|
AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE VSR MEETING MARCH 2009
Attending
Jennie Longbottom – Chair. (JL)
Paul Blacker, Ear Acupuncture Register, secretary, minutes (PB)
Jonathan Tarr, Society of Auricular Acupuncturists (JT)
Anne Marshall, Acu-Detox Plus UK (AM)
Maria Mercati, UK Oriental Medicine (MM)
Amanda Shayle, The Acupuncture Society (AS)
John Gavin, College of Naturopathic Medicine (JG)
Ian Cambray Smith – Foundation of Integrated Health (ICS) (FIH)
Dragomir Luborimov, The Acupuncture Society (DL)
Observing
Ewan Urquhart, Oxford Medical Supplies. (EU)
Ruth Champion, BAAB, (RC)
Apologies / not in attendance
Ray Ghandi, NADA (RG)
Pauline Ronson, Society of Auricular Acupuncturists, treasurer (PR)
Carole Bishop, Acupuncture Consultancy & Training (CB)
Derry Jones, Jing Traditional Medicine (DJ)
Janine Cousins, Acupuncture Consultancy & Training (JC)
Ken Andrews – EFMA (KA)
Wan-Hye Park – Korean Hand Acupuncture (WHP)
Richard Irwin – Addaction. (RI)
AGENDA
Welcome and apologies
Previous meetings minutes.
Agreed as accurate, and signed by the chair.
Matters Arising
JL contacted NADA and SMART. SMART have indicated that they want nothing to do with the group whatsoever, and felt that they could not contribute to the group. NADA have been invited to the group but have not replied to the email. It was agreed that PB and JL would ask NADA to attend a board meeting to discuss the role of the MACRWG.
PB has contacted Hugh McPherson and is awaiting a reply. JL to re-contact Hugh McPherson.
Role of Independent Validation – Ruth Champion BAAB.
RC introduction about herself, and background. Outlined the differences between Validation and accreditation and approval. This is the outside view that agrees with the internal standard, and the importance of having a stated standard.
There are curriculum standards, and the educational standards, and it is about the public protection. The BAAB set the educational standards. AS asked about outcome standards. RC outlined that this was a conceptual idea, and that the National Occupational Standards didn’t allow for this, and the BAcC developed the Standards of Professional Acupuncture document. She discussed the role of the BAAB in relation to the BAcC. The need for standards to be transparent, and processes to be open to scrutiny by all. The approval is a 2 stage staged process for educational establishments that can come form any establishment private or public. The BAAB support the institution to a full course document that would meet the BAAB’s 17 essential requirements. Provisional accreditation is given and a process of ensuring that what has been written in the application document is being adhered to. Review of accredited courses will be periodic, and would be undertaken based on an annual review, and failing courses can be suspended from accreditation. JL asked about the role of BAAB and Statutory regulation. HPC say they set threshold / minimal standards and the professional bodies under the HPC set higher standards. MM asked about fees. RC says that her feeling is it would be a single fee if the MA group were to undertake validation. The new process will take 2 years to achieve full accreditation.
New programme proposal / Short courses would probably be paper based and with some minimal annual feedback / report, and light touch. This could be in place by 2010, and the MAC group could fit.
Update on Stakeholder members
ACT is selling their training organisations and may be personally withdrawing from the group, but are keen to have their members part of the process.
Update on the ASG.
PB updated the current state of the ASG. The ASG is looking at changing the remit of the group to be a single voice of the profession.
PB proposed that the group agree with the new direction of the ASG, being a single point of contact and voice for the acupuncture profession.
Standards of Education, Core Curriculum, external validation
JL discussed the educational templates that were returned. JL thought that the CNHC was the most appropriate route for the group given the feedback of the educational documents returned. ICS outlined the CNHC, which opened for the first register on the 19th January 2009. Massage therapists and nutritional therapists are the first groups to register. 6 other groups have work to complete and should be complete by the end of this year - Alexander teachers, Bowen, Cranial therapy, Naturopathy, Shiatsu and Yoga.
As a profession we have to have in place;
What it takes to be safe and competent as a Microsystems acupuncturist.
- A grand parenting procedure
- APEL process
- Accrediting courses.
- CPD
- A practice specific MAC board with a lay chair.
Fees should be for the CNHC, £45.00. This is for registration alone.
RC asked PB about the DOH withdrawing funding from the CNHC, about the role of the extended profession and the role of the BAAB validating course. ICS spoke about funding.
PD discussed the vision for the MAG for the future being part of the wider acupuncture profession and the need for regulation.
JL proposed to the group to pursue the CNHC route for setting in place regulation as so many of the processes are in place already. JG asked about the alternatives, JL outlined the pitfalls of perusing self-regulation. PB seconded, voted for by the group unanimously. PB said that ultimately it would be a decision of the members if this were the route that is pursued to the end.
JL clarified there will need to be;
A minimum educational level, set by the group.
e.g. a Basic English language skill, basic literary skills, some evidence of school education. This is to protect the public and the profession. And to demonstrate the participants have a basic problem solving skill. Communication e.g. set at Institute of English Language … Standards, level 6, to finish at 7, and a minimum age.
Minimum educational requirements of tutors.
That tutors have to have or are working towards a teaching award, e.g. city and guilds 7302 a 4 day course, or PGCHFE etc.
Course teaching criteria, (taught hours and self directed hours)
Curricular hours include contact hours and additional study expected by students’ time in exams. Etc. usually twice as long as the course taught. Hours taught clinical hours teaching academic hours teaching Anatomy and physiology and safe practice e.g. red flags course content.
Course content learning objectives and outcomes and match the timetable, teaching styles, lecture tutorial, clinical, Demonstration of facilities in place for e.g. accessing relevant course information e.g. library, internet, what facilities are there for practical components e.g. clinic facilities,
Assessment processes.
Is it formal exams, vivas, cumulative assessment, case studies, what facilities for failure of the course, how to re-sit how to appeal the process. Marking criteria as to what constitutes a pass. What is not paper assessments, student demonstrating empathy, patient handling skills, and these need to be validated.
RC said the BAAB have an institutional COSP audit tool. This is available on the BAAB web site.
Course appraisal / feedback,
are the students achieving the stated outcomes of the course.
Course evaluation, Is there an external person looking / assessed at the course. Are you maintaining educational skills?
Professional standards of practice
Is there a clear pathway to studying and furthering Microsystems of acupuncture, it Could be taken from the BAcC.
The organisation itself.
Due processes. Etc.
JL asked that the paperwork to be completed by the 5th of June.
RC discussed the importance of the educational language used in the production of the above paperwork is common to the language used in accreditation.
Due Processes
All future emails should be passed through PB to ensure emails are sent to the right people, and dealt with appropriately.
Finances update
PR was not present and PB updated
Delegation of roles
PB done
Time line for processes to be complete
JL wants the basic to be in place by September.
Discuss National Occupational Standards
PB has contacted Erica Traherne and had a background discussion on the development of NOS. ICS gave the background to the NOS. RC discussed the standards of proficiency which have been adopted more by the HPC and the BAcC. Healing, hypnotherapy and MAC don’t have any NOS yet. PB to circulate the ASG proficiencies document on acupuncture.
JG asked about skills and proficiencies and unidentified groups.
Areas of specialism, and training and recognition.
PB discussed having basic, advanced / extended scope of practice and specialist or expert practice in the format of the register. RC said there was a difference between adding more same level courses and having a progression through an educational pathway.
Advertising and web site.
AS suggested producing postcards of the advert to be supplied with needles of needle suppliers. JT said he could undertake the printing and have it done.
A logo needs to be produced. JG wife to produce some logos for agreement by the group.
AS to contact the DDN and other magazines to run the press release.
Research
JL to contact Hugh McPherson.
Any Other Business
Next Meeting
Next meeting; Friday 19th of June 2009
Bamforth Room
Connaught Hall
University of London
36-45 Tavistock Square
London, WC1H 9EX
|
