CSP launches new toolkit and network to help members influence

The influencing toolkit provides helpful hints, tips and ideas about how to influence stakeholders, strategic leaders and decision-makers at both a local and national level.

It provides practical, easy-to-use advice, requires no prior knowledge or experience – and suggests many actions that take only minutes to achieve.

Mindy Daubeny, CSP campaigns and regional engagement officer, said: ‘This influencing toolkit gives everyone in physiotherapy some helpful advice to influence decisions, whether it’s with colleagues, managers, internal directors or healthcare decision- makers and elected representatives.

‘It also recognises that time can often be a barrier to influencing, which is why it contains helpful ideas that can be achieved quickly.

‘There has never been a better time to raise the profile of physiotherapy and influence change. The NHS Long Term Plan is a wedge that opens the door to better access to physiotherapy services for patients. But we need your help to open the door wider and step through. 

‘As Shirley Chisholm, the American politician, educator and author and the first black woman elected to the United States Congress, once said: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair”.’

An empowering resource

The toolkit can help members

• Build new partnerships
• Extend and grow their networks
• Influence local and national policy and priorities
• Create opportunities, such as for funding or contracts
• Raise the profile of physiotherapy services and challenge possible cuts
• Generate a greater understanding about the benefits of physiotherapy among decision makers, patients and members of the public

It also features case studies from CSP members who share their experiences and advice on influencing, as well as a social media section, which provides guidance on how to build a virtual network and start influencing online.

Sign up to the new influencing network

To coincide with publication of the toolkit the CSP has also launched an interactiveCSP (iCSP) influencing network to enable physio staff across the UK to link up with like-minded members who are keen to influence change.

As well as providing an opportunity for members to talk about influencing, share ideas and learn from each other the network will also provide regular updates on CSP briefings, campaigns, videos, rehab related material and information to help members start influencing.

‘We know our members have the will so we want to give them a way to help realise their ambitions for the profession,’ Ms Daubney explained.

‘By joining this network members will receive the latest resources and advice from the CSP and share their success stories and challenges with their peers.’

CSP members can join the network by logging into their iCSP account. 

The toolkit contains practical, easy-to-use advice and suggests many actions that take only minutes to achieve.