specialises in musculoskeletal problems and sports injuries. Whether I am treating an elite athlete with a career – threatening injury, helping a desk-bound office worker to improve their posture, or rehabilitating a patient with whiplash following a road traffic accident I see the overall aim of my physiotherapy treatment to promote normal posture, normal movement and therefore normal function. In order to achieve this I utilise many different handson treatment skills to mobilise joints and soft tissues, then compliment this with exercises or activities the client can do at home. However, I often use
assistive technology to aid our overall goal of normal function. I have a particular interest in treating ruptures of the rotator cuff shoulder tendons. There are 4 muscles that make up the rotator cuff; tendons attach these muscles to the bones of the shoulder joint, where they help to stabilise the joint in order that strong functional movement can be achieved. Tears may be due to trauma (for example, a fall onto the shoulder) or spontaneous rupture due to gradual degeneration of the tendon. A complete rupture of one or more rotator cuff tendons often results in a significant loss of shoulder movement, while the weight of the arm pulling down on these injured soft tissues can cause significant pain. In extreme cases the
client may be unable to lift their arm away from their side. Surgery to repair the tendons may be an option, but it is not always appropriate. However, there are some excellent shoulder braces which help to restore the anatomical alignment of the joint, relieve pressure on the injured tendons, support the weight of the arm and therefore help to reduce pain. Other postural muscles around the shoulder are now more likely to work efficiently, and the client may even begin to use use these muscles in different ways to help restore some movement. As the human body is notoriously fickle I often apply tape to the shoulder joint to mimic the brace we are considering. This enables the client to experience the type of
Baroness in a barrow as Wheelchair Alliance launches A national group of wheelchair users and advocates led by Baroness Tanni GreyThompson DBE headed to Parliament Square to call for an improvement to wheelchair services in England before more users are adversely affected by the poor levels of service present. Baroness Grey-Thompson (right) posed in a wheelbarrow alongside former anesthetist Dr Jean Waters (left) and patient champion Fiona Carey (middle) in front of the Houses of Parliament to highlight the importance of the right chair. The Wheelchair Leadership Alliance is a commitment group tasked with improving wheelchair services for users across England. The group brought together MPs and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), as well as other healthcare professionals and senior figures who will be vital to bring about success, at a launch event, highlighting the issues facing wheelchair users in getting the right chair at the right
time and launching a wheelchair charter and national improvement campaign. The Alliance says that it is crucial that wheelchair users receive the right chair at the right time in order to lead a normal life but many users often face severe delays to receive their chair. Additionally, it says that there are no set standards for budget per user and there is no current clear idea of what is spent on wheelchair services in NHS England, leading to widespread confusion and varied levels of service for users across the country. Baroness Grey-Thompson said: “For
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support the brace will provide and the effect it will have on their symptoms. This greatly reduces the likelihood of a wasted purchase. Whether being used as a short term solution whilst awaiting surgery, or on an ongoing basis, I find assistive technology products like these invaluable in complimenting my treatment and promoting normal function and independence for a whole range of clients. Diane Howell MCSP Chartered Physiotherapist
too long wheelchair services have been inadequate and it is time that wheelchair users are listened to and provided a proper service, rather than being marginalised. The huge variation in quality of services across the UK is astounding, and means a huge proportion of wheelchair users are left immobilised, frustrated and ignored. Now we want to get this issue on the radar of people who can influence change and also get them behind the campaign by urging them to pledge their support to the Charter.” In addition to healthcare professionals and CCGs, members of the public can pledge their support to the Wheelchair Charter and campaign online through the Alliance’s website. The Alliance hopes support from people in positions of influence as well as the general public will help bring about change faster. For further information about the campaign, and the charter, which is a 10 point document which outlines the key principles that wheelchair services should aspire to, please visit the website: www. rightwheelchair.org.uk. The campaign is also on twitter at @rightwheelchair.
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NHS guidelines aims to help transform care The NHS has announced new draft guidelines to help transform the care of people with learning disabilities and/ or autism. The new draft service model is the latest piece of work to emerge from the Transforming Care for People with Learning Disabilities programme, which is a joint piece of work between the NHS England, the LGA, ADASS, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Health Education England (HEE) and the Department of Health (DH). The Service Model sets out nine overarching principles which define what ‘good’ services for people with learning disabilities and/ or autism whose behaviour challenges should look like. Highlights include: Providing more proactive, preventative care, with better identification of people at risk and early intervention; Empowering people with a learning disability and/or autism, for instance through the expansion of personal budgets and personal health budgets and independent advocacy; Ensuring access to activities and services that enable people with a learning disability and/or autism to lead a fulfilling, purposeful life (such as education, leisure) Jolanta Lasota, Ambitious about Autism CEO explains why these principles are so important for those with autism and how they affect their education: “One in a hundred people in the UK have autism, so it
Become a Dementia Friend Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the UK’s biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition. Dementia touches the lives of millions of people across the UK. Dementia Friends was launched to tackle the stigma and lack of understanding that means many people with the condition experience loneliness and social exclusion. We need to create more communities and businesses that are dementia friendly so that people affected by dementia feel understood and included. Whether you are at work helping those affected by dementia or out and about in your community, becoming a Dementia Friend means you will have an increased understanding of the condition and some of the actions you can take to help those living with dementia. The actions you take can be big or small. For example, if you work in customer service and find a customer is struggling with their change, you can be patient and assist them. If you are working in a hospital and notice someone looking a little lost or confused, you can ask if they are ok and offer them help.
is crucial that government, health care and local authorities understand that with the right support, planning and opportunities across their support network, many people with autism have the ability to lead a fulfilling and purposeful life. “It is particularly encouraging to see access to leisure activities included in the principles. We have found that for the students at our TreeHouse School and Ambitious College, access to vocational and leisure programmes including horticulture, equine and photography are really important for both their enjoyment and education. These activities can also help to find a career path, so it is crucial to their development. “Whilst education is crucial to personal development, it can only be effective within a wider framework of good health and social care arrangements. We are delighted to see all-round quality of care for those with autism being addressed by the NHS and hope it goes a long way to supporting those with autism and other less visible disabilities.”
It’s these small actions which can make a big difference to the lives of people living with dementia. Here’s a great example of an action from Dementia Friend Clive Sutherland: ‘To be patient with my neighbour who is recently living with Dementia, introduce myself to her when I see her and remind her that I’m from next door.’ There are two ways to become a Dementia Friend: Attend an informative and interactive face-to-face Information Session in your community. Become a Dementia Friend online by watching a short video in which you hear from Gina, who is living with dementia. To find out more visit dementiafriends.org.uk
Download the dementia-friendly technology charter The dementia-friendly technology charter is part of Alzheimer’s Society’s commitment to building more dementia-friendly communities. The charter contains lots of guidance for people like you on how to make technology work for people based on their individual needs. The charter will help you learn about: • What people have told us about living with dementia and their thoughts on how technology could help. • How technology services can support people living with dementia and their family and friends, before diagnosis, after diagnosis, during a crisis and when there are other complex needs. • What a good quality technology service should look like. Issues to consider including ethics and consent and the re-evaluation of needs and outcomes.
Read the new guidelines at http://www.england. nhs.uk/wp-content/ uploads/2015/07/ld-draftserv-mod.pdf Visit Ambitious about Autism at: www. ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk
If you think this charter can help you in your role, download it now.
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Retailer looks to license payment system A retailer that has developed and has been successfully running its own system to deal with client’s high rate DLA/Pip Mobility allowances for a number of years is now offering to help other companies to generate business using the scheme – with the first dealers already signed up! Society Member, David Penman started Here to Help Mobility in 2008 after spending five years working for direct selling companies in the marketplace and also working with retailers on a self-employed basis. “I enjoyed working in the marketplace when I was working for the direct selling companies, but I didn’t like the way that business was conducted sometimes and so that was the reason that I decided to branch out on my own.” David says that he had what he describes as his ‘eureka’ moment with margins getting squeezed when products were being sold through the Motability scheme. “There was a good deal of dis-content around at the time concerning the way the Motability scheme was working for retailers and so I wondered if it might be possible to develop a scheme
that we could use and which would work better for us. We also wanted to try to find something to use that involved less administration too.” And that’s just what David did. He took commercial legal advice, formulated contracts and sought compliance from the DLA Department of Works and Pensions. “It’s fair to say that there was some initial reluctance to overcome” he told us, “however we persevered and have been using our system since 2009 with zero complaints from either clients or the DWP. David has over 200 customers using the scheme these days.” David tells us that the scheme operates in a similar way to Motability but with a much higher degree of flexibility, as there are no restrictions on model types, whether units are new or preused and it can accommodate any type of extras or addons. “The scheme is most appropriate for higher cost Midi/Maxi/ powerchairs and can be either self-funded or funded externally. You can also utilise the system to provide contract hire for those clients who aren’t eligible for Motability or for the growing market of clients who are
buying products for their elderly parents.” David is confident that the system will help retailers develop useful and profitable business, and with the first retailers signing up there is a real ‘buzz’ around the scheme. “The system also builds a reliable cash flow to balance income on those months when sales targets are lagging. Retailers can receive full RRP with no need to discount and you don’t have to be Motability Approved. You can also reduce or eliminate expensive HP and interest free offers and you won’t lose a potential customer because you cannot provide a suitable finance solution.” So why is David offering his scheme to other companies? “We have no desire to expand geographically and so it makes sense to look to licence reputable retailers in key areas throughout the UK. Licence costs are typically recovered by the very first contract.”
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David stresses though that retailers applying for a license will have to be vetted carefully. “We have to be careful about which retailers will be using the scheme of course as our reputation is at stake and we have worked hard to get to this stage.” Last year David visited Trade Days and this year his company will be on the exhibition show floor looking to explain more about the scheme. “I found the show interesting last year, particularly some of the companies that had the smaller stands that we were unaware of and that had some good products and services. Hopefully retailers will find exactly that when they visit our stand later this year.” Here to Help Mobility will be on stand C73 at Trade Days. To speak to David, call 0800 694 0340 or email enquiries@ heretohelpmobility.com
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CPD opportunities september-october 2015 September 2015 R82 UK Ltd - Structured Training in the Management of Medical Devices – Posturally Supportive Equipment for Children – September 9th & 10th – Block 1: Mechanical, 15th & 16th – Block 2: Technical, 23rd & 24th – Block 3: Clinical. City & Guilds Accredited and endorsed by the College of Occupational Therapists. Halesowen. £185 +VAT per Block. Invacare – Alber training – September 9th 2015 – Bridgend – FOC Sunrise Medical Limited - Manual Mobility Selection: Linking Assessment to Appropriate Prescription (CMAN) Wednesday 9th September 2015 – West Midlands – FOC to Sunrise Medical Account Holders. Sunrise Medical Limited – Manual Wheelchair Assessment (CMDE) - Thursday 10th September 2015 – West Midlands – FOC to Sunrise Medical Account Holders.
Invacare - Scooter Servicing/ Maintenance – September 23rd 2015 – Bridgend - FOC
by the College of Occupational Therapists. Halesowen. £185+VAT per Block
Quantum - Quantum powerchair training programme - 17th September 2015 – Pride Mobility - A deposit is required for each delegate that you wish to attend the Quantum training. This will be returned to you once the specific training has been attended.
Sunrise Medical Limited - Powerchair Service & Maintenance – Mechanics (TPSM4) – 7th October 2015 – West Midlands – FOC to Sunrise Medical Account Holders
Global Training by Silvalea – Paediatric Sling Solutions - 23rd September – Interactive Online Training - FOC. British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) – BTEC in Healthcare & Assistive Technology. Wellingborough. £525+VAT for Society Members. 2 day course. 10th–11th September 2015.
Sunrise Medical Limited Scooter and Powerchair Service and Maintenance (TPSM1) 23rd September 2015 – West Midlands – FOC to Sunrise Medical Account Holders. Pride Mobility Products Ltd Training - Introduction to Pride Mobility Products Technical Trouble Shooting – September 23rd 2015 – Pride Mobility - A deposit is required for each delegate that you wish to attend the Pride training. This will be returned to you once the specific training has been attended.
Sunrise Medical Limited - Seating and Positioning for Function and Mobility – for Dealers (CMDE) - 15th September 2015 – West Midlands – FOC to Sunrise Medical Account Holders. Sunrise Medical Limited - JAY Product Training for Dealers (PJAY) - Wed 16th September 2015 – West Midlands – £100 but receive £470 RRP worth of JAY seating products upon course completion.
Global Training by Silvalea – Sizing & How to Measure - 24th September – Interactive Online Training - FOC.
Global Training by Silvalea – Amputee Sling Solutions - 16th September 2015 - Interactive Online Training - FOC.
JCM Seating Solutions Ltd – Postural Management Workshop: Specialist Seating - 24th September 2015 - FOC Peterborough, JCM Head Office.
Invacare - Servicing/ Maintenance & Adjustment on Manual Chairs – September 16th 2015 – Bridgend – FOC
October 2015 Invacare - Servicing/ Maintenance of Patient Lifters – 1st October - FOC – Bridgend
Invacare - Servicing/ Maintenance & Adjustment on Power Chairs – September 17th 2015 – Bridgend - FOC
Invacare - Kuschall (Dealers only) - 6th October- FOC – Bridgend
Global Training by Silvalea – Walking & Standing Harness Solutions - 17th September 2015 - Interactive Online Training FOC.
R82 UK Ltd - Structured Training in the Management of Medical Devices – Posturally Supportive Equipment for Children. 6th & 7th – Block 1: Mechanical, 13th & 14th – Block 2: Technical, 20th & 21st – Block 3: Clinical - City & Guilds Accredited and endorsed
Invacare - Pressure Ulcer Awareness & Mattress Care – September 22nd 2015 – Bridgend – FOC
Invacare - Power Chair Controls Set-up & Operation - 7th October – FOC – Bridgend Invacare - Fault Finding on Power Chairs – 8th October – FOC – Bridgend Sunrise Medical Limited - Powerchair Service & Maintenance – Electronics and Diagnostics (TPSM2) - 8th October 2015 – West Midlands – FOC to Sunrise Medical Account Holders Electric Mobility – Servicing / Maintenance & Fault finding for Rascal Mobility Products – 7th October 2015 Ilminster. FOC including Lunch. JCM Seating Solutions Ltd Technical Training - 8th October 2015 – Peterborough – FOC. Invacare - Introduction to Invacare Manual Wheelchairs – 13th October – FOC – Bridgend Invacare - Servicing/ Maintenance & Adjs on Manual Chairs – 14th October – FOC – Bridgend Invacare - Servicing/ Maintenance & Adjs on Power Chairs - 15th October – FOC – Bridgend Global Training by Silvalea – Complex Sling Solutions 1-14th October 2015 – Interactive Online Training. FOC. Global Training by Silvalea – Complex Sling Solutions 2 - 15th October 2015 – Interactive Online Training. FOC. Global Training by Silvalea – Manual Handling Products - 21st October 2015 – Interactive Online Training. FOC. Pride Mobility Products Ltd Training - Introduction to Pride Mobility Products Technical Trouble Shooting – October 21-22 2015 – Pride Mobility - A deposit is required for each
If you’re aware of other CPD opportunities Society members might find useful, please let us know at info@hatsoc.org
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...cpd continued from page 5
delegate that you wish to attend the Pride training. This will be returned to you once the specific training has been attended. Invacare - Servicing/Maintenance of Mattress Pump – 21st October – FOC – Bridgend Invacare - Servicing/Maintenance of Mattress Pump - 22 October- FOC – Bridgend Global Training by Silvalea – An Introduction to Slings - 22nd October 2015 – Interactive Online Training. FOC. Sunrise Medical Limited - Mobility and Seating System Selection: A Paediatric Focus (TPSM2) - 22nd October 2015 – West Midlands – FOC to Sunrise Medical Account Holders. Invacare - Pressure & Posture in Wheelchair Seating - 27 October – FOC – Bridgend Invacare - Robin Overhead Hoist – 28-29 October - FOC - Bridgend Quantum - Quantum powerchair training programme – 29th October 2015 – Pride Mobility - A deposit is required for each delegate that you wish to attend the Quantum training. This will be returned to you once the specific training has been attended.
Contacts for bookings Invacare – Call Joan James on 01656 776283 or email jjames@invacare.com Sunrise Medical – Laura Payne on 01384 421 538, email laura.payne@sunmed. co.uk, or visit www.SunriseMedical.co.uk/STEPS Global Training by Silvalea - +44 (0) 1626 331655 info@silvalea-globaltraining.com or visit www.trainingbysilvalea.com Quantum Rehab – Call Hayley 01869 324600 or email sales@quantumrehab.co.uk Pride Mobility – Call Chris on 01869 324600 or email service@pride-mobility.co.uk R82 UK Ltd – Call 0121 561 2222, or email Martyn Davis on mda@r82.com Electric Mobility – Call Sharon Newton on 01460 258118 or email sharon.newton@ electricmobility.co.uk JCM – Contact Rachel Davis on training@ jcmfactory.co.uk British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) – Contact Nigel Woods 0207 702 2141 or nigel.woods@bhta.com
member profile What’s your name? Michelle Re What’s your job title? Area Manager (Wales & South West). As an OT, I am the only practicing clinician in the Sales Team at Sumed and regularly meet former OT colleagues working in the seven wheelchair centres in my territory. What does your role involve, day-to-day? Day to day I work alongside NHS Wheelchair Service and Community Equipment Service Therapy teams delivering pressure care education and product training. I also work with Tissue Viability Nurses to advise on pressure care. Sumed are constantly developing its portfolio bringing products which heal and maintain healthy skin. My role is to promote these products across my area and provide training and servicing to my clients I particularly enjoy the group training sessions for AHP’s or District Nurses and it’s nice to feel an accepted member of their team when we visit clients after a training session as they often refer to me as the ‘RoHo Expert’ rather than a sales rep. What skills do you think are the most important in doing your job? Listening and communication skills are the most important, whether listening to a client or presenting to a group of AHP’s. It’s important to understand the boundaries of the role – especially as I’m an OT often working alongside fellow OT’s– but my role is about answering questions and advising on typical outcomes rather than prescribing the particular product for the client. Patience and diplomacy are probably the other key skills, clients often have complex needs and I need to understand their particular issues and offer practical solutions. Ability to participate in pressure mapping sessions is particularly satisfying, we don’t manage to pressure map every client but it’s essential for some clients and getting their seating & positioning
just right is hugely satisfying. My area is pretty rural with communities spread over a large area so it’s important to be good at map reading and enjoy listening to music or Radio 2 to keep you going when attending a remote home visit! What advice would you give to anyone who wants to get into you role, or into the industry in general? If you seek real job satisfaction and enjoy interaction with people – and some of it is very personal when trying to resolve a pressure issue – then fewer jobs allow you to get to meet such a broad range of people and feel good when you leave virtually every call. How would you like to develop/where do you see yourself in five years? Maybe it’s because of my clinical background but I would like to get more involved with clinical trials and new product testing for pressure care products. It’s so important to have an evidence base to be able to talk confidently to customers about different solutions. What are your thoughts on the Society and where did you hear about it? Our Sales Manager encouraged us all to consider joining the Society as she felt that it was important to belong to a Society which represented our skill set – even though I’m an OT and am a member of COT I think recognition of the Society code of conduct will become important for our future role working alongside other professionals. As we work in the Health and Social Care arena, the newsletter gives an insight to what’s happening that may affect our work in local authorities and the NHS. Michelle Re, South West Territory Manager Sumed International Ltd Integrity House, Unit 1-2 Graphite Way Hadfield, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 1QH T: 01457 890980 · M: 07557 113134 F: 01457 890990 · E: michelle@sumed.co.uk
If you’d like to feature in a future Member Profile, contact membership@hatsoc.org
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Recruitment to the Council – calling all members! Thank you to the members who have sent in applications to join the Council, but we’d still like to see more of you represented - this is a chance for you to be involved with the running of the Society and the direction it takes. General terms of service are: • members are elected to serve a two year term; • a member may serve a second term, for a further two years, at the discretion of the Council; • if two consecutive terms of service have been served (4 years) there must be a minimum of a year break before an application can be submitted to re-join; • all council members are expected to attend a minimum two out of the three meetings throughout the year; • all council members to alert the Secretariat of any potential conflicts of interest; • the role is unpaid; and • lunch and refreshments are provided. If you are interested in joining the Council, please forward a CV, with a brief explanation of what you would hope to get out of the role, to membership@ hatsoc.org.
Contact the Secretariat We want to hear from our members, whether you have questions to ask, issues to raise or some experience you want to share with other practitioners. For general queries: T: 0207 702 2141 E: info@hatsoc.org For membership queries: T: 0207 702 2141 E: membership@ hatsoc.org
Philip Woodward, Accreditation and Professional Development Manager T: 0207 702 2141 E: philip.woodward@ hatsoc.org You can also follow us on Twitter for the latest news and updates: @hatsoc
Governance PATRON Baroness Glenys Thornton, Patron, became a working Labour peer in 1998. From 1998 - 2008 she has served on various select committees, and worked on a huge number of bills passing through the
Lords - most of the legislation concerning Children, the Disabled and Charities. In addition to her role as Patron of the Society, the Baroness is also Patron of Social Enterprise UK, a Governor of the London School of Economics and, from her appointment in 2015, the Chief Executive of the Young Foundation.
Advisory Board The Advisory Board is Chaired by our Patron, Baroness Glenys Thornton. A body of senior figures from the industry, either practising or retired, that
advise the society Council and make recommendations for long term growth and the achievement of corporate aims and objectives. The Board do not instruct the Society Council but advise it.
Meet the Advisory Board Darren Awang Course Director of the MSc in Assistive Technology Coventry University
Dr. Sally Gosling Assistant Director for Practice & Development, The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists
Ian McCreath Personal Choice Programme Manager, The Alzheimer’s Society
Clare Canale Chair of the Posture Mobility Group
Ray Hodgkinson MBE Director of Public Affairs, British Healthcare Trades Association
Julia Scott Chief Executive The British Association of Occupational Therapists
Prof. Duncan Eaton Executive Advisor All Party Parliamentary Health Group
Alison Somek Chief Executive Officer, Somek and Associates
Society Council The Society Council is the main administrative body of the Society with the following responsibilities: • to ensure standards and the corporate aims and objectives • to oversee the achievement of membership growth, renewal and retention targets, as set out in the business plan
• debate/discuss procedural matters relating to the running of the Society • to monitor and analyse trends in membership growth, renewals and retention • to report to and advise the Advisory Board on matters concerning the management of the Society • to meet three times a year.
Meet the Council Kay Purnell (Chair) Business Development Manager, Blatchford’s Clinical Services
Kenneth Munro Managing Director, W Munro (Rehab) Ltd
Diane Hargrove Sales and Marketing Director, Sumed International UK (Ltd)
Myrddin James Director, 3r Mobility
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Richard Handley Managing Director, Care and Independence Systems Ltd
18th & 19th October 2015 / NEC Birmingham
Mark, Able2
Daniel, TGA
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