AHP Bite Size Learning: All things groupwork - How to develop and run successful therapeutic groups

Thursday 19th June 2025

12:00 pm to 1:30 pm

Online

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Who should attend:

This session is aimed at AHP’s involved in developing and facilitating therapeutic intervention within a group setting. People working in an assistant or volunteer role within a groupwork setting could also benefit from the session.

Course Aims:

By the end of the session, we aim for you to have a greater level of confidence in your ability to develop, facilitate and evaluate groupwork interventions. The session will cover topics relevant to a range of different styles of groupwork e.g one-off workshops and structured group programmes.

Objectives:

To have an awareness of the current evidence supporting group intervention within a healthcare setting, considering the pros and cons of this style of intervention
To understand the key components to be considered when developing / planning a group intervention
To learn practical strategies for facilitating a group effectively and for dealing with challenging situations within this context
To have an awareness of how to evaluate group intervention

Presented by

Manisha Cook

Lecturer Practitioner and Specialist Physiotherapist

Manisha has been qualified physiotherapist for over 20 years, she is passionate about respiratory medicine and palliative care.

Manisha has worked as a specialist physiotherapist at The Hospice of St Francis for 9 years and previously has worked in community and acute healthcare settings in London and Hertfordshire.

Manisha has recently completed her level 4 Certificate in Teaching and Education, and is committed to providing a specialist palliative education programme for Allied Health Professionals and the wider multi-disciplinary team.

Amy Smissen

Lecturer Practitioner and Community Occupational Therapist

Amy is a qualified Occupational Therapist with 25 years experience working in both clinical and leadership roles. With a passion for the palliative rehab approach to empower patients to self-manage Amy enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills within the team and wider audiences.

Throughout her career she has worked in a range of settings including a community learning disability team, an inpatient neurological rehab unit and a local charity providing support to people living with long-term neurological conditions.

Amy joined the Hospice of St Francis in 2023 and works 3 days a week in the Community Team, bringing her unique OT perspective to enable community patients to optimise their function and ultimately, their overall quality of life. Amy has always enjoyed facilitating therapeutic groupwork sessions, running workshops and training sessions both for patients and carers and with fellow clinicians. These skills lend themselves well to her Lecturer Practitioner role, which she took on in early 2024.