BAPO’s Standards, Policies, and Guides  

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Supporting Excellence and Consistency Across Prosthetics and Orthotics

The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO) is committed to advancing the highest standards in prosthetic and orthotic care. One of the core ways we achieve this is through the development and dissemination of professional standards, ethical policies, clinical guidelines, and supportive resources for practitioners across the United Kingdom.

Our comprehensive library of standards and guides serves to inform, empower, and align the practice of prosthetists, orthotists, and the wider workforce—including support workers, technicians, apprentices, and learners. These resources are essential tools in ensuring safe, effective, and person-centred care delivery in both NHS and private practice environments.

Why Standards and Guidance Matter

In a continually evolving healthcare landscape, consistent and evidence-based practice is more important than ever. BAPO’s standards and guides:

– Promote Clinical Excellence: Ensure clinicians work to the highest level of competence.

– Support Professional Accountability: Reinforce responsibilities aligned with HCPC and MHRA expectations.

– Enable Workforce Development: Offer tools to support lifelong learning and structured growth.

– Strengthen Service Delivery: Assist in implementing consistent and high-quality services.

– Champion Equity and Inclusion: Foster inclusive environments through dedicated EDI resources.

Key Documents and Areas of Focus

BAPO Standards

• Standards for Best Practice 2025
• BAPO Ethical Code 2025

• Recommendations to ensure the safe maintenance and use of Knee Ankle Foot Orthoses 2025
• BAPO Service Provision Guidance
• Measuring Change – BAPO Outcome Measures
• MHRA Guidance – July 2019
• IRMER Guidance Main
• IRMER Guidance Appendix
• Job Planning Guide
• BAPO Guidance on the Supervision of Assistant Practitioners
• Patient Group Directions
• BAPO Support worker framework for the prosthetic and orthotic workforce
• BAPO Practice Based Learning Framework
• BAPO Provision of early career support to prosthetists and orthotists
• Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
• A comprehensive guide to clinical record keeping, data protection, confidentiality, and consent

General

• Reasonable Adjustments
• HCPC CPD audit document
• Preparing to apply for jobs in prosthetics and orthotics
• Database search guide
• Learners welcome pack
• Graduate welcome pack instructions
• Graduate welcome pack
• Expanding the potential of the P&O Technician and Support workforce into patient-facing roles
• BAPO Careers Development Framework for Prosthetists and Orthotists
• BAPO Curriculum Guidance for the pre-registration education of prosthetists and orthotists
• Funding prosthetic and orthotic Apprenticeships
• Open Athens flyer
• BAPO Early career guidance framework for prosthetics and orthotics

Patient leaflets and referral forms

Diabetes Foot Leaflets

• Advice for looking after your Charcot foot to reduce the risk of amputation
• High-Risk of non – healing wounds and amputation
• Footwear advice to reduce the risk of non-healing foot wounds or amputation
• Advice to help you care for your feet on holiday
• Looking after your foot in remission, to reduce the risk of further ulcers and amputation
• Looking after your foot ulcer to reduce the risk of amputation
• Low risk of non-healing wounds and amputation
• Moderate risk of non-healing wounds and amputation

Referral Forms

• Orthotic Outpatient Referral Form
• Orthotic Spinal Referral Form
• Orthotic In-patient Referral Form

Reports

• An exploration of practice-based learning in prosthetics and orthotics in the United Kingdom
• An exploration of inclusive practices for Disabled learners in UK prosthetics and orthotic higher education programmes
• BAPO Workforce Mapping Document
• The impact of commissioning and contracts on the training education and development of prosthetists and orthotists

We also contribute to wider professional dialogue through collaborative work with external partners, including the National Orthotics Managers Group (NOMAG), the Scottish Clinical Orthotics leads (SCOL), the Prosthetics Managers Group, The all Wales Orthotics Group, The British healthcare Trades Association, and other stakeholders in education, regulation, and policy.

Driving the Profession Forward

By developing and maintaining these standards and guidance documents, BAPO plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of prosthetics and orthotics in the UK. These resources not only enhance day-to-day clinical practice but also contribute to national healthcare priorities, academic research, and workforce sustainability.