OETT were pleased to sponsor the Orthotist of the Year Award for 2024 at the BAPO Regional Conference, West Midlands in September.
This event also marked the celebration of Prosthetics and Orthotics Day.
Well done to the winner of this award, Scott McNab – Peacocks Medical Group (Trust Lead for NHS Northumbria)
Well done also to the shortlisted awards nominees:
Deanna Smith – Nottingham University Hospitals Trust
Chiazoka Ezeuzo – Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals Trust
The Cardiff Univeristy Bond Solon accreditation is divided up into 4 modules over 5 days: Report Writing, Witness Familiarisation, Cross Examination and Law and Procedure (2 days) and must be completed within 2 years. This allowed me to attend the modules atr my own pace and digest the information at each stage. I had no experience in the field of Expert Witness work prior to the course and feel Bond Solon provided the information in manageble amounts without over complicating the process for someone who is not familiar with the law or court process.
The Excellence in Report writing module provided a brief description of the requirements of an expert witness and the legal terminology. I did this day in a classroom environment, throughout the day time was taken to explain in detail the outline of a good report. Emphasis was placed on all the legal requirements of a court approved document including Civil Procedure Rules 35 (CPR Part 35) and Practice Direction 35 (PD35). It was made clear that reports must be understood by the layman and always remain objective to the courts. Sample reports were provided and we were split into groups to critique each report once we had an understanding of what made a good report.
Prior to the Courtroom Skills Day a short pre-report was requested.
The Courtroom Skills Day I attended was virtual. Even though it was a virtual format it provided a good breakdown of the court process for someone who has never attended court as a witness. The different types of courts were described and how the hierarchy system works with complex cases escalating through the court system. I was provided with useful information on being in the witness box, taking the oath or affirmation. Advice was given on body language techniques to ensure you answer to the court decision maker ie the Judge when asked a question by council in cross examination. A short 5 minute cross examination on the pre-report submitted was carried out to gain a complete understanding of the process. This provided a good overview on the court process and prepared me for the Cross Examination day.
Prior to the Cross Examination day, a full report was to be submitted in your expert field and this would be used in the Cross Examination.
The Cross Examination day which again I did virtually provided candidates with the opportunity to have a practice cross examination and be provided feedback by the solicitor. In the afternoon all candidate were video recorded doing a cross examination and this was sent to Cardiff University for marking as part of the CUBS accreditation.
The two day Civil Law and Procedure was also done virtually and went into great details of the different types of law and the importance of understanding these for working in the medicolegal field. The 2nd half of day 2 all candidates completing the CUBS accreditation sat a multiple choice test as part of the course to be sent to Cardiff for marking.
I feel this course provided me with a good understanding of what is required of an expert witness and the handouts are a good source of reference. I work thoroughly recommend it to anyone considering working in the field who has minimal experience of the court system or how to write a report. I am extremely grateful to the OETT for assisting in funding this course and aiding in my continual development as an Orthotist.
Click here to read some of our applicant’s experience’s.
The course is broken down into four sections over 5 days, which is normally face to face but was done over Zoom during the pandemic. There is one multiple choice exam, one submission and one mock cross examination which all need to be passed to gain the certificate.
Four sections are as follows:
Overall I would say this course was excellent and the Report Writing section in particular is essential for anyone wishing to start providing reports that will be of a high standard to the court.
I recently completed a Masters by Research (MRes) through the University of Salford.
I undertook the MSc part time while working full time over 200 miles from the university and only attended the university in person once in the four years it took me to complete my research. Skype became my best friend!
Juggling work, study and a young family at home was tough, but one worry I didn’t have was financing my studies as the OETT kindly provided 67% of the funding for my MSc and my employer Blatchford paid the remaining 33%. This help was invaluable, and we as a profession are so incredibly privileged to have access to such financial support to help us further our knowledge clinically, which in the end serves to benefit our patients – the reason why we entered the profession in the first place.
During my MSc I learned research skills, academic writing skills, the use of gait analysis and the interpretation of data, as well as furthering my knowledge of the orthotic treatment of foot and ankle trauma. These skills are important in ensuring I am well versed in providing evidence-based practice for the patients that I treat now and in the many years to come.
I would encourage all Prosthetists/Orthotists to consider an MRes as an alternative to the more conventionally taught MSc courses. It enables you to gain research skills and explore an area of orthotics in great detail in a flexible way that allows remote working very easily. It takes a lot of discipline but it was definitely worth it.
So thank you once again to the OETT. Your support of our profession is invaluable and the process to apply for assistance is simple, seamless and very swiftly managed.
In 2016, I decided to embark on my MSc journey. I enrolled on the MSc Orthotics rehabilitation studies course at the University of Strathclyde. It is a distance learning course so was convenient for me at the time. I must say, going into it, I did not know what to expect. My experience with it was a very positive one with in-depth online notes; assignments that made me think out of the box and also use my theoretical and practical knowledge of orthotics.
In the first year, we undertook introductory biomechanics, research methodology and data analysis modules. The second year built on the first year modules, second year modules included lower limb orthotic biomechanics, advanced orthotic science and clinical gait analysis. In the third year, we had to do a big project drawing from all the information we had gained in the previous two years.
I always had an interest in research, completing this MSc has given me the necessary tools needed to take my research forward. It has opened a new world of research for me. It has made me realise that there is a great need for further research in orthotics. I will encourage any orthotist interested in research to get necessary tools needed.
I will like to thank OETT for their help in part-funding this course. The lecturers were knowledgeable and were always on hand to answer any questions we had. The assessments ran smoothly and were mostly well organised. I will also like to thank my project supervisor – Dr Christine McNogle for her support while I was undertaking my project. My employer – T&S Orthotics – was very supportive and allowed me time off to study when required.
To my wife and children for their support during my sleepless nights while studying, working on assignments and my project, Thank you.
Joshua Oguntade
BSc Hons, MSc Orthotic Rehabilitation Studies