• The AHP support workforce guide to embedding public health in practice and other useful resources.
• How AHP support workers can influence the wider determinants of health - health improvement, population health care, health protection and health inequalities.
• The value and impact of AHP support worker roles within public health benefitting the whole populations health and wellbeing.
• Lived experience of a service user showcasing exemplar practice.
• The value and importance of personalised care creating compassionate and inclusive cultures underpinning public health principles.
• Panel of AHP support workers showcasing their roles within public health.

• Twitter: please copy tweets to @somersetAHPs   
• Take part in a short video: 
  • ‘A Day in the Life of an AHP Support Worker’: highlighting your role, the huge impact you make towards patient care and service delivery and the support you provide to other AHP colleagues 
  • Talk about your own career journey … so far …… and what inspires you.

Date, time and MS Teams link to follow - watch this space.

Please join for what will be a brilliant session about mindfulness.

This restorative session is focused on providing an opportunity to practice some tools based on mindfulness training to support you in your personal and professional roles. Within the hour we will be exploring what mindfulness is, why it is so important to our working days and how to practice despite having busy schedules. You will walk away with a few tools to help you manage day to day stressors and feel a bit more grounded in the process.  

This is an online session and no experience of mindfulness is required. It will be lead by Anna Croucher - Senior Colleague Wellbeing Practitioner from the Devon Wellbeing Hub.

Please come along and join us for what will be a great session! Please feel free to share with any colleagues who may not have received this invite.

Many thanks,

Abi, Devon AHP Faculty Lead

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 362 282 943 290 

Passcode: uozZKf

Download Teams | Join on the web

Mental Health: 5.3.24

Designed for any colleagues who undertake work placement/ engagement activities with school students.

Interview date: 16/01/2024

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 320 971 270 47
Passcode: SfpEjY

Download Teams | Join on the web

Aimed at students (more likely 3^rd years, but 2^nd years welcomed to!), newly registered staff, managers……. anyone that is involved with supporting newly registered staff!

It is system wide, to include St Margaret's Hospice, PCN, Council etc.

26 March

28 May

23 July

24 September

26 November

28 January 2025

25 March

Microsoft Teams link for all

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 375 834 799 208
Passcode: n3koP7

Download Teams | Join on the web

Learn More | Meeting options

Involvement with career engagement will include:

• participating in activities such as school or college career fairs (2024 events.docx; Intranet page here)

• supporting the delivery of career workshops to groups

• championing work experience or other industry-based opportunities

Anything apprenticeship related please email apprenticeships@somersetft.nhs.uk

We currently offer this apprenticeship with Bridgwater and Taunton College.

To find out more contact apprenticeships@somersetft.nhs.uk

If you are interested or would like to find out more please contact apprenticeships@somersetft.nhs.uk

• share projects and ideas for AHPs to get involved

• raise awareness of the links between health and climate change, the NHS net zero ambition, and the shifts required to build a Greener NHS programme, nationally and regionally

• support each other and grow networks

• consider what a greener NHS might look like and what the benefits can be for us all.

Closing date

10/04/2024 23:59

Interview date

15/04/2024

Level 2: equivalent to GCSEs
Level 3: equivalent to A-levels
Levels 4 and 5: equivalent to a foundation degree and above
Level 6: equivalent to full bachelor’s degree
Level 7: equivalent to full Master’s degree

This is a network for AHP Support Workers of all levels across Somerset with an interest in the development of the AHP support workforce. The CoP is a safe, friendly space where support workers can contribute ideas, thoughts, challenges as well as develop relationships.

Please email lauren.dyer@somersetft.nhs.uk or fill out this form to sign up: https://forms.office.com/e/qYnMkmMVVP

This programme is freely available to access for staff in the health and care sectors.

Please click the link to access the Care Certificate: Care Certificate - elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk)

What Are the Projects About? These projects will cover a diverse range of areas, including:

• Curriculum

• Practice-based Placements

• Simulation

• Support Workforce

• Competencies

• Preceptorship

• HCPC Principles of Preceptorship

• Educator Workforce

• Career Resources and Information

• Career Development

• Student Hub

• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

• Apprenticeship

Who Can Get Involved? If you’re a BAPO member and fall into any of the following categories, we encourage you to participate:

• P&O Students

• Apprentices

• Support Workers

• Technicians

• Prosthetists

• Orthotists

How to Apply? Simply complete the application form HERE to express your interest in these exciting projects.

What’s in It for You?

• Each project will be led by an expert project lead.

• You’ll have the chance to learn about the project and actively contribute under their guidance.

• Your input will help shape the final project outcomes.

NHS England has designed a Digital Literacy Capability Framework, which includes a self-assessment tool and a Digital Competency Framework for Allied Health Professionals for all Allied Health Professions from Band 3 to Band 9.

For AHP Support Workers, the use of Microsoft 365 software enables new ways to undertake our daily work. Somerset FT are supporting all colleagues with sessions to provide both essential skills and in-depth knowledge. They are also available to give training and assistance at your request in specific areas or use cases. Take a look here at the courses and resources available:

Microsoft Word for Beginners (somersetft.nhs.uk)

Course: Microsoft Excel for Beginners (somersetft.nhs.uk)

Email  TelTeam@somersetft.nhs.uk

Our librarian: veronica.price@somersetft.nhs.uk

Web: Technology Enhanced Learning Team (intranet)

qualifications can be daunting.  However, gaining these qualifications can help

us to make the most of career opportunities and fulfill our potential.

New job roles and apprenticeship offers for AHP Support Workers often require

Maths and English Level 2 function skills - so having them might open up new

career opportunities for you.

What are Functional Skills?

Functional skills are important life skills including literacy, numeracy, and digital

skills. They help people to gain the most from life, learning and working.

A functional skills level 2 qualification is equal to a GCSE pass, grade 4 and

above (or C and above on the old grading system).

You can study for functional skills qualifications in a practical way, applying key skills to actual situations so that the things you learn come in useful every day,

at work or at home.  Whilst developing your functional skills can help you to

develop and progress in your career, they can also help you to feel more

confident in yourself and these skills can be useful in all aspects of your life.

Developing your functional skills can help you to:

• Apply knowledge and skills to real life

• Take on challenges in a range of new and often unforeseen settings

• Support you in using your initiative

• Recognise and expect that tasks may be challenging and require persistence, thoughtfulness, and reflection.

 If you decide to progress into registered roles in the future, you will need level 2 functional skills to do this.  Contact apprenticeships@somersetft.nhs.uk

What is the AHP Support Worker Career Portfolio?

• Is a tool that supports a structured approach to having career conversations with support workers.

• It aligns to the AHP support worker competency, education and career development framework and enables individuals to collate evidence of their skills and education. 

• It can be used and follow support workers throughout their career progression and includes helpful links to supporting resources and information. 

• It compliments clinical competency attainment requirements related to role and annual appraisals.

Please see the flier attached for further details on how to access the career portfolio tool along with wider information aimed at AHP support workers and those who line manager/support their development hosted on the SW AHP Support Worker Learning hub site https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/ahpsupportworkforce

Download the PDF version of the Wellbeing Champion Grid. You can contact your local Wellbeing Champion by searching their name into Outlook Global Address.

If you are interested in becoming a Wellbeing Champion, please email Wellbeing@somersetft.nhs.uk

Its purpose is to encourage everyone working with IT to review their current IT skills and knowledge against recognised standards, determine what their skill gaps are and then identify their current and future training requirements based on the products that are available.

IT Skills Pathway is provided by a third party and commissioned by HEE e-Learning for Healthcare.  Completion will not automatically appear within your Learning record.

We will dive into the profound effects of stress and depression and anxiety on overall health and learn how to combat these through simple yet effective relaxation and meditation techniques. Together, we’ll work on crafting a daily routine that puts you first because taking care of you is the first step in taking care of others. Let’s make this World Mental Health Day a day to prioritize our own health and wellbeing.

We know that many positive improvements have already been made, but there is still more work to be done. We are proud to say that our Multicultural Network has launched the See ME First initiative across our Trust.

This initiative involves pledging your support for our black, asian and ethnic minority colleagues by wearing a See ME First Badge. These badges aim to represent how we celebrate and value the differences in the experiences and perspectives that each person brings to our Trust and reflects the famous ideology at the heart of Dr Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech: “that people should not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character”. The See ME First initiative originated at Whittington Health NHS Trust, and we are proud to carry their work forward here.

Whether you are a multicultural colleague yourself or an ally, wearing a badge sends the message that you are there to listen to and support our black, asian and minority ethnic colleagues, patients and visitors.

To sign up: See ME First Initiative (sompar.nhs.uk)

If you, or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or something is causing stress, worry or anxiety, there are several ways support and guidance can be accessed within our trust.

Colleague Support Service – call on 0300 124 5595. Open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, if you call on a Saturday or Sunday, please leave a voicemail on the answering machine and the team will get back to you on their next working day. Or email colleaguesupport@somersetft.nhs.uk.

Open Mental Health – Open Mental Health is here to help. We offer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure that people struggling with their mental health in Somerset can access the right support at the right time.

If you need to speak to someone, please get in touch with our team at Mindline Somerset any time of the day or night, seven days a week, locally on 01823 276892 or freephone 0800 138 1692.

Mindline Live Web Chat is available every day from 8pm-11pm or you can send us a message.

Talking Therapies – we offer many different short term, time-limited treatments for anxiety and depression. These treatments are available both individually and in groups, by telephone and video for your greater convenience, and in person at venues too.

We can also support you to cope better if you have experienced a traumatic event, or if you are struggling to live with a long-term physical health condition such as diabetes, heart failure or breathing difficulties.

We encourage you to make a self-referral to our service if you are:

• Experiencing depression, anxiety, PTSD or sleep issues

• Ready to start working on your problems and able to attend regular appointments

• Registered with a GP in Somerset

• Not currently receiving support from other mental health services

To self-refer to Talking Therapies, visit Online Referral - NHS Somerset Talking Therapies - Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

would like to hear your views about your experience of work & what if anything could be done to improve things. Pls complete this short & anon survey -

Support workers hub | RCSLT

Celebrating AHP Support Worker Week: a call for change | The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Workforce Survey 2024

Dietetic Support Workforce - British Dietetic Association (BDA)

BAPO-Support-worker-framework-for-the-prosthetic-and-orthotic-workforce_compressed.pdf

Support workers | SoR

Support worker pathways

CODP – ODP Microsite

Orthoptic Support Workforce - British and Irish Orthoptic Society

Event link

To participate, simply complete the form below and submit your nominations for an outstanding apprentice, T Level student, work experience student, supported employment student or a remarkable Employer.

While Christmas and the New Year might be exciting for some, they are painful and overwhelming for others. Whether it’s money worries, the anticipation of spending time with family, or the stress of preparing for all the festivities, the holiday season can be hard on our mental health.

For those of us, or our patients, who are feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or just need someone to listen, Open Mental Health Mindline Somerset is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout the holiday season.

And with Crisis Safe Space appointments available too, nobody should need to face mental health challenges alone.

• Stop smoking

• Drug and alcohol awareness

• Healthy weight

• NHS health checks

• Colleague support and wellbeing service

• Blood pressure monitoring

• Vaccinations – this will be the last opportunity for colleagues to get their flu jabs at MPH.

The first trial event will be in the Academy at MPH, and it's hoped the team may be able to bring this event to further sites if successful. 

January is often a time for new resolutions and goals, so make looking after yourself a top priority and head down the to the academy from 11 - 3 pm on Friday (31 January) for a friendly, informal chat.

Please see the attached poster for the South West Imaging training Academy is hosting a Supporting Learners in Clinical Practice Study Day. It’s on Thursday 19 June 2025, from 9am until 4.30pm, at Plymouth International Business Park.

The study day is aligned to the Safe Learning Environment priorities of;

• Respect and feeling valued.

• Learning and Teaching needs.

• Wellbeing.

• EDI (the golden thread).

The study day has been designed to support all practitioners and the support workforce to create an inclusive and effective learning environment and will be delivered by Practice Educators and HEI teams from across the South West.

We hope participants will;

• Be inspired by keynote addresses and workshops to create effective and inclusive learning environments

• Share best practice and create new knowledge

• Take the opportunity to network with others across the southwest, making new connections.

The event will be available to book via Eventbrite in April. The event cost is £50 including lunch. Email louisehancock@nhs.net

There'll be pop-up events at the Musgrove Park Hospital concourse 13th May and in the Academy at Yeovil Hospital 16th May, as well as a resource pack for colleagues that showcases all the teams that provide or support learning in our trust.

Please take a few moments to complete our learning, education and training experience survey: 
https://forms.office.com/e/qgviKW9Mf8 

We welcome your feedback and suggestions. The survey closes on Friday 27^th June. 

If you have any questions, please contact Cate Newell, our knowledge and library services manager, or Frances Rockhill, our mandatory training compliance lead.

It is free for any NHS apprentice, past or present, and apprentices will have access to great resources, community networking, virtual and face to face events and mental health support.

This week, 2 to 6 June, is Dietitians Week, giving us the opportunity to celebrate the 87 colleagues who work in our nutrition and dietetics team, the work they do, and looking to the future of the profession.

The team has 60 dietitians, four dietetic apprentices, three dietetic assistant practitioners, two dietetic assistants, six nutrition nurses, 10 admin colleagues, a catering liaison manager, and a operational service manager working together across our sites.

Ursula Green, head of service for nutrition and dietetics (pictured second to the right) gives her perspective. She explains: “Since I first joined the trust nearly 30 years ago, both the number of patients we see and the range of treatments we offer has grown significantly.

"As well as dietitians providing a service to inpatient wards both in acute and community hospitals, we now have dietitians working in many specialist areas including oncology, nutrition support, diabetes, gastroenterology, renal, paediatrics, weight management, bariatric surgery, home enteral tube feeding and coeliac disease. This is in addition to the community outpatient service and home visits we provide across the whole of Somerset, with just over 6000 patients referred in the last year.

“The future of dietetics is in our workforce, and how we are able to encourage and train students. Through a placement expansion project, we have been able to increase our capacity for undergraduate student placements and alongside our apprenticeships we are creating a pipeline to support colleagues to grow their career here.”

Sarah Adamson, dietetic assistant practitioner, has been instrumental in running dietetic taster days for people who are interested in working in the field. Some of the attendees have gone on to become mealtime volunteers to increase their work experience and it has also helped students to get a place at university to study dietetics.

"We are really focusing on growing our team from our existing talent and have dietetic apprentice interviews in June for members of our team to hopefully progress their career," adds Sarah. "Our apprentices assist the dietitians in various teams across the service, an example being a Band 4 apprentice now running clinics for babies and children with milk allergy."

Another apprentice supports the home enteral feeding team. Enteral feeding is one area of dietetics that Ursula has particularly seen grow over the years, with increasing numbers of both adults and children with feeding tubes in both the acute hospitals and in home care settings. There are now over 400 patients in home care settings across Somerset who are managed by the dedicated home enteral tube feeding team. Many of these patients have complex health needs with multiple conditions and nutrition nurses work alongside the dietitians to ensure that the patients are appropriately supported. The apprentice has been able to support by visiting patients at home to weigh them, enabling the dietitian to undertake a telephone review which provides a more timely service for the patient rather than having to wait for a visit from the dietitian in person.

Anna Orme, deputy head of service for acute dietetics, adds: “I’m excited to see how dietetics is growing and new routes to enter the profession such as the dietetic degree apprenticeship. We are also seeing more opportunities for dietitians to become supplementary prescribers and advanced clinical practitioners. To reflect that, we are now one dietetic service across the trust. I will be starting a clinic based in the community, having worked in the acute setting previously and it’s exciting to see how and where the service will support patients in years to come.”

The team are working to reduce the historical boundaries in the service through review of pathways of care, rather than being site specific. The aim is to redesign provision, focussing on where patients need to be seen, further advancing our NHS wide objective to bring care closer to home.

Nominations close on July 31st 2025. Shortlisted nominees will be contacted in August 2025

Upon joining, we kindly request that you arrive with a clear goal in mind. The sessions will start with a brief conversation, allowing each participant to share their individual objectives. Following this, we will engage in focused writing bursts.

In consideration of the immersive nature of these sessions, we kindly ask that you commit to participating for the entire duration.

Here are the upcoming dates:

• Monday 28th July 2025, 9.30-11.00

• Friday 8th August 2025, 14.00-15.30

• Tuesday 12th August 2025, 9.00-10.30

• Monday 18th August 2025, 17.00-18.30

• Tuesday 26th August 2025, 12.30-14.00

Please click on the date to join the meeting.

🗓 Date: Monday, 15th September
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM
📍 Location: Microsoft Teams - Join the meeting now

This month, we’re thrilled to welcome Emma Lawton, who will be leading a session on capacity and consent within the AHP support workforce role—an important and insightful topic for all of us.

In addition to Emma’s session, we’ll also be sharing general updates, news, and opportunities relevant to all AHP support workers.

👉 Please think of any questions you might have for Emma, or any scenarios from your role relating to consent or capacity that you’d like her to speak on.

✅ Why becoming an Associate Member of the CSP is a great step for your career

✅ The purpose of the Associate Membership and Support Worker Network – to connect, empower, and represent the AHP support workforce

✅ The benefits of membership – including access to professional resources, events, tailored support and social media groups

✅ How you can contribute your knowledge and expertise to influence CSP policy and practice

✅ Upcoming events and opportunities

✅ A chance to ask Fiona your questions directly!

Whether you're already a member or just exploring your options, this is a fantastic opportunity to connect, learn, and feel supported. Join us on Microsoft Teams SEPTEMBER 2ND 10AM- Click here to join

Mon, 01 Sept

18:00 - 19:00 BST

Online

When you submit this form, it will not automatically collect your details like name and email address unless you provide it yourself.

What is Dietetic Support Workforce Day?

Every year we shine the spotlight on the dietetic support workforce, highlighting key services, ways to get involved with the BDA and opportunities to further your learning and development. It's also a good opportunity to ensure you feel well represented by your professional body and trade union. 

Our aim this year is to check in with you, see how you are doing and look at the ways we can support you further. Is there a member benefit that you would love to see us offering? Is there a topic we should be talking about? Do you need more resources in a particular area of your work? We can help.

What can you do on Wednesday 26 November?

Join our webinar

26 November - 12.30-1pm. As we shine the spotlight on our support workforce, this webinar aims to highlight your crucial roles in enhancing nutrition and dietetic services, focusing on your value, the challenges you face and the steps the BDA is taking to address these issues effectively through action and advocacy.

• Starting April 2026 based in YDH Academy

• the number of places available for this course is capped at ten

• 18 Month course including two study days per month

• managers reference required

• short piece of research to be completed within application form

• applications close on 23 January 2026

• interviews 10 February 2026

  
  

In addition to the above we can also give career guidance and college course opportunities if you would just like a chat.

to find out mor email:

Julia.beard@somersetft.nhs.uk

What you’ll learn

• Understanding T Levels- What they are, how they work, the placements and the role you play in supporting T Level learners.

• Benefits of Mentoring - How mentoring can enhance your skills, career development, and the service you provide.

• Practical Tips & Advice - Real-world strategies for effective mentoring and student support.

• Hear from Experts -Insights from the T Level team, current students, and the Project SEARCH lead on supporting neurodivergent students.

• Live Q&A- Bring your questions—we’re here to help!

Why join?

This workshop will equip you to:

• Build confidence when supporting learners on placement.

• Gain practical tools for mentoring success.

• Boost your career with mentoring.

• Feel prepared for hosting T Level students—or stepping into a mentor role for the first time.

Register here: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

We’d love to see as many support workers as possible join us for this valuable session. Please share with colleagues who may be interested!

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, for up to 2 colleagues to join us as a BSc (Hons) -Operating Department Practitioner Degree Apprentice in association with Bournemouth University.

Job summary

Do you want to help people to recover after stroke and be able to do the activities that are important to them? We are looking for an Occupational Therapy assistant to join our team working with acute stroke patients at Musgrove Park Hospital. The core aim of service delivery is to minimise the effects of a stroke and enable people to be able to leave hospital as soon as possible with as little support as possible.