STA168: ’The Changing Face Of Qualifications: Who Can We Trust?’ - Special Debate Episode

“The Changing Face Of Qualifications. Who Can We Trust?” - In this SPECIAL episode, we bring together a live panel of leaders in education within the therapy industry to discuss the often confusing qualification structure, course levels, accreditation and awarding organisation validity.

THE PANEL:

Susan Findlay
• Director & Senior Lecturer of NLSSM (North London School of Sports Massage) 
• Sits on the board of the GCMT (General Council for Massage Therapies)
• Has been a Profession Specific Board member for the CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council) 

Anna Maria Mazzieri
• Director of The ST School (School Of Soft Tissue Therapy)
• Closely involved with ISRM (Institute for Soft Tissue Therapists, formerly Insitute for Sport & Remedial Massage) to bring their syllabus up to date. 
• Part of the international group ‘ForceNET’ lead by Dr Chad Cook

Mike Grice
• Director of Movement Therapy Education
• Was on the Technical Expert Group -TEG - for Skills Active
• Former lecturer on the FdSc and BSc Sports Therapy programmes at University College Birmingham 
• Lead tutor/instructor for Elite Therapy Education, Biomechanics Education, Oxford School of Sports Massage (OSSM)

Gary Benson
• Founder of the Sports Therapy Association
• Previously worked as teacher & assessor in Further Educuation and the Private sector
• Passionate about raising standards, challenging misinformation and discrimination in the industry & employment sector. 

Topics discussed (with time stamps):

• 0:00 Intro 
• 1:47 Reminder of Ep.167 'RED-S In Sport: What Therapists Need To Know' with special guest Lucy Gillbanks
• 3:28 Welcome to the Panel
• 4:20 Introduction: Mike Grice  
• 5:17 Introduction: Anna Maria Mazzieri
• 7:12 Introduction: Gary Benson
• 8:20 Introduction: Susan Findlay  
• 9:40 Our thanks to educators who could not make it tonight  
• 11:06 What do the Course Levels 1-6 mean?  
• 15:00 CPD courses should not be calling themselves Level 5 or Level 6 
• 18:00 Was the 2007/8 introduction of Level 4 and Level 5 courses done for commercial reasons?  
• 20:42 We need to move away from the current level system based on 'techniques' taught to a system based on 'application of knowledge'.   
• 23:55 Does Level 5 prepare you for pitchside work or do you need a degree?   
• 29:14 Levels 3, 4 and 5 were set up for commercial reasons. We need to change this.    
• 30:49 Alternatives to BTEC Level 3, 4 and 5
• 34:38 Advantages & Disadvantages of the BTEC Model
• 36:50 What role & responsibility do insurance companies have? Are they part of the problem?
• 39:11 Conflicts of Interest: Should a professional association or organisation that provides support for therapists ALSO sell their own eduction courses?
• 39:41 Can professional associations & organisations achieve unified standards? Why can there not be just one association for therapists?  
• 45:02 Conflict of Interest revisited. Can it be avoided?
• 48:39 Does 'accreditation' truly identify a good course?
• 53:20 Advice from the panel: 'How To identify A Good Course'
• 64:17 Thank you everyone who joined live. What to do if you need support.                        

Useful Links

• STA Website
• Mike Grice: Movement Therapy Education Website
• Anna Maria Mazzieri: The ST School Website
• Susan Findlay Website   

Our sincere thanks to Mike Grice, Anna Maria Mazzieri and Susan Findlay for giving up their time to be on our Panel!

Want to join the live recordings?
Episodes of the Sports Therapy Association podcast are recorded live every TUESDAY at 8pm on the Sports Therapy Association YOUTUBE CHANNEL. Everyone is welcome - you do not have to be an STA member! If you cannot join us live, be sure to subscribe to the 'Sports Therapy Association Podcast' on all popular podcast apps to be notified when new episodes are available.

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Questions?
Email: matt@thesta.co.uk