Latest Blogs

As a Black physiotherapist trained in Africa, working in a highly specialised and predominantly White profession, my journey has been both rewarding and challenging. Alongside developing my clinical expertise, I have often found myself navigating questions about my identity and credibility. One of the most common questions I am asked is, 'Where did you train?' While usually well-intentioned, being asked this repeatedly can sometimes feel like my qualifications are being assessed before my expertise is recognised. Another familiar phrase is, 'I'm going to struggle to pronounce your name.'

I am so excited for this year's CSP Conference programme in Glasgow. Following your feedback, we've refreshed the format with new additions, more workshops, forums and more space for networking and learning together. Our keynote line-up is worth the trip alone! We're delighted to welcome Karen Poole, Kay Cooper and Pete O'Sullivan to the main stage. Between them, they bring decades of clinical leadership, research excellence and practice, the kind of inspirational sessions people are still talking about a year later. Beyond the keynotes, this year's programme has expanded with additional

Seeing a patient's progress is one of my favourite aspects of being a physiotherapist. Who knew attending the CSP Diversity Networks Day could be similar? CSP members from BAME, DisAbility and LGBTQIA+ networks from different backgrounds, experiences, perspectives and stories, all together in one place towards helping to achieve an inclusive physiotherapy profession. The keynote speech from John Cowman, CSP chief executive, about how his journey of equity, diversity and belonging has been one of unlearning, reminded me of Alvin Toffler's quote: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be

This sounds unsettling, especially if you’ve just started at a new employer. However, speaking up is good practice, and challenging barriers to providing care is part of being a professional. Usually, you should be able to raise any problems with your line manager. However, if you’d like some advice before approaching them, you can contact your local CSP rep. Your CSP rep will be aware of various channels and contacts for resolving issues. You will often have a team of CSP reps at NHS employers. CSP reps can be found in the independent sector, although this is less common. Use our online

Until recently, attending the CSP Conference felt like something other people did. I knew it was a place to learn, network and share ideas, but it wasn’t firmly on my radar until I decided to submit an abstract and attend the conference in 2025. I expected to learn a few things, present my research and return to work… What I didn’t expect was how much the experience would broaden my perspective on physiotherapy and the possibilities within our reach. One thing that stood out early on was how accessible and supportive the process felt. From submitting my abstract to presenting my research

Attending Pride Cymru was a meaningful and affirming experience for me, both personally and professionally. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride Cymru provided an opportunity to celebrate diversity, visibility, and inclusion while standing in solidarity with others who continue to advocate for equality and human rights. I work as a physiotherapist within the Orthopaedic Department at Llandough Hospital and I'm also an equality rep for the CSP. These roles have strengthened my understanding of the importance of creating inclusive environments where everyone feels respected, valued, and

1976 was a fairly momentous year for the physiotherapy profession. It was the year the CSP became a trade union. And, in Belfast, at the Ulster College, it was the beginning of another transformation. In 1976, the Northern Ireland School of Physiotherapy launched the first-ever undergraduate degree in physiotherapy. Prior to this, physiotherapy training was delivered through diploma or certificate programmes, often rooted in hospitals or training colleges. These routes produced highly skilled clinicians, but the introduction of degree-level education marked a fundamental shift. As

Gazing at the Shrewsbury hills through the train window, I tried to concentrate on writing and re-writing my ‘speech’ to congress, as for some reason I had volunteered to speak against a motion calling out racism. I have never been to ARC, I had never spoke against a motion, I have never been in front of a large crowd trying to argue against a very popular point of view, and as the trees slipped by, I reflected on why had this even happened. I hadn’t been a steward long and apart from training and meetings I had yet to be called upon to represent an individual. But I had become increasingly

If you are a physiotherapy leader looking at neighbourhood health and wondering where to start – or how to step into a more strategic role – you are not alone. Across the country, we are all hearing the same direction of travel. Care is moving into communities. Services are being organised around neighbourhoods. There is a growing emphasis on prevention, population health and working differently with partners. But when you scratch beneath the surface, it is clear that this is still evolving. There is no single model. No neat blueprint. And that can feel uncomfortable. From where I sit, though

Neighbourhood health isn’t coming – it’s already happening. Across England, integrated care boards have developed neighbourhood health strategic plans, assessed the maturity of their Places to deliver the strategy, are identifying payment mechanisms which will enable flexible delivery of neighbourhood health and are shifting decision-making about how care may be organised and around which local populations mapped to Place Provider Partnerships. This shift is being shaped by NHSE's neighbourhood health framework, alongside local system priorities. While structures will differ from place to