Dear Colleagues

Building on the weekly webinar series held during the lockdown earlier this summer, we are hosting a five part clinical webinar series on the role IAPT can play in supporting people who have had COVID and, in particular, those that are experiencing persistent symptoms, which are now commonly being referred to as “long COVID” and “post-COVID syndrome”.

In addition to the delivery of IAPT interventions, we will bring a range of physical health experts into each session as well as lived experience from people recovering from COVID. The primary audience for each session is listed below, but we would welcome others who may find the sessions helpful to their practice (both therapists and clinical/service leads in IAPT, in addition to others in the wider system, including commissioners, and physical health services supporting people with post-COVID syndrome). We would recommend that anyone interested in the series attends the first session which will set important context and background for the following sessions.

This event will be recorded and made available following the live event for those that are unable to access the sessions live. To view the recording / slides after the event, you will need to register for the event via Eventbrite. Following the webinar, a link will be shared by email to access the webinar content in your own time.

Further information on each webinar can be found below. By clicking on the 'Register' button, you will be able to sign up to each webinar specifically.

1. Understanding post-COVID syndrome and how IAPT can help

• Date: 8th December 2020, 1-3pm

• Primary audience: IAPT managers, therapists & commissioners, and physical health commissioners and practitioners working with people after COVID

The first part of this webinar will focus on understanding people’s experiences of COVID, what post-COVID syndrome / long COVID is and the varied experiences of people with these persistent symptoms. The second part will focus on where IAPT fits into the pathway of care for people with post-COVID syndrome and the importance of whole system working. In particular, we will look at the learnings and principles from the IAPT-LTC framework and how these may be able to support the collaborative working required to support people with post-COVID syndrome. This session is recommended for anyone who is interested in any of the following sessions to ensure appropriate context and background.

2. Assessing and engaging people recovering after COVID

• Date: 15th December 2020, 1-3pm

• Primary audience: IAPT managers & therapists

This webinar will focus on assessing and engaging people recovering after COVID. We will look at the adaptations that might be needed when assessing people who have had COVID and in particular those who may be experiencing post-COVID syndrome / long COVID. We will also explore how to enhance engagement, and the role biopsychosocial factors may play in recovery.

3. Using low intensity interventions to help people recover after COVID

• Date: 12th January 2021, 1-3pm

• Primary audience: IAPT therapists, clinical supervisors and managers, physical health practitioners (physiotherapists, occupational therapists and doctors working with people recovering from COVID)

This webinar will focus on using low intensity psychoeducational IAPT interventions for people recovering after COVID and will include specialist Step 2 interventions that might be required to support people with post-COVID syndrome / long COVID e.g. breathlessness. This session will also introduce broader psychoeducational interventions including the Your Covid Recovery platform and the role that exercise and activity management can play.

4. Using high intensity interventions to help people recover after COVID

• Date: 19th January 2021, 1-3pm

A webinar series held earlier in the year focussed on adaptations at step 3 for PTSD, anxiety and depression in the context of COVID. This webinar will build on the previous series by focusing on adaptations for high intensity interventions for people recovering from COVID and specific interventions for managing fatigue and other post-COVID syndrome / long COVID symptoms.

5. Further steps to help people recovering after COVID: employment advice, CFD, IPT, DIT and CTFD

• Date: 26th January 2021, 1-3pm

• Primary audience: IAPT therapists, employment advisors, clinical supervisors and managers, physical health practitioners (physiotherapists, occupational therapists and doctors working with people recovering from COVID)

This webinar will address further steps that may be needed to support people recovering from COVID and experiencing persistent symptoms. We will cover how to support people adjusting and regaining their life including use of IAPT employment advice. We will be joined by experts in Counselling for Depression, IPT, DIT and Couples Therapy for Depression. They will talk to us about the role these therapies play and adaptations that might be made to support people recovering from COVID specifically.

IAPT Post-COVID Syndrome Training Webinars