TiMS Education Project Group

The TiMS Network Working Group Education Project Group

is responsible for contributing to the development of study day programmes of special relevance to therapists across the UK and the production of publications and educational material of direct interest to therapists.

A repeat of the very successful study day on Pain Management held in Bristol will take place in Newcastle on 11^th October. Bookings will shortly be open and these and full details will be available via this website.

JUNE 2012 NWWG Meeting. The project group reported

At the meeting on the 19 June we discussed the study days for 2013. We will be running two study days on Fatigue for people who are new to the specialism of Fatigue in pwMS or would like to know about the issues of fatigue in a bit more depth.

We are hoping to run one towards the end of March 2013 in London and another at the end of September 2013 in Edinburgh. Details will be available via this website.

Progress is being made on two new publications which will have specific focus on Commissioning MS Services as a result of the proposed changes to the NHS

We are also considering putting more educational information on the TIMS website eg short podcasts to help clinicians with common management problems eg spasticity, ataxia, fatigue etc.

FEBRUARY 2012 NWWG Meeting:- The Project Group reported on

Pain management study day in Bristol. There were 50 delegates, 50:50 split between specialist and non-specialist, with most coming from a radius around Bristol. The feedback was positive, and they had some excellent speakers.

The recent ACPIN/MS Trust joint conference was well-received. Amy Bowen, MS Trust stated that it was important that a member of TiMS working group is present at any future joint study days to assist the Trust in co-chairing.

M Level module (MS specialism for Therapists) which is in the process of development at Liverpool University. They are going through internal validation / accreditation at present. The University is currently asking for further clarification on some aspects of the module.

TiMS Publications:

“Therapists in MS – Delivering the Long Term Solution” document (published 2006) is still felt to be a useful and accurate document, but probably needs a small amount of revision to make it current, and then possibly publish the revised version as an e-publication.

Two new publications are being proposed for TiMS, with specific focus on Commissioning MS Services as a result of the proposed changes to the NHS. The group have reviewed a paper published (12/5/11) by the Kings Fund entitled “Transforming Our Health Care System. Ten Priorities for Commissioners” [Authors: Candace Imison, Chris Naylor, Nick Goodwin et al]. This could be a good basis for structuring a publication.

Publication1 – would be aimed at commissioners of services – needs to be short, snappy and clear. Need objective facts
Publication 2 – would be a type of Toolkit for therapists – to enable them to prepare to market and promote their specialist service

====================================================================================================

===========================================================================

MS Trust Conference November 2011

The speakers are now confirmed for the therapy focused talks on Cognition at conference this year.

Specialist Study Days 2012

The study day for specialist therapists in the treatment of pain in MS is taking shape and will be in Bristol in September or October. If this proves popular it will be repeated in Newcastle in the spring.

CLICK HERE for details of currently available courses

Proposed Post Graduate qualification for Therapists in MS

Exploratory talks have taken place between TiMS, the MS Trust and the University of Liverpool concerning postgraduate recognition and a “qualification” to demonstrate the specialist level of practice of specialist therapists dealing with MS patients.

The potential programme could provide the separate aims of academic study in greater depth at post graduate level and accreditation of a current specialist role.

Michelle Ennis, Clinical Tutor at the University of Liverpool and co-chair of the TiMS Network Working Group, gave a presentation to the Group at a meeting June 2011.

CLICK HERE for more information

Educational Material

The Group is also looking at other ways to help and support therapists in the treatment of MS and are considering whether educational material eg podcasts or handy hints guides would be helpful to make to put on the TIMS website.

.

As always if you have any ideas regarding future topics you would like to be covered at the therapy sessions at conference and future study days or if you have ideas for information which would be helpful to put on the web, please get in touch with the MS trust who can pass on these ideas to the Education steering group of TIMS
therapists@mstrust.org.uk