Associates' network

Chair: Chris Richards

I am a physiotherapy assistant practitioner, and I have been working in Hywel Dda University Health Board for seven years in the community physiotherapy team. For the past year, I have been in a part-time secondment as a therapy assistant practitioner in a virtual service for prostate cancer.

Before working in the NHS, I spent almost a decade in the fitness and leisure industry, where I trained and examined lifeguards. I qualified as a personal trainer and nutritional adviser as well as being a national exercise referral instructor. I also undertook roles connected to managing a centre.

Three years ago, I was a founding member of the CSP Support Worker Reference Group, which aimed to highlight and develop the support worker role, and I am very proud of the achievements made during this time.

I am extremely excited to have been chosen as the chair for the newly developed Associates' network, and truly hope that people will believe in the vision we have as a network, to promote equity, diversity, inclusivity and belonging within the CSP and among support workers, highlighting and contributing to the development of the physiotherapy support worker role.

Vice-chair: Robert Minter

I have been a therapy assistant at the Hull University Teaching Hospitals (HUTH) NHS Trust for the past eight years. I was previously in a seconded role as an allied health professionals support worker lead for six months. I am also the associate representative for the ARC agenda committee, a workplace steward and a representative for the Yorkshire and Humber Network.

Before coming into the NHS, I was a security guard/door supervisor working around the country at various events such as the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, Commonwealth Games, and Glastonbury Festival to name a few.

About three years ago I was approached by the CSP to join the Support Worker Reference Group, and as a founding member, it was amazing to see how far we progressed and evolved over this time. My aim is for this to continue with the newly formed Associates' network and my role as vice-chair.

Remember: support workers, unregistered but not unqualified.

• Twitter – @robminter

Secretary: Emma Jackson

I am a stroke rehab physio assistant in the Regional Acute Stroke Unit in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. I have been working here for three years and find it the most rewarding and fulfilling role; it is my calling.

I work with patients in their acute and medium-term rehabilitation stages, assisting in retraining mobility, balance, motor skills, sensory rehab and overall regeneration of ability. I also provide all the admin support for our team – equipment, paperwork, measuring and fitting orthotics.

I joined the CSP in 2021 and became the Northern Ireland member of the Support Worker Reference Group. We have now formed the Associates' network and I am incredibly proud to be part of this group of experienced and talented people as we pioneer and advocate for the development of our roles. I sit on the CSP Northern Ireland Board as the associate board member, representing support staff/physio assistants across the province. I was part of a piece of work in the CSP to engage support workers from across Northern Ireland. This has successful in helping me to create links with colleagues in other trusts, and find out what support workers want to see in terms of career development prospects.

Learning and development lead: Gemma Hawtin

I'm a physiotherapy assistant and work for Leeds Community Healthcare in the ICAN (Integrated Children's Additional Needs Service) team and have done for the past seven years. I have been a physio assistant for the past 11 years now working in Leeds Teaching Hospitals on the wards in paediatrics and in adults. I have also worked in outpatients at Airedale Woking at the Bingley Site.

I have been part of the Associates' network for the past year in a communications role and now move into the role of learning and development. 

I bring experience in leadership having led a very successful project which won the Advancing Healthcare Awards in 2020 with wheelchair skills intervention which we now complete alongside other intervention in the service.

I am still learning the role but I think it would be great to promote all what we can do as support workers and develop where we can by having opportunities to do so.  Development is seen in so many ways such as CPD, webinars, networking events, social media platforms and talking with your peers in reflective practice.

Leadership is at all levels and support workers at all levels can complete the Edward Jenner programme and School for Change which are both free to attend.

I am also part of the regional network in the Yorkshire and Humber and currently provide communications for that network.

I enjoy the outdoors and go camping in my roof tent and caravan when I can and support Leeds united and Leeds Rhinos

Communications officer: Mark Hennessey

I am a physiotherapy TI within the neuro/elderly team at Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust. I have worked within physiotherapy for just over three years having previously worked for 13 years as a sport and exercise instructor for a mental health trust, also in the North East of England.

My current role is based on an elderly inpatient rehab ward at Blyth Community Hospital in South East Northumberland, although I do also dot around and help out on orthopaedic/trauma wards when the opportunity arises.

I’m a huge advocate of the Moving Medicine initiative, and was influential in establishing an ‘Active Ward’ ethos on the ward I worked on while working at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, and currently trying to adopt a similar ethos on my current ward..

Away from work and of course my family, my passion is sport and alongside my day-to-day job I have been involved with coaching rugby league for over 10 years, most recently working with the Scotland National setup and Newcastle Thunder RLFC. As well as my coaching qualifications, I also completed qualifications in PT and exercise referral.

I joined the Associates' Network in 2023 as equity diversity and belonging officer and really enjoyed being part of the team. This year I’ve moved into a role I have more experience in, and communications is certainly an aspect I think we can improve. 

Communications officer: Becca Bambridge 

I have worked for the NHS in varying roles for 15 years across acute trusts in Bristol. I started out as a healthcare assistant, completing a foundation degree on the job, working in burns and plastics as a physiotherapy assistant practitioner. I'm now involved in falls prevention and management and working across BNSSG (Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire) as a support worker project lead. I am the founder for both our BNSSG-wide community of practice and trust-wide allied health professional (AHP) support worker meetings.

I loved patient care and developing my skills in this field, but my passion is helping others and driving change, especially for AHP support workers. I am a creative person and in my spare time can be found running papercraft workshops. I also use creativity in my role when it comes to design or organisation. I class myself as a cautious optimist, finding positives where I can when presented with negativity. I am excited to develop my leadership skills as I progress in my career, and I hope to be a part of the culture and attitude change towards AHP support workers in a positive way throughout this. Being a part of the Associates' network allows for a larger collective voice for associates and the bigger that voice is, often the easier it is to influence change. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the network and you as associates.