Embarking on a new chapter

This time of year, makes me remember two amazing days – the day I was offered my place in physiotherapy and the day I qualified. Two events that I had hoped would change my life – and they certainly have!

I have spent a lot of my time in my first six months at the CSP visiting universities and meeting students in person and virtually. I have been inspired with the commitment and hard work that was evident and I know that many of you will be starting the journey of studying or taking your first role in the physiotherapy workforce.  

For those of you enrolling in courses, please take an interest in maximising your placements and learning all you can from your peers. 

We will soon launch a revised Common Placement Assessment Form (CPAF) for you to use to help this endeavour. Optimising your clinical learning is central to our success.  

Opening doors 

You are entering a profession with many doors of opportunity open to you. You will be joining a healthcare system that is highly regarded worldwide and have the privilege of using your skills and knowledge to transform lives.  

You will also have the chance to shape that system and it’s important that you understand you already have the power to influence the future. The CSP is here to support you now and throughout your career to use that ability to help develop our profession.  

Be active. Be brave. Utilise all the resources on offer to be the best physiotherapist you can possibly be. My promise is that we will listen to your views and continue to assemble the resources you need to do so.  

Students, consider becoming a CSP student rep at your university, working with your peers to shape how the profession supports you and helps you all to thrive, now and in your future careers. 

There are many benefits, including the development of your leadership footprint from the outset, and growing skills that will enable you to play an active role in the system you will be joining. 

Deciding which path 

For those of you that are qualifying – congratulations! 

I know first-hand what it took for you to get here. The application of all that learning starts now.  Some of you will already know what areas interest you most, while others will still be exploring the numerous avenues available.  

The variety within physiotherapy is vast and whilst it can be daunting, see it as one of the most important aspects of this career. Use the connections with our professional networks and access the support of your local stewards when thinking about your options.  

Please do consider becoming a CSP steward or a health and safety representative in your workplace, too. These roles sustain our influence and our work, and we would really love you to be as involved as you can be. I am extremely grateful to all of you who are already working with us in this way. 

Influencing change 

We are welcoming a new government to power and working to actively influence through our relationships with parliamentarians and policy makers. You should be too. Take time now to understand the direction of travel for the NHS, the wider health system and society in general. We are all responsible for driving change that strengthens our profession and leads to better experiences for patients and for physiotherapists. We will continue to inform and update you on developments and how you can exert influence yourself; and we would value your opinion and engagement as we chart our way through the coming months. 

Heartfelt thanks 

I’d like to mark Jill Taylor’s contribution to the CSP.  The union movement has been well-served by her quarter-century career as a workplace representative.   

Jill will remain active within the CSP, but as her steward roles come to an end, I challenge you to consider how you could best support yourself and others through the CSP.