Project lead

Please email Simon Rapsey at simon.rapsey1@nhs.net 

Updates

(20/7/22) Roundup

A proposal has been put forward to run a Falls Prevention and Management programme across Northern Devon. This includes training 4 new FAME Postural Stability Instructors Level 4, (1 per PCN, eligibility attached), and deliver 7 x 24-week courses (one per One Community). We are still awaiting a reply, however early indications are that this will be approved. Timescales are very tight, and we need to start now to identify potential candidates for the PSI training, so that they are able to join the training course as soon as funding is approved.

(14/07/22) Do you know any Postural Stability Instructors (PSI)?

  • OND recently submitted a funding application for the FaME (Fall Management Exercise) programme. 
  • Scoping work was completed in collaboration with Active Devon, NHS Devon CCG, National Fame Implementation Team, FLEXI (the evaluators at Exeter University) Community/Hospital Physio and Falls Teams and a number of GPs.
  • All were very keen to get this running due to the reputation of the scheme and the high needs and service pressures in North Devon. Also due to these pressures, they identified clear opportunities that were being missed to do this sort of earlier prevention which would benefit patients and the system. 
  • If successful, there’s a very tight timescale for recruitment and training of the Postural Stability Instructors
  • We are now looking for suitable candidates that have a Level 2 fitness qualification AND a Level 3 Exercise Referral Diploma/Certificate – so, if positive, we can get going as soon as we get a decision. 
  • Please email Simon Rapsey at simon.rapsey1@nhs.net 
Related information
Initial PSI elibility presentation from Active Devon – which has the eligibility criteria for candidates.
An Overview of Falls Prevention Bid that was submitted which has details on the Northern Devon proposal
The FaME Implementation Toolkit should anyone wish to look further back into the development of FaME

(June) Gathering Ideas

As part of the Healthy Ageing in Northern Devon (HAND) workstream, OND and Active Devon are proposing to link together the existing community café/chats projects (2021/22) with Falls Management Exercise (FaME) programme, as part of an approach to prevent frailty for older people. We would like to include all the One Communities in this Falls prevention Bid and cover every PCN in Northern Devon. Initial conversations suggest it is feasible to make a bid to:  

  • Run a pilot of FaME in community venues, upskilling postural stability instructors to deliver this work.  
  • Support the exercise programme with community-based café/chats to introduce a social element post class, possibly with key talks/presentations each week from organisations, social groups or whatever is the priority in that community.  
  • Connect with the N-Fit research run by the University of Exeter to evaluate FaME.   
  • Potentially support the work of those involved in wider evidence-based falls prevention approaches e.g. hydration trial in Care Homes (if deemed feasible)  

To support the allocation of funding at this initial stage, please could you:   

  1. Identify a community café/chat location(s) that can accommodate an exercise class off 16 people and what costs would be incurred in providing this based on the fact that attendees will not be asked to pay for any of it as part of the trial   
  1. Share if there are transport links that can support participants getting to the location and again what costs would be incurred to run to this event every week for 24 weeks   
  1. Local organisations/individuals that work within falls prevention / balance / postural stability instructors (PSI) that may be interested in being involved in Falls prevention work  

Please email responses to Simon Rapsey by Tuesday June 28th simon.rapsey1@nhs.net