Russell V1, Buttress S2, Tolan S3
1APPN, Oxford, United Kingdom, 2University of Salford, School of Health Sciences, Manchester, United Kingdom, 3Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Practice and Development, London, United Kingdom
Background: The Extended Scope Practitioners Professional Network (now Advanced Practice Physiotherapy Network from May 2018) was formed in 1995 to support physiotherapists working in extended scope roles in the UK. ESPPN (now APPN) was officially recognised by the Chartered Society of physiotherapy (CSP) in 1999. In 2010 the CSP moved away from the term ´extended scope practitioner´ and now refers to advanced practice activities. Internationally the term ESP was not recognized in Australia, and Canada and Europe employed the term of advanced practice. However, the UK professional network continued to use the term ESP and there was resistance to change amongst those who had established their title and role as an ESP. A name change was necessary to take the network forward and align itself with the CSP and emerging policy nationally and internationally.
Purpose: To create a change in identity for a national physiotherapy professional network in the UK to broaden its appeal, to make it a more inclusive group and act as a catalyst to progress the development of advanced practice roles within physiotherapy in the UK .
Methods: The newly formed committee in September 2016 discussed changing the name of the network as a matter of urgency and differences of opinion were aired and noted to inform the consultation process. Communication and engagement were seen as key elements of the process as recommended in the Kotter cycle, and a wide variety of physiotherapists were consulted through a Twitter poll, CSP discussion networks, messages to network members and postings on the website. The name change was incorporated into the networks 5 year strategy on September 2017. Representation from the CSP helped guide the process, using this as our implementation vehicle.
Results: A Twitter poll was 72% in favour of name change and a total of 7 responses from discussion websites and messages to the chair of the committee in favour of name change and including physiotherapy in the new name were received.
Fifteen responses from local representative colleagues were in favour of name change and the majority wanted to keep physiotherapy in the title. Network members were polled, 256 members responded and 87% agreed on name change.
In September 2017, the committee decided unanimously to change the name of the network
Conclusion(s): The turning point to change the network name came after considerable consultation and when the committee explored the internal and external drivers and agreed a mission statement. The high number of responses to the name change vote could indicate that the membership had confidence in the committee´s decision and were behind them.
Implications: The change in name and 5 years strategy has breathed new life into the network, provided a framework for sustainable future and is taking the network in a new direction. Since the name change, 80 new members have joined with 4 new nominations to the executive committee.
Keywords: Identity, physiotherapy, advanced practice
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was received for this project as it formed part of the APPN committee strategy to explore name change
Purpose: To create a change in identity for a national physiotherapy professional network in the UK to broaden its appeal, to make it a more inclusive group and act as a catalyst to progress the development of advanced practice roles within physiotherapy in the UK .
Methods: The newly formed committee in September 2016 discussed changing the name of the network as a matter of urgency and differences of opinion were aired and noted to inform the consultation process. Communication and engagement were seen as key elements of the process as recommended in the Kotter cycle, and a wide variety of physiotherapists were consulted through a Twitter poll, CSP discussion networks, messages to network members and postings on the website. The name change was incorporated into the networks 5 year strategy on September 2017. Representation from the CSP helped guide the process, using this as our implementation vehicle.
Results: A Twitter poll was 72% in favour of name change and a total of 7 responses from discussion websites and messages to the chair of the committee in favour of name change and including physiotherapy in the new name were received.
Fifteen responses from local representative colleagues were in favour of name change and the majority wanted to keep physiotherapy in the title. Network members were polled, 256 members responded and 87% agreed on name change.
In September 2017, the committee decided unanimously to change the name of the network
Conclusion(s): The turning point to change the network name came after considerable consultation and when the committee explored the internal and external drivers and agreed a mission statement. The high number of responses to the name change vote could indicate that the membership had confidence in the committee´s decision and were behind them.
Implications: The change in name and 5 years strategy has breathed new life into the network, provided a framework for sustainable future and is taking the network in a new direction. Since the name change, 80 new members have joined with 4 new nominations to the executive committee.
Keywords: Identity, physiotherapy, advanced practice
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was received for this project as it formed part of the APPN committee strategy to explore name change
Topic: Professional issues; Professional practice: other
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: Advanced practice physiotherapy network (APPN)
Ethics committee: www.onlinesurveys.ac.uk protects the identity of voters
Reason not required: Members of the APPN are protected by a privacy statement and permission to share information is sought at registration to the network
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
