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iO Awards 2026
Small Practice / Team of the Year

Closing date and time: Sunday, 4 October 2026 at 11:59pm.
About the award

This award recognises outstanding sole practitioners and small practice teams of 1-5 practitioners that deliver exceptional patient care and make a positive impact in their community. It recognises quality, professionalism and the use of patient feedback, collaboration and continuous improvement to shape the work.

Before completing this form: We recommend that you read the award criteria, eligibility rules and nomination guidance: Awards Guidance Notes and Rules.

Alternative ways to make a nomination
To answer the main nomination questions by audio or video or to request a paper or large-print version, or help completing your nomination, contact events@iOsteopathy.org.

*Indicates mandatory fields required on this form
1.Eligibility
The nominee must be:
• a UK-based sole practitioner, practice or defined team of 1-5 registered healthcare practitioners regularly delivering patient care;
• a practice or team that provides osteopathic care; and
• represented by a named UK-based osteopathic lead who is GOsC registered and a current iO member.(Required.)
2.Who are you nominating?
Select one:(Required.)
3.Your details
4.Practice or team details
5.Osteopathic lead
6.Tell us about the practice or team

Briefly describe the practice or team, how it operates, its main services, the patients or community it serves, its location and any relevant opportunities, constraints or resources. This will help the panel understand the context in which the work was carried out.

Your answer Maximum 250 words or approximately 2 minutes of audio/video.
7.What makes this large practice or team outstanding?

Describe the strongest example or examples of what the practice or team has done exceptionally well during the relevant three-year period.

Explain:

• the need, problem or opportunity the practice or team identified;

• what it did, improved or introduced, and why this was distinctive in its context;

• how it demonstrated high-quality, ethical and patient-centred care;

• how patient feedback, professional learning, audit or outcome information influenced the work; and

• how it used the people, time and resources available effectively.

Use specific examples. Give the relevant dates and identify the supporting document or documents in section 10 that substantiate what was done and how patient feedback, professional learning, audit or outcome information shaped it.

Your answer Maximum 600 words or approximately 5 minutes of audio/video.
8.What difference has it made, and how do you know?

Explain what changed because of the work described above, why the change mattered and who benefited.

Include:

• the difference made to patients, access to care, care outcomes, the local community or the way the practice or service operates;

• who benefited and why the difference was significant for them;

• how you know - for example, before-and-after information, audit or outcome data, evaluation, documented change or relevant feedback;

• how the results connect to the actions taken by the practice or team; and

• whether the change has lasted, developed or can be sustained.

Support the claimed change with the relevant figures or findings and identify the document or documents in section 10 where these can be verified. Local impact can be substantial; a smaller practice or locally focused achievement can still make a significant difference.

Your answer Maximum 600 words or approximately 5 minutes of audio/video.
9.How has it contributed beyond its immediate work with patients?

Describe the additional value the practice or team has created beyond the main achievement and its direct patient care.

Relevant examples may include:

• engaging with or responding to the local community;

• working with other professions, services or organisations;

• supporting or developing colleagues, associates or students, where applicable;

• sharing learning or an approach that others can use;

• improving access to care; or

• strengthening local services or provision.

Give specific examples, explain what value this created and identify the supporting document or documents in section 10 that substantiate the activity and its effect. Sole practitioners are not disadvantaged where team development is not relevant.

Your answer Maximum 300 words or approximately 3 minutes of audio/video.
10.Supporting evidence 1(Required.)
No file chosen
11.Supporting evidence 2
No file chosen
12.Supporting evidence 3
No file chosen
Important: Do not include identifiable patient information in any supporting document. Only supporting evidence in any format should be submitted through the file uploads above. To submit your full nomination by audio or video, please email events@iOsteopathy.org.
13.Confirm and submit
Complete each confirmation(Required.)
14.Name of person making these confirmations(Required.)
15.Date of submission(Required.)
Enter:
Final check: Make sure the eligibility confirmation is complete, all required contact details are present, each main question is answered, at least one supporting document is supplied, and all supporting documents are anonymised and clearly named.