PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

A professional body is normally an organ- isation that provides standards for the education, training and continued pro- fessional develop- ment for a particular group of profession- als. It offers protec- tion to those both inside and outside the organisation.

BODY? WHAT’S IN A PROFESSIONAL By Joan Watt, MCSP, MSMA

DOES SPORTS MASSAGE NEED A PROFESSIONAL BODY? As sports massage has grown in popularity it has become dif- ficult to discover the competencies and level of training of individuals, particularly with the diverse number of schools and qualifications available.

In 1998, the National Sports Medicine Institute (NSMI) established a Sports Massage Advisory Group (SMAG). A working group was established to define minimum course standards and a core curriculum. Adverts were placed and invitations made for course providers to submit their cours- es for recognition by the SMAG. Many such courses were sub- mitted and three teaching schools fulfilled the criteria set by the SMAG committee and became ‘recognised providers of sports massage education’.

In October 2000 the decision was made to establish a unit- ed professional body for sports massage. Both the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and SPRITO (the national training body for sport and recreation – now known as SkillsActive) presented their findings to the sports massage community. Some 30 schools and organisations attended the meeting. The proposal for a recognised profes- sional body for sports massage practitioners was endorsed by all present, and shadow working groups were formed to take the venture forward. The English Institute of Sport pro- vided a dedicated grant to form the Sports Massage Association.

www.sportex.net

Examples of such bodies include the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the General Osteo- pathic Council. This article looks at the role of a professional body and why having one will benefit the practice of sports massage.

THE ROLE OF A PROFESSIONAL BODY Intention Any professional body needs to be clear about its intention. The Sports Massage Association’s mission statement is: “To promote knowledge- able, skilled and committed Sports Massage Practitioners for the enhancement of the profession in the eyes of both professionals and the general public.”

Objectives A professional body needs to set objectives. Robust standards need to be put in place so members of the organisation know what is expect- ed of them and members of the public know what they can expect from members. This is normally done through a code of conduct, ethics and practice, which each member of an association has to agree to. This code then sets out the accepted standards of behaviour, record keep- ing, and communication, continuing professional development, insur- ances and advertising along with other pertinent matters. The SMA’s code is available on the website www.thesma.org

Maintaining standards A professional body is there to ensure standards are maintained and will often oversee complaints and disciplinary procedures. The SMA has established a Complaints Investigation Panel to examine any allega- tions, against a member of the Association, of conduct that falls short of the required standard. It also has a Professional Conduct Panel to consider allegations of professional misconduct, as well as allegations of serious impairment due to ill health referred to it by the Complaints Investigation Panel.

Education A professional body needs to ensure that its members have attained a

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