ARC motions 2008/1
Primary agenda
Amendments to motions, emergency motions and references back to Councils responses to ARC 2007 resolutions must be received by the Chief Executive’s Office at the CSP by 12 noon, Thursday 14 February 2008.
Please click on the links below to view the content:
- Motions 1 and 2 – Common debate
- Equality and diversity
- CSP Policy
- Employment issues
- Social Policy
- Learning and Development
Physiotherapy practice
Motions 1 and 2 – Common debate
- This Conference requests that the CSP should provide guidance on the most effective models of service provision for seven day services related to older people in light of the present inconsistencies across the UK.
Due to lack of robust evidence for seven day services with older people, provision has been developed and implemented in an ad hoc fashion. This leads to inequity of service, affecting patient care and outcomes. There is a wide variation relating to skill mix, working patterns and remuneration for staff. There is an urgent need for the CSP to produce expert guidance based on available evidence and best practice for all stages of the patient journey.
Agile: chartered physiotherapists working with older people
- Conference calls on Council to undertake a piece of work to investigate whether a wider, co-ordinated bank of staff could be used to take the pressure off individual trusts, in implementing seven day working, and, if so, to support the introduction of such a mechanism.
Seven day working is becoming a reality across the UK, and the lack of support mechanisms to prevent this placing undue stresses on an overstretched workforce is concerning.
A 30% increase in staffing is often cited, to support the running of this change. In many cases, 7/7 working is being implemented without this, leaving services overstretched from the outset, without the additional burdens of sickness absence and unexpected leave.
Other professional and occupational groups have used systems such as NHS professionals and CABEL with mixed success to improve staffing and workload. We believe that this is time for the CSP to proactively re-engage with these processes to fully gain the benefits of 7/7.
London south stewards
- Conference requests the CSP develop a strategy to promote the exercise prescription skills of physiotherapists and promotes the specialist route of sports physiotherapy as a mechanism to fulfil the government initiatives of promoting a healthier lifestyle.
Association of chartered physiotherapists in sports medicine
- Conference requests that the CSP marketing team actively approach the makers of Street Doctor with a proposal for either adding a physiotherapist to the team for the next series or making an entire series, called Street Physio as opposed to Street Doctor.
In the environment of a target driven health care economy, the need to actively promote the profession and raise awareness of the work and skills of physiotherapy are ever more important. The prime time television series Street Doctor is hugely popular, reaching audiences of millions every week. The format of the Street Doctor programme could easily be extended to include a physiotherapy service and such an inclusion, if achievable, would provide a huge boost to awareness of physiotherapy services and would benefit the profession as a whole.
Student executive committee
- Conference requests the CSP to produce core standards and guidelines for physiotherapists whose services deal with referrals for transitional care for adolescents.
The CSP needs to produce guidelines, as modelled by other professional bodies, for physiotherapists, their managers and Healthcare Commissioners on Adolescent Transitional Care to ensure transition is identified and addressed in all areas in which young people are seen.
The CSP also needs to ensure that core standards regarding skills and training are developed for physiotherapists whose services accept referrals within the ages of 13-19 years old.
Training needs of post-graduate physiotherapists whose services accept referrals within the ages of 13-19 years old need to be analysed as well as ensuring the undergraduate curriculum contains core skills in adolescent medicine that, of which transition should be a part.
Association of paediatric chartered physiotherapists
Equality and diversity
- Conference recognises that the steward system does not adequately address Black and Minority Ethnic issues at work at that it requires further development. Conference calls upon the CSP to develop overt and effective mechanisms for supporting individuals undergoing alleged incidents of discrimination. Conference requests CSP Council to report back to ARC 2010 with appropriate proposals.
Within the British justice system, individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Yet, it is clear that in cases of alleged discrimination, harassment and bullying that both the individual undergoing investigation of the alleged action and the individual allegedly discriminated against, suffer from feelings of isolation, distorted accusations and negative innuendos. While waiting for an official hearing and the final judgement to be cast, individuals require objective and unconditional support.
The Network Groups and physiotherapy managers have identified discomfort and a lack of guidance regarding the part played by the CSP in the support of individuals in cases of this nature. It would appear that the primary task of stewards is taken up in other matters and little attention is given to the welfare of the individuals concerned. Currently, there is no identified strategy to support the individuals involved in cases of alleged discrimination, yet, it is known that the stress which emanates from investigations of this nature can be overwhelming and is often detrimental to the health of the individuals concerned.
The network groups request the CSP to develop overt and effective mechanisms for supporting individuals undergoing alleged incidents of discrimination.
Black and minority ethnic group
- Conference is concerned by the implications, particularly for visually impaired and dyslexic members, of the new Clinical Record Service which will require all patient notes to be electronically recorded. Conference calls upon CSP to draw up guidance for stewards, managers and members to ensure that suitable training, equipment and time is available for these members in the workplace to support them in implementing the new system.
The introduction of the Clinical Record Service means that all clinicians will be required to input patient data via a computer. There is often a lack of awareness of the additional time and equipment that visually impaired members and members with dyslexia or other access needs may require to enable them to input the required data. Guidance will provide enormous assistance in helping to negotiate at local level to ensure that members’ needs are met.
Disabled members’ network
CSP Policy
- Conference requests that the capitation fees for CIGs be increased and that this increase is ring-fenced for the purposes of supporting CIG related research activity.
An increase in ring-fenced capitation fees would allow CIGs to promote research activity, one of the CSP’s strategic aims. Whilst this would be a relatively small amount of money, the intention would be to support small projects and/or those “pump priming” that would not meet the criteria for the physiotherapy research foundation funding stream. Access by competitive bidding and evaluation of proposals and outcomes by a sub-committee would need to be established for each CIG. Annual auditing would ensure its correct use.
Hydrotherapy association of chartered physiotherapists
- Composite:
The CSP is a member led organisation and ARC is the only opportunity for all sections of the CSP to get together to express their views on the direction the CSP should take. The decision by Council to pilot a one-day conference seems like an attempt to marginalize the views of the membership and to decrease our ability to influence decisions that are made. Reducing ARC to one day has reduced its effectiveness as a conference both in terms of debate and as a networking opportunity across the profession.
Conference therefore demands that for next year Council take the decision to:- reinstate ARC to two days
- ensure a broad range of topics for debate, including social issues, are within the primary agenda
- ensure that ARC continues to change venue so that it visits all four countries on a rotating basis to allow easier access for all areas of the CSP
- ensure that Agenda Committee amend the constitution to ensure that any further changes to ARC are fully discussed, debated and voted on at ARC before being implemented.
The issue about trialing a one day ARC has never been presented to ARC as a motion for debate. It is vitally important that changes to ARC are fully debated by ARC and the constitution should be amended to reflect this. There is likely to be a cost implication for this motion and it could only be calculated once we review the total cost for a one day ARC (including travel and additional hotel accommodation) and compare it to previous years. Any cost is negligible next to the importance of ARC as the one chance for a varied mix of the membership to get together.
Scottish stewards/national group of regional stewards/scottish board
- Over the last few years the role of the branches has changed considerably. Some branches barely function, others have closed. However, some are still thriving. We therefore ask the CSP to undertake a review of the funding of branches, allowing active branches to thrive, with more funds available to help fund branch activities such as courses, lectures, workshops etc. which serve a vital role for small, often rural, branches.
Small rural branches are struggling financially, they have fewer members, but these members have less access to CPD, training, staff meetings etc. than members un urban areas. The branch plays a vital role to these members and funding is an issue. We ask for a review of funding, to enable small branches or other thriving branches to run CPD, evening lectures, courses etc. for the benefit of members. We feel the “per head” funding is outdated and other ways of funding need to be explored.
Mid wales branch
Employment issues
- Conference is concerned that many Assistant posts within the NHS are currently being filled by unemployed physiotherapy graduates. Whilst completely understanding and being sympathetic with the issues currently facing new graduates, Conference believes that physiotherapy assistant posts are part of a recognised career structure with a unique role in service delivery and when posts are filled with qualified physiotherapists, these roles can lose their value within the entirety of skill mix within a service.
Therefore Conference asks the CSP to:
- encourage managers to ringfence these posts for assistant workers
- make a statement supporting these roles as being part of a career structure with dedicated learning and development for assistants
- continue to support new graduates into qualified physiotherapy roles.
Whilst being very sympathetic of the situation graduates find themselves in when having to take work as an Assistant, this does not help their CPD and they are often exploited and looking to move on. The Assistant role is unique as is the role of the qualified physiotherapist – it helps no-one to try to replace the other.
Physiotherapy assistants board
- Conference has been made aware by many associate members of inconsistencies in the grading structure following Agenda for Change. For example, the same job in different neighbouring trusts can be banded higher or lower by one or two bands. This is a problem for qualified and non-qualified staff.
Therefore Conference asks the CSP to:
- investigate with local stewards the extent of apparent inconsistencies in AfC pay banding
- identify ways in which any inconsistency can be remedied
- influence nationally to ensure AfC is implemented fairly.
Banding inequality is unfair for employees and causes some workplaces problems with recruitment. AfC promised equality wherever you worked in the UK, and for staff to be rewarded for the work you do. It is time AfC was implemented fairly and equitably across the UK.
Physiotherapy assistants board
- composite
Conference is angry that the CSP has been forced to accept a staged, below inflation pay award in 2007 in England which is contrary to the recommendations of the independent Pay Review Body.
Conference notes with concern the Government’s insistence that public sector pay must be capped at 2% in 2008 regardless of the rate of inflation.
In light of this, Conference asks that:
- the CSP be ready and able to launch a vigorous and well planned campaign, in conjunction with other unions, to insist that a UK wide above-inflation uplift be paid all four countries. In the event of a multi year pay deal this should include an inflation linked clause which maintains the value of members’ current pay
- the CSP should promptly ballot members for industrial action if that pay uplift is unacceptable.
National group of regional stewards/london north stewards/london south stewards
- Conference calls for the CSP to campaign for PCT employers to ensure there are physiotherapy clinical leads in post to oversee the physiotherapy service as a whole. Many PCTs will be managed by someone who is not a physiotherapist meaning the senior staff have no one above them to offer support on clinical issues. The lack of clinical leads means KSF appraisals have to be done within peer groups and/or by someone with no knowledge of physiotherapy.
Conference notes that some physiotherapists employed by PCTs will sit in mixed social services and health teams. There is often no one to oversee the maintenance of professional standards and the carrying out of audits. In between appraisals there is no one to help senior staff that may be struggling. There is a lack of a voice for physiotherapy at a higher level. All these factors could affect the quality of the physiotherapy service provided. The CSP should make sure the quality of the service is not compromised.
South Central North Stewards
Social Policy
- composite
This Conference is saddened by the horrific reports of violence against trade unionists and human rights organisations in Colombia. Since 2004 there have been more than 2000 killings of trade unionists and over 3000 death threats. This Conference is concerned that the UK government continues to give military aid to Colombia despite the fact that the Colombian army regularly violates the Human Rights of the Colombian people. Conference calls on the CSP to work with the TUC to join with Justice for Colombia – alongside Amnesty International – to put pressure on the UK government to stop any military aid to Colombia, and to help put an end to the horrific Human Rights abuses and killings.National group of regional stewards/south west south stewards
Learning and Development
- Conference requests that the CSP begins the process of consulting with relevant statutory and regulatory bodies to promote the benefits of a four year Masters level physiotherapy degree to replace the current three year BSc course.
Currently the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most of Europe (including Scotland) have four year physiotherapy entry degrees. Indeed, in the USA, BSc Physiotherapy entry programmes have stopped in favour of MSc entry. They are actually moving to majority doctorate entry by 2020. Canada is also moving towards all MSc entry by 2012.
Therefore the degrees which English, Welsh and Northern Irish physiotherapy graduates obtain are becoming internationally devalued. If a new graduate from these three countries cannot find employment and thus wants to look overseas, it is becoming increasingly difficult to persuade other countries that they are educated to the same standards as their own graduates.
Student executive committee
This text on this page was last updated on 8 Jan 2008.
