Define the Practice Manager’s relationship with:

Practitioners

Clients/Patients
Local NHS General Practitioners, Consultants & Health Care Providers
Local Hospitals & Clinics
Social Care Sector
Voluntary Sector

Create and keep updated a Health Centre Practitioner’s Handbook:

The Centre’s rules and requirements including the issues of assisting a client/patient to choose a treatment and/or a Practitioner, the handling of incoming mail/messages (confidentiality) and the collection of fees.

• Legal relationship with Practitioners: Employee/Self-employed? Implications

• Licence to occupy to be granted to each Practitioner: possible content/ requirement of independent legal advice

• Disputes between Health Centre and Practitioner: Need for a work-place mediation facility

• Proposed Practitioner Board: Membership/Constitution/Parameters

• Complaints procedure: Internal and/or external; Involvement of Practitioner’s professional Membership organisation

• Vetting of Practitioner/Client Contract, Code of Care; Consent to treatment procedures; Parent or Guardian Consent to treatment procedures

• Vetting of Practitioner: Membership registrations and professional Insurance  (annually)

• Professional Negligence Indemnity Insurance: requirement for individual Practitioner and separate cover for Health Centre, the importance of “run-off” cover

• Employer’s Civil liability Certificate & Insurance and Public liability Insurance: requirements

• Membership of , for example, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): benefits

• Membership of professional registers: see above

• The safeguarding of vulnerable groups: Disclosure and barring service

• Legislation: implications for some Practitioners

• Disability Discrimination Act: need for premises assessment survey?

• Data Protection Act: need to register and appoint a data controller? Cyber security protection?

• Practitioner’s professional requirements (if any) relating to statutory regulation or voluntary self-regulation

• Medical Health & Local Government Authorities: Implications for Practitioners & Health Centre

• CAM research resources: encourage Practitioners to make available for clients

• Health Centre Evidence-based CAM research guides for display in Health Centre reception area: sources, content and format

• The creation of a CAM lending Library as a health centre resource for the use of clients, practitioners and CAM students using the Centre

• Health Centre Newsletters both internal (for Practitioners) and external (for existing and prospective clients)

• Arrange participation in open days, trade fairs, expo exhibitions and CAM conferences

• Arrange Practitioner contribution to the marketing of their practice, the Health Centre & CAM generally: local radio, television and other media outlets to include Practitioners giving interviews & presentations

• Arrange local competitions (e.g. a Picture of Health painting competition) promoting Health Centre and its Practitioners

• Marketing: website & social media content; Practitioner brochures – in a “house style”? Voucher scheme

• Provision of Training facilities: meeting the increasing demand for Practitioner CPD Courses

• Place entries in local Health Guides/Listings

• CAM product sales: need for sales staff training/insurance

• Keep under review interaction and networking with local NHS  & private health providers

• Promote the use of client treatment records and the use of Treatment Evaluation Forms, incorporating client-related treatment outcome measures

• Promotion of Integrated Healthcare practice ethics: Practitioner mentoring; Promote integrated healthcare treatment plans

• Create & distribute Health Centre reception information & therapy guides

• Review awareness of contra-indications between different types of treatments: implement process for practitioner liaison & resolution of practitioner disputes

• Preparation for local authority spot-check inspections relating to Health and Safety at Work activities and records

• Environmental Protection legislation: annual waste declaration and compliance issues
  Practitioners to complete accredited first-aid courses (usually every three years) check that this has been done

• Encourage Practitioners (where appropriate) to obtain a NHS National Independent Provider Organisation Code and to register as a provider with private health insurance companies

• Promote awareness of European Union proposals and Directives relating to CAM

• Liaise with relevant authorities regarding approval of Health Centre for the practice of relevant treatments (e.g. for acupuncture)

• Liaise with Social Services and GP Practices with regard to referrals (e.g. for psychotherapy and counselling)

• Generally encourage and advise Practitioners to adopt a business approach to their CAM practice and to spend adequate time on as well as in their practice.

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FOR BUSINESS MENTORING SERVICES RELATING TO CAM PRACTICE MANAGEMENT see bit.ly/1REoab

and Richard’s book Business Guide for Health Therapists available at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LWTZSLA or from digital stores at www.books2read.com/BG4HT