Last summer, the Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health (PFIH) consulted with therapists and with other interested parties on whether a federal approach was appropriate for the regulation of complementary healthcare professions. At the same time, it commissioned a feasibility study on the implementation of a federal system of regulation. The study was published on 27 September 2006, and its authors came up with ten recommendations, set out in detail at the end of their report. This is available by clicking here.
In line with these recommendations, a working party was set up in January 2007, to explore two possible models for a federal body. Therapies which meet certain criteria, or which are working to meet those criteria were invited to nominate one member (and one alternate) to serve on the working party.
The therapies represented are:
The Bowen Forum is represented on the Federal Working Group by Janet Barry (BTER) with Peter Briant (BAUK) as alternate. They are supported by representatives from the Forum’s Education and Training sub-group, including John Wilks (BTUK) and Alastair Rattray (ECBS).
The working party began to meet on 30 January and by the end of September 2007, it is intended that the group will have made proposals on the way forward, and that it will have completed a cost and benefit analysis. It is proposed that the Federal Regulatory Council (FRC) will be supported by a number of Profession Specific Boards (PSBs). These PSBs would have responsibility for setting profession specific standards, whereas the FRC would hold the register of practitioners, would set standards which are not profession specific, and provide a central administration. Current discussions are focusing on the exact split of responsibilities between the FRC and the PSBs.
The minutes from the first meeting of the working party are no longer available online.
The Education Sub Group of the Bowen Forum was re-formed in January 2007 with four members: John Wilks, Alastair Rattray, Zazia Pratt and Lynden Lane (lead). John and Alastair are both experienced trainers of Bowen therapists, and Zazia and Lynden are lay members. Members meet regularly and communicate as necessary.
The remit of the Group is to consider all aspects of Education and Training as they affect voluntary self regulation. Specific areas of focus are National Occupational Standards, developing a Core Curriculum for Bowen, and the Accreditation of Training Establishments. As each area is developed for Bowen these will be fed back into the Bowen Forum. John, Alastair and Lynden also have an important input into the Federal Working Group.