Allied Health Professionals Christian Network (AHPCN)

Notice of AGM

2012-02-24T10:09:00.002Z

Notice of Meeting

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of The Allied Health Professionals Christian Network – formerly Christian Therapists Network - will be held at Beeston Free Church, Salthouse Lane, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 2FY at 13:45 on 10th March 2012 to transact the following business:

AGENDA

1. Opening Prayer

2. History of AHPCN / CTN to date

3. Minutes of the previous meeting

To be agreed and matters arising

4. Reports and accounts

To receive and consider the accounts for the year ended March 2012 and the reports of the council members.

5. Membership update

6. Appointment of council members

There have been no new nominations to council. None of the current council members are seeking re-election. Should any new members be willing to take the organisation forward, Grace Aldis and Hannah Weden are willing to support the new council

Current council is as follows:

· Mrs Lisa Armstrong (nee Maher)

o appointed as treasurer June 2010

o appointed as secretary February 2007

· Miss Helen Watts

o Appointed as events and support lead February 2007

· Miss Grace Aldis

o Appointed as resources lead February 2007

The council is supported by Mrs Hannah Weden, resources team lead

7. Proposed dissolution of Allied Health Professionals Christian Network

In the event that a new council is not elected on 10^th March 2012, the Allied Health Professionals Christian Network will be dissolved. In the event that the attendance at AGM is not a quorum, a vote will be taken of those present and confirmed in writing with all other members.

8. Any other business

To deal with any matters raised at the meeting.

Further Information

Venue Details:

Beeston Free Church, Salthouse Lane, Beeston. Nottingham NH9 2FY

See website www.beeston-free.org for location. The church is within walking distance of Beeston train station and there is free parking available at the Church.

Intention to attend:

For any votes held, we require a quorum of 15 members or one tenth of the total full membership, whichever is the less. For this reason, if you plan to attend the AGM, please inform the secretary in advance. This will also help with catering (refreshments and cold lunch will be provided).

AHPCN Contact details:

Post: AHPCN c/o CMF, 6 Marshalsea Road, London SE1 1HL

Email: info@ahpcn.org.uk

Mobile: 07986 433493

The Heart of the Matter: Having a healthy heart at work

2011-01-15T15:22:00.009Z

A conference for Christians working as allied health professionals, nurses and midwives

When: March 10th
Where: Beeston Free Church, Salthouse Lane, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 2FY
Time: 10:00 - 17:00

Working in healthcare is a rewarding, stressful, challenging, frustrating experience. Our careers shape the focus and direction of our lives. But as Christians we are also called to put God at the centre of everything. So how do we continue to have Jesus at the centre of lives when pressures of work and career take so much of our time and energy.
Giles Cattermole (a consultant in emergency medicine in London, and the Head of Student Ministries for the Christian Medical Fellowship) will be helping us to explore what the Bible says. We will also be taking time to discuss, pray and reflect together

You can download a booking form and further information or alternatively, book online through the CMF website

Leicester prayer group

2010-10-12T21:39:00.003+01:00

Meet with fellow AHPs for prayer regarding your faith and work.
Next meeting 26th Oct at 7:30 pm.
For more information contact Lisa Armstrong - email@ctn.org.uk

Are therapists needed in the developing world?

2010-03-29T14:11:00.006+01:00

Healthcare is seen almost exclusively as being about saving lives, with little thought as to what then happens to those lives that are continued with the consequences of a serious illness or severe trauma. This article is written to dispel some of the myths attached to each of the therapy professions allied to medicine and to show its potential input into countries in the developing world.

Myth One: Therapists only needed to pick up the bits after a war.
Well publicised work by therapists in war torn places like Afghanistan and Angola has increased the awareness of the general public but often their perception stops here: Physio and Occupational Therapy (OT) have much to offer the victims of landmines and gunshot wounds. However what Allied Health Professionals can offer is not limited to this. Here are just a few examples:

Actual hands-on clinical work.

Rehabilitation after neurological trauma, be it from a bullet, stroke or by hitting the road from the back of a pick-up.
Work with the many people with burns or following plastic surgery.
Orthopaedics - fractures, spinal injuries, post surgery for polio or the correction of talipes.
Children with cerebral palsy, acquired pre-, peri- or post-natally, through measles or malaria or meningitis.
The valuable input OTs can also give to psychiatry, speech therapists to those with communication difficulties and physios to those with pneumonia.
I could continue for much longer and I haven't even got to diseases such as leprosy or professions such as dietetics or radiography.

Management of Rehabilitation / community Based Rehabilitation (CBR)
The World Health Organisation's definition of CBR involves "the transfer of knowledge about disabilities and basic rehabilitation skills to the people with disabilities, their families and the community." (Chadda 1999) Most of the therapy professions are involved.

The setting up and management of a department in a hospital.
Not many rural hospitals have their own physio/OT depts, but many are in need of one - and often all it takes is for a qualified therapist to spend time assessing the need and setting up an appropriate service.

Passing skills and expertise onto someone else - a junior therapist, a nurse training as therapy-aide, or the relative of a patient/client in CBR.
The relative simplicity of many of the actual therapy techniques, means the work can continue when the therapist has left.

Myth Two: Therapists are too expensive
Many rural hospitals and community projects find it very difficult to afford the wages of a national qualified therapist. Mission agencies can help either with funding, or by sending qualified therapists - as volunteers or as longer-term personnel. This idea was used to the optimum in Rwanda pre-1994 with a physio and an OT at Gahini Hospital training nurses from hospitals throughout the country for 4 months in basic therapy techniques. Cameroon's first physiotherapy department was set up by two physios working as volunteers - one for 12 months and one for 6 months. (Stillman & Gurney 1999)

Myth Three: It is difficult to recruit Christian therapists to work overseas
Christian students are often desperate to go overseas and with the development of the therapy student elective in most courses today they have ample opportunity and encouragement to go. Their main problem seems to be finding a mission agency that will support and help them. We need to encourage our students to catch the mission 'bug' even at this early stage.

The system with most OTs and physios today encourages them to spend two years as a junior before applying for senior posts. After this is an ideal time to encourage a career break, when the therapist has enough confidence and professional experience to work on his or her own. At this point in time it is also relatively easy to find a job on return to the UK. Organisations such as MMA HealthServe have been set up to help the process but mission agencies must be willing to use them.

Finally, believe or not, there are some therapists who are willing to give up their life in the UK to work long-term overseas and these people need to be encouraged and helped to serve God in their chosen profession and place. Therapists can often feel that they are not as valued as other healthcare staff, and this can be very off putting to even the most enthusiastic person. But to see the benefits you only need to look at Elizabeth Hardinge's work as physio in Rwanda for over 30 years, Fiona Fraser's input as a speech therapist in Argentina for the past 6 years, and Sue Knight's pioneering of OT in both Rwanda and Uganda for 8 years.

Conclusion
Therapists often spend much time with individuals and families because the actual treatment requires it. In this way we often share much of our lives with these people and have a privileged insight into theirs. What an opportunity for the gospel to be communicated - in our lives and our conversation - so we not only rehabilitate bodies but also can begin the rehabilitation of the person's relationship to God.

Therapists are a vital part of the healthcare team in every part of the world and the sooner we recognise this, the sooner we can begin to work together for the benefit of the people we are called by God to serve.

References:
1. Chadda D (1999) Teager Stresses the Importance of CBR, Physiotherapy Frontline,
Vol. 5, No. 13 p23.
2. Stillman K, Gurney S (1999) Taking PT to the Heart of Africa, Physiotherapy Frontline,
Vol. 5, No. 20, p29.

Book Reviews

2010-03-29T14:04:00.001+01:00

Student Placement Contact Scheme

2010-03-29T13:59:00.006+01:00

"Placements" - what thoughts does that word conjure up? I immediately go back to arriving on my first ever placement. It was one of those old fashioned cottage hospitals, due to close in a few years and the state of the accommodation reflected it. The other physio student had been placed on a different floor to me and all the other residents were already in their own little cliques. We found the kitchen but it appeared that we were the only people who ever used it. Neither of us had been able to carry kitchen equipment with us and for tea that night had baked beans, warmed up in a microwave, eaten out of a glass. That night I sat in my dank, bare little room and wondered why I hadn't done an engineering degree instead!!

Of course things improved, it helped to meet the staff and learn what was expected of us. We found the local takeaway and the (very small) hospital canteen. The work kept you busy in the evenings and although I never really got to meet anyone else apart from the other student I managed to escape at the weekend and stay with a family friend who lived a few miles away.

Everyone's experience of placement is different but most people I have talked to have been nervous about going to a new place and would express some sense of relief to find out that 'Aunt Marge' has a friend whose daughter lives nearby the town. There is something about having a name and telephone on a piece of paper that makes you realise that you not quite as stranded in the middle of Swanage as you thought you were.

What are the benefits of having a link Christian professional?

A name on a piece of paper- someone nearby who knows that you exist.
Having contact with someone who understands the world of hospitals, difficult patients, supervisors and what it feels like when you ask someone to wiggle their toes, forgetting they're a bilateral amputee.
Most importantly it's a link with another part of the Christian family. Someone who will pray for you and maybe with you, who can help you think through what to do in an ethical dilemma and maybe introduce you to a church in the area.

Being one of the Christian Link Professionals:
There isn't a specific job description for a Christian link professional. We are on the lookout for any member who would be prepared for their name and contact details to be given to a student AHP (not necessarily the same discipline) coming to the area. You would also be informed of the students name, when and where they are on placement and any contact details (if known). It is then up to you what happens next. The student may contact you but also feel free to make first contact. Take it from there - it may be that the student is happy enough knowing that you are on the end of a phone or it may be that you decide to meet up and have a meal together.

To join the scheme:

PROFESSIONALS: Contact us and let us know that you are happy for your details to be given to students on placement in your area. For safety reasons you will need to be a member.

STUDENTS: When you know where your placement is then contact us on email@ctn.org.uk. (This scheme is only available to members). We will see if there is someone to link you with and send you their details. We will also pass your details onto the link professional.

Council of Reference

2010-03-29T13:57:00.003+01:00

The Council of Reference is a named group of six people with different interests/ skills who have agreed to provide advice for the CTN council as and when asked.

Dr Andrew Fergusson

Dr Andrew Fergusson qualified in medicine at St Thomas's Hospital in 1975. After 4 years hospital medicine he worked for 10 years as a GP in a Christian mission practice in SE London. From 1990-99 he was General Secretary of the Christian Medical Fellowship, and now has a portfolio career at the interface of medicine and Christianity. Between 1999-2003 he was an elected member of the General Medical Council and continued doing fitness-to-practise casework until the end of 2004.
Until recently he was the Chairman of the Acorn Christian Foundation, consulting medical adviser to CARE, Head of Policy at the Centre for Bioethics and Public Policy, and Strategy Adviser to Christian Medical Fellowship. In September 2005 Dr Fergusson took up the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity in Deerfield, Illinois, USA in September 2005. He is a freelance broadcaster, speaker and writer. He continues to liaise actively with a number of British organisations and recognises that bioethics are now truly global.'
He is married to Catrin, a former anthropologist, and their two children are both students. He relaxes by reading classic English detective fiction and by supporting Millwall FC.

Steve Fouch

Steve trained as nurse in Guildford, and worked for several years in Wandsworth in community and elderly care, before working for eight years with the Christian AIDS charity, ACET in home based palliative care for adults with HIV and AIDS in London. Steve has been involved in short-term overseas mission in North Africa, and in church planting in a multi-cultural community in South London. In 2000 he became Director of MMA HealthServe, involved in mobilising health professionals into world Mission. In 2004, MMA merged with Christian Medical Fellowship and Steve became the Allied CMF Professions Secretary, with a remit to work with all health professions in mission mobilisation.
He is married to Debbi and they now live with their two children in Northwest Kent.

John and Gill Jacobs

Gill has worked as an Occupational Therapist for about 30 years - many of those in Social Services and latterly in a School specialising in work with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (Paediatrics). She also spent 3 years in the 70's as TSCF Travelling Secretary (as staff workers were then called!). Gill is a registered Intermediary with the Criminal Justice System and from time to time is called upon to assist vulnerable witnesses in court. She also has opportunities to go into a local secondary school on a regular basis to 'Listen' to pupils who are struggling with school or home life.

John is an electronics engineer currently working with an international Radio communications company which takes him all over Africa and the Middle East. He previously worked with the Medical Research Council developing innovative solutions to assist in research projects. He is an elder in his local church in Alton and enjoys sailing and kite flying.

Both John and Gill are involved with the Acorn Christian Foundation and have run courses in Christian Listening.

Dr Chris Mayers

Dr Chris Mayers is an occupational therapist, principal lecturer and researcher currently employed in the School of Professional Health Studies at York St John College. Her professional interests are person-centred practice and prioritising quality of life issues for users of our services; and also assessing and meeting spiritual needs. Has recently developed a working definition of 'spirituality' for use in practice.
Chris has much experience in working with the Therapy Students Christian Fellowship both in Dublin and the UK and is very happy to help CTN where ever she can.

Prof Carl Whitehouse

Carl Whitehouse was a general practitioner in Sussex, and then moved to Manchester in 1978 where he worked in the Department of General Practice in the Medical School. He took a particular interest in communication (both between health professional and patient and between different health professionals), the primary care team, primary care in Central and Eastern Europe and community-based education. He retired from his post as Professor of Teaching Medicine in the Community in 2003 and now enjoys life in Dorset.
He is a Reader in the Church of England, was for many years University secretary for the Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) in the Northwest, and used to contribute a regular column to the CMF magazine. He is married with three children and three grandchildren

Council

2010-03-29T13:55:00.016+01:00

The current structure for CTN leadership was accepted in 2007. The idea is that the vision and oversight of the organisation is taken on by a council of 6 people. This group is led by a Chair of council but the workload and responsibility are shared evenly among the six.

In addition to the council the practical running of CTN will be taken on by three teams. Each of these teams is led by a team leader and also has a nominated council member to provide the link between the council and the team. The idea is that these teams will allow for contributions from members with varying amounts of time to offer. The team leader is responsible for delegating tasks according to what people are willing to take on.

The activities undertaken by each team will be determined by the Council. Initially the division of tasks is expected to be as follows:

* Resources: Website, Interact, Publicity, newsletters, information leaflets
* Events/Support: Conferences, Regional support, Graduate support, Student contact scheme
* Overseas: vacancy bulletins, Missionary support, promotion of AHP skills, information resources

Vacant: Chair of Council
We currently do not have a chair of council and this role is being rotated between the other members of the council.

Lisa Armstrong: Secretary and acting Treasurer
Lisa is secretary of CTN which mainly involves dealing with membership enquiries and responding to emails. At present she is also acting treasurer. She works as a community paediatric physiotherapist in Leicester.

Helen Watts: Council link for Events and Support
Elected as events and support lead in February 2007. Helen is a community physiotherapist in Yorkshire

Grace Aldis: Council link for Resources
Grace is an occupational therapist in Nottingham, currently working in orthopaedics. Grace joined the council of TSCF as a student in Coventry. After graduating, she spent a year on the Relay prgramme with UCCf, supporting therapy students in London. She then became editor of Interact magazine and was elected as Resources Link in February 2007.

Hannah Weden: Resources Team Lead
Hannah is resources team lead (a non-council position). She is a physiotherapist in Nottinghamshire.

Doctrinal Basis

2010-03-29T13:55:00.002+01:00

This is what we believe:

There is one God is three persons; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

God is sovereign in creation, revelation, redmption and final judgement.

The Bible as originally given is the inspired and infallible Word of God. It is the supreme authority in all matters of belief and behaviour.

Since the fall, the whole of humankind is sinful and guilty, so that everyone is subject to God's wrath and condemnation.

The Lord Jesus Christ, God's incarnate Son, is fully God: he was born of a virgin; his humanity is real and sinless; he died on the cross, was raised bodily from death and now is reigning over heaven and earth.

Sinful human beings are redeemed from the guilt, penalty and power of sin only through the sacrificial death once and for all time of their representative and substitute, Jesus Christ the only mediator between them and God.

Those who believe in Christ are pardoned all their sins and accepted in God's sight only because of the righteousness of Christ credited to them; this justification is God's act of undeserved mercy, received solely by trust in him and not by their own efforts.

The Holy Spirit alone makes the work of Christ effective to individual sinners, enabling them to turn to God from their sin and trust in Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit lives in all those he has regenerated. He makes them increasingly Chris-like in character and behaviour and gives them power for their witness in the world.

The one holy iniversal church is the Body of Christ, to which all true believers belong.

The Lord Jesus Christ will return in person, to judge everyone, to execute God's just condemnation on those who have not repented and to receive the redeemed to eternal glory.

Membership

2010-03-29T11:10:00.050+01:00

All members are required to sign the following declaration of faith:

"I am in sympathy with the aims of CTN. I declare my faith in God the Father and in God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is my saviour and in God the Holy Spirit. I accept the Bible as the supreme authority in matters of faith and conduct. "

Full Members
All members must be working (or have worked) in an allied health profession or be studying towards a qualification in one. Assistant / support staff are also accepted as members.
Full membership subscription £20 annually. Students, retired or support staff members are eligable for discounted subscription of £10 annually.
As an additional benefit for students, we are able to arrange links between student and professional members to provide support during placements, particularly if these are away from home / uni base. If you have students coming on placement to your area then you can volunteer to be a student contact.
Find out more about the student placement contact scheme here.

Overseas Members
Overseas members are welcome, but plese be aware that AHPCN is a UK based organisation and therefore we will be unable to provide you with regional support. Overseas members working in a mission setting will be offered free membership.

Associate Members
Associate Membership is available to any organisation or person who is not an Allied Health Professional, but wishes to support the work of AHPCN by receiving any newsletters of magazines published. Associate subscription is £10 annually.

Download membership form here.

Contact Us

2010-03-29T11:10:00.049+01:00

E-mail:
info@ahpcn.org.uk

Post:
c/o Christian Medical Fellowship
6 Marshalsea Road
LONDON
SE1 1HL

Phone:
07986 433493

Links

2010-03-29T11:10:00.038+01:00

Christian Workplace Resources
Transform Work UK

Christian Healthcare Organisations
British Association of Christians in Psychology
Christian Dental Fellowship
Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF)
Christian Nurses and Midwives (CNM)
Christians in Caring Professions (CiCp)
Christians in Healthcare (CIHC)
International Christian Medical and Dental Association

Healthcare Resources
BMA News Review
Enablement
NIH Medline
The DOH's Allied Health Professionals Bulletin

Resources

2010-03-29T11:10:00.036+01:00

Various resources are available to help Christians AHPs to explore issues faced in the workplace:
Interact Magazine: seeks to promote Biblical thinking, action and practice on issues relevant to allied health professionals and students. It was previously published three times a year but due to recent lack of contributions has not been produced since 2008. Archived articles are reproduced on this site and hard copies of some editions are still available on request.
Please address all comments, questions or contributions to the CTN secretary via our contact page.

Book Reviews: A searchable section devoted to books and other helpful media about being a Christian Therapist. You can also submit reviews of books that you have read.

Conferences: View details of past, present and future CTN/TCSF conferences

I don't know of any other Christians at work - can you help?

AHPCN has members all around the country and there are local groups meeting up in various cities and workplaces. If you want to know other Christian AHPs in the area you can indicate this on the membership form when you join. If you indicate that you are happy for us to pass your details on, then others may get in contact with you! If there isn’t a local group, you could consider starting one with support from AHPCN. Transform Work UK has produced a helpful Short Guide to Christian Workplace Groups. Please contact us if you would like a copy.

Mission

2010-03-29T11:10:00.017+01:00

We are keen to support our members who are working or considering working overseas either in a long or short-term role. Whether you are just beginning to explore the thought of going overseas or are actively seeking God's guidance as to where exactly he is leading you, then do take time to contact various organisations directly and request more information.

A good place to start is the Christian Vocations website. Together with global connections, they are focused on resourcing and challenging Christians to discover and practise their God-given vocation in life and service. They have resources to help you as you consider missions. In addition, they have a directory of mission organisations and a search-able database of current short and long term overseas opportunities.
The CMF International ministries team have also produced a number of useful resources.

Are therapists needed in the developing world?
An article written by Gail Oakey on the role of Allied Health Professionals on the overseas mission field. Gail has spent time as a physiotherapist in Rwanda, Uganda, Romania, Coventry and Australia. She was a staffworker with therapy students from 1998-2001 and now lives in the USA.
This article was originally written for "Saving Health" the Magazine of MMA Healthserve.

Home

2010-03-29T11:09:00.020+01:00

Welcome to the website of the Allied Health Professionals Christian Network (formerly known as the Christian Therapists Network).

Supporting, Uniting, Equipping and Encouraging Christians in the Allied Health Professions

This site aims to give you further information about the work of the Network and provide resources to aid Christians who work in an Allied Health Profession.
If you have any comments about things you read on this site or have ideas about other things you would like to see included please contact us here.

About Us

2010-03-29T11:09:00.018+01:00

The Allied Health Professionals Christian Network is a charitable organisation working with the aim to support, unite, equip and encourage Christians who are working in the Allied Health Professions.

Why have a group for Christian Allied Health Professionals?

To link together Christian Allied Health Professionals through out the UK
To encourage Allied Health Professionals to integrate their personal beliefs with their professional practice.
To increase faith in Christ and the acceptance of his teaching in the Allied Health Professions.
To link Christian AHPs with AHP students to provide for support for students, particularly while on placement.
To enable Christian AHPs to gain information about mission work overseas and support Christian AHPs who are involved in mission work.

Our History
The Christian Therapists Network (CTN) was launched in 2000 to support Christians who work in the Allied Health Professions (including assistant staff). It grew out of the work of the Therapy Students Christian Fellowship, which supported student AHPs under the umbrella of the Christian Union movement. In 2008 the specialist student work ended and students were included in the membership of CTN. A copy of our constitution is available on request.
In 2010, following much discussion, the name was changed to The Allied Health Professionals Christian Network (AHPCN), to more clearly reflect our varied membership

What we believe
We believe in God the Father and in God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is our Saviour, and in God the Holy Spirit. We accept the Bible as the supreme authority in matters of faith and conduct. You can read in more detail what we believe in our doctrinal basis.

Who we are
The Allied Health Professionals Christian Network is run by a council of volunteers. All council members are allied health professionals and are elected onto the council for a two year term. Elections occur at the Annual General Meeting. Further information about the current council members can be found here.
The council are supported by a Council of Reference, a named group of people with different interests/skills who have agreed to provide advice as and when asked.
AHPCN has charitable status under the umbrella of Serving and Caring International.