S - Safe Not Sorry
SPS supports a SAFE return to the Practice of Massage in all its forms Sports Massage, Soft Tissue Therapies, Beauty Therapy, Aromatherapy, Remedial Therapy & Many More Descriptions. When it is safe to return to practice (studies) guidelines will differ from Country to Country within the UK. Please take the time to consider all the factors for Safe and Effective Practice before opening your clinics..
Do not rush to return to practice until you are certain that all necessary measures are in place. Risk Assessments, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Cleaning Procedures and Signage to name but a few of the factors to consider and then act upon appropriately. Today (6th July 2020) only the Scottish Massage Therapists Organisation (SMTO) an unregulated body has signalled a return to work for its members. No other body, government, organisation or association regulated or unregulated has given the green light. Now is a time to plan, reflect and consider a safe way forward. If you need advice then contact us admin@spslearn.co.uk. It’s free and might save a life or save a lot of heart ache!
If you are a student registered to study with SPS you will receive information on ‘how’ to record your ‘practice’ hours for your Continuous Assessment Record Log (CARL) with all the post Covid-19 protocols and procedures soon. It is important to implement all necessary precautions in order to resume the practical elements of your study. If you are looking to study with us then check out our new “Blended” course to be launched in August. To achieve your goals of becoming an Autonomous Sports Massage & Soft Tissue Practitioner in the post Covid era you will need to have confidence in your course provider.. If you have questions or queries email admin@spslearn.co.uk for more information, guidance and support.
It is that word “Autonomous” that is important at this stage of a return to practice. Autonomous means having the freedom to govern and control ones own affairs. With autonomy comes responsibility. In making your own decisions you must ensure not only the safety of your client/patient/athlete but the safety of others (shielding and vulnerable groups and individuals who live with or who are in a ‘bubble’ with your client) including yourself.
We have all read many articles, discussions and attended webinars on the requirements of a return to work, but how will that manifest itself in practice?
Some of the questions you will need to ask and answer are:
Who is responsible for the premises I work from?
Who is responsible for conducting the risk assessment of the premises and/or room I work from?
Am I and the premises insured to resume practice?
What measures to maintain public, client and my own safety are required?
Who will measure, enforce and or support the measures required to maintain public, client and my own safety?
What Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) do I, my client and others within the premises require?
Who will provide and pay for the PPE?
What policies and protocols do I and or the premises require to return to work?
Who writes, maintains and updates these policies and protocols?
How will I and or the management of the premises evidence safe and effective practice?
What changes to my documentation and assessment processes are required to return to practice?
Will GDPR within my working environment need to be updated and or changed?
How will I actually conduct my assessment and delivery of the chosen massage intervention?
Do I need to consider how long I work with each client/patient/athlete?
How long should I leave between each consultation & massage session?
What procedures do I need to undertake once my client/patient /athlete leaves?
How do I dispose of PPE?
The only sure thing at the end of these and many other questions and answers you will have is that YOU are responsible for your actions.
Not your insurer, Not your Association or Organisation of which you are a member, Not your manager, Not the owner of the premises, Not your client, colleague or other individual ONLY YOU. Blame after an incident or problem is a waste of energy and time. If you are not happy that all protocols, systems and processes are in place then don’t return to work until you are satisfied. If on returning to work the systems and processes aren’t as you imagined or don’t work well then look for solutions through collaboration and understanding. Be supportive, kind and considerate to yourself as well as clients and colleagues. Be confident when you return to work that you have collaborated and considered to the best of yours and your premises owners’ (where applicable) ability, to provide a safe and effective working environment and that you have managed your time effectively to minimise the client contact and maximise your intervention outcomes for the client. Never has our strap line “Meet the need of the Moment” been more applicable.
If you are in any doubt about what you need to do at any stage and need support then please get in touch with us. Please stay safe and well and don’t put yourself, family or others at unnecessary risk. Covid_19 may have become less prevalent but it is still no less deadly and we do not yet have a vaccine.
The following are some resources to help you return safely to practice:
https://www.csp.org.uk/news/coronavirus/remote-service-delivery-options
https://www.csp.org.uk/professional-clinical/digital-physio
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19