CPD Event Approval A Guide for CPD Providers Copyright of the Association of Reflexologists 2010
Dear Colleague, Thank you for your interest in becoming one of our Approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Providers. There is a strong demand from our members for AoR approved events, which attract additional CPD points for all members that attend them. Our current CPD providers have reported an excellent response to their events being AoR Approved, which attracts an impressive number of delegates to their course and workshops. The guidance pack provides details of the approval process and application forms. We hope the pack answers any questions that you may have but we would be delighted to help you further if needed. Yours Faithfully, The AoR Staff team. Contact details Association of Reflexologists 5-6 Fore Street Taunton TA1 1HX ENGLAND Email: info@aor.org.uk Fax: 01823 336646 Telephone: 01823 351010 Website: www.aor.org.uk
Why choose AoR Approval for your course? The benefits to you as a training provider are: A relationship with a well established (The AoR celebrated its 25 th Anniversary in 2009), credible and respected Association. Approved CPD events will attract kudos from AoR approval. Opportunities to increase the appeal of your course to more attendees, as many of our CPD Approved providers report increased attendance figures following AoR Approval. Promotion of your events through listings in a specially designated directory within our popular journal Reflexions, circulated to approximately 6,000 members and external colleagues. Promotion of your events via the AoR website, through two specially designated areas of the AoR website, making details of your course easily accessible to both members and non members. Significant numbers of reflexologists who are both members and non-members, as well as many other therapists, visit our website in search of CPD opportunities. Additional opportunity to use our AoR CPD Approved kitemark, exclusively available for AoR CPD Approved providers to add next to their Approved event in their promotional materials, on their websites and in any advertisements in our journal/other journals. Delegates attending an approved event earn double CPD points which will make your course more attractive to all AoR members. CPD providers that are AoR members also earn double CPD points for facilitating the training.
About the AoR Having celebrated 25 years of delivering excellence in reflexology in 2009, the AoR continue to provide an exemplary service to members whilst ensuring that members meet our high professional standards through our Continued Professional Development Scheme and our Code of Practice and Ethics. Our mission The AoR is committed to providing an exemplary standard of service to members and to be the first choice for Reflexologists. We will uphold professional standards and raise the profile of our industry by our visionary approach to working in partnership, responding to changing environments and embracing our values and ethos. Our Vision To be the recognised voice for the profession. Obtain awareness and acceptability of reflexology amongst health care professionals and the public. Remain proactive in keeping up to date with matters relating to our industry. Continue to develop the service and benefits to members responding to and satisfying their needs. Our Values To be proud of our history and belief that our members are not just a membership number. To uphold the standards of professional development. To act in a fair, consistent and ethical manner conducive to the industry we operate in. Continue to have a genuine desire to develop and move forward. Our purpose To provide for our members current and future needs by being a responsive and listening association that is not only reactive but proactive in changing circumstances. To provide vision and guidance on all aspects of professional development and to work in harmony with those who help to deliver professional development. To effectively use all vehicles to raise the profile of the AoR, its members and the industry it serves, to other professional colleagues, forums, relevant government departments and the general public. The objective being for reflexology to be recognised and embraced as a valuable therapy. To support and develop the necessary skills and training needed to implement our objectives enabling the AoR to prosper and grow. As a provider of one of our Approved events, you will be expected to deliver a service to your attendees which reflects the spirit of our mission, vision, values and purpose, and above all, provides excellent service to your attendees.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Provider Event Approval Guide What is an event? An event is defined for Association of Reflexologists (AoR) CPD purposes as an organised activity such as a course, lecture, seminar or workshop that is made available to participants by a training provider. The training provider may be a college, private centre or an individual. What is event Approval? This is the approval of a particular event, for example a workshop on Maternity Reflexology run by a particular trainer. This event will have a title, summary, learning objectives/outcomes and assessment (if applicable). Event approval lasts for 1 year. An AoR Approved CPD event is one where the training provider has received confirmation from the AoR that a particular event has been approved for CPD. Each event title needs to be separately approved. Once approved, that event can be delivered for an indefinite number of occasions up until the approval has expired. There are charges for event approval and for each occasion/date that is listed by AoR. What are the Criteria for Approval? The training provider must provide all the information requested on the Application Form. CPD events submitted for approval need to demonstrate all of the following: The event covers a topic that is acceptable for CPD approval by falling within one or more of the CPD categories. (Pages 9 and 10 in the members CPD Handbook) The event must have an accurate title that reflects the aims. There must be clearly stated aim/s, learning outcomes/objectives (see below) There must be clearly stated assessment (if applicable). There must be clearly stated pre-requisite qualifications or experience (if applicable). The tutor must normally hold a teaching qualification
What are the limitations of Approval? The approval only applies to the individual event title listed. Each individual event title must be approved separately. The approval of an event only applies to the named individual provider. Approval of an event by the AoR does not guarantee to the attendee that the event is delivered to a high standard, but we hope that our criteria encourage providers to implement best practice principles. Approval of an event by the AoR confirms that the provider has agreed to organise and deliver the programme within specific criteria. Any changes after event Approval to the event specification without AoR s agreement will invalidate the approval of the event. What is an event listing? A provider may offer an approved event such as the workshop on Maternity Reflexology on as many occasions, or different locations as they wish. However if the provider requires the AoR to list all, or any of these, then event listing details and payment needs to be submitted for each occurrence of the event. For example, if you taught your complete Maternity Reflexology course on 4 th -6 th October, and then repeated it on 12 th - 14 th November for a different set of attendees, this would count as two occurrences of the event. Tip for event listings try to do this as early as possible, because your listing will be published both on the websites and in any Reflexions journals published between the time you booked the listing and the date of your event. How to apply for CPD event Approval Application forms are downloadable from the AoR web site and are available on request by email or post. Completed application forms can be sent to us by email, fax or post.
Completing your application form Some parts of the application form require explanation before they can be filled in properly. Please find these explanations below: Aims and Outcomes These are important sections of the application form. The aims stated on the form need to accurately convey to participants the overall purpose of the activity. The outcomes or objectives for the event should be written from the perspective of the participant, i.e. what the participant will learn; what the participant will do, or what practical skills or approaches that the participant will develop. If the relevant sections of the form are not completed in this way the application will not be approved. Mode of Attendance This term is used to describe the amount of time the course runs over. When applying for approval the mode of attendance needs to be stated on the application form. Typical examples of attendance include: 1 day 4 evenings 1 weekend per month for 4 months No attendance (distance learning) Listing events on the AoR Website We will post approved listings onto our website within 14 working days of receipt of application and payment. Bookings for CPD approved events are not made by, or through, the AoR. The AoR provides the contact details of the provider and it is up to the provider to ensure that booking arrangements are in place for those participants wishing to book onto the event. The listing on the AoR web site includes the following information: Dates Location Event title Course Tutor Website address Contact number Summary of event
Listing Events in the AoR s Reflexions Journal Where possible, approved events will be included in the CPD listing page in the journal. There are strict deadlines for inclusion of listings in Reflexions. The deadlines can be found by contacting the AoR or by looking at the Reflexions page of the AoR website (www.aor.org.uk). Confirmation of these dates can be found in the approved CPD events section of Reflexions. Although we try to ensure that all the information is accurate, we can take no responsibility for inaccurate information completed by the applicant. Each approved event will be listed providing that full and accurate information has been given and the relevant listing fee paid. The AoR can take no responsibility if incorrect details are supplied. The listing in Reflexions includes the following information: Dates Location Event title Course Tutor Website address Contact number Scale of Charges for CPD Approval What is it? Cost Initial Event Approval 125.00 per event Event Renewal (per year) 100.00 per year Event Listing per year or until event expires Amendments to Listings 40.00 per occurrence of the event 10.00 per event Additional tutor fee Change of venue fee 40.00 per tutor 40.00 per tutor
What happens after I have submitted my application? What happens when I have submitted my application? Once your application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation of receipt either by post or email within 14 days. The application will be reviewed to ensure that all approval criteria have been met. If we require further information or clarification on any aspect of your application we will contact you. Once this process has been completed and your application has been approved, payment will be taken and confirmation will be posted or emailed to you. Member Feedback on quality of events As part of our monitoring of member satisfaction with AoR approved events, we may ask you to issue AoR event evaluation feedback forms to participants. If this request is made to the provider it will be a condition of continuing approval that the forms are issued to participants and that they are encouraged to return them to AoR. Event renewal Events are initially approved for a period of up to 1 year, although we reserve the right to withdraw approval at any time if the provider breaches the terms of the Provider Agreement as detailed in the application form.
Your application checklist Please make sure that you complete all of the following sections: 1. Provider details 2. Tutor Information 3. Course Information 4. Health and Safety Information 5. Website and Reflexions Information 6. Insurance Information 7. Provider Agreement and Payment details When you have completed your application form, please send it to: The Association of Reflexologists 5 Fore Street Taunton Somerset, TA1 1HX.
Application for CPD Approval Section 1: Application for AoR Approval of a CPD Provider Provider Details Provider Name Address Postcode Telephone number Email Address Website Address
Section 2: Tutor Information Qualifications, Membership of Professional Bodies of Course Tutor One form completed per tutor. Please note that any more than two registered tutors for the course will incur the additional tutor fee listed above for each additional tutor. Please provide evidence/copies of relevant tutor qualifications Course Tutor Provider Name (i.e. business name) Address Postcode Telephone number Email Address Website Address Qualifications relevant to the subject or teaching Date Achieved 1. 2. 3.
Professional Body Membership and Status Date Achieved 1. 2. 3. Experience Please give brief details of what training you have provided and to whom over the past year
Continuing Professional Development Briefly outline how you undertake your own CPD
Section 3: Course Details Please note: for each separate course, you will need to fill out a new Course Details form. Provider Name Title of Course Is this a distance learning course Yes / No Number of guided learning hours Total Number of tutor contact hours Total Charge to Participants Summary of Event
Please list the learning aims or outcomes for the event How will your student be assessed?
Is a certificate given? Yes / No If yes, please supply. Is a qualification being awarded? Yes / No if yes please state awarding body if applicable Do you have a complaints procedure in place? Yes / No if yes please supply. Do you have a cancellation policy in place? Yes / No if yes please supply. Please attach the following details of the course being delivered: Course content Course structure Lesson Plan Details of any materials being used
Section 4: Health and Safety Information Who has overall responsibility for the Health and Safety of the students attending? Does the venue have disabled access? Is the Venue suitable for this course? Please enclose a copy of your current teaching Insurance? Do you have Public Liability Insurance for this event, if yes please attach? Quick check... What makes a venue suitable? Does your venue have the following: Adequate Health and Safety provision (in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work legislation 1974) Good standards of hygiene (enough toilets/ washing facilities that all attendees are able to access) Good ventilation to maintain an appropriate temperature Adequate lighting for both theory and (if applicable) practical work Access for all attendees to your visual aids/ multimedia activities Easy access to refreshment facilities Enough equipment for all attendees to have access to all of your learning activities, which is of adequate quality
Section 5: Website/Reflexions Listing Information Please complete this section if you require your event to be listed on the AoR website/reflexions journal. If you do not wish to have your event listed, please leave this section blank and continue to section 3. Please note there will be a charge of 10 per submission of amendments after event approval. If you wish to make amendments to your Approval details, an amendment form will need be submitted along with payment. The AoR cannot take responsibility for incorrect information listed on this form. Course Tutor Title of Event Email (only one email address) Website (only one website address) Contact telephone number ( only one number) Summary of Event (to be included on the AoR website only not Reflexions) Limited to 200 characters
Date/s for each event occurrence There is a charge for each date/occurrence listed. Currently the charge is 40 per date/occurrence. Dates General Location (Town) Please indicate below whether you would like your event to be listed on the AoR website, in our journal Reflexions or both: Events to be listed on the AoR website Events to be listed in Reflexions Events to be listed both on the AoR website and in Reflexions
AoR CPD Provider Agreement As an AoR Approved Provider I agree to: Provide clear and accurate information to potential delegates about event content, assessment, pre-requisite qualifications, times, dates, venue details and all charges. Ensure that participants are informed about any equipment or materials they need to bring. Provide a safe and suitable venue for the event, appropriate to the number of participants and matching the requirements of the venue checklist (supplied on the form). Provide a high level of customer service to participants from initial contact to completion of event, including any post event follow up. Seek written feedback from participants on the quality of the event. Seek approval for changes to event details as originally approved. Issue the participants with a certificate of attendance or certificate of achievement, as appropriate. Conduct all activities and communications in a way that does not harm the reputation of the AoR. Hold valid insurance to cover public liability and professional malpractice for the training and services provided. Accept that the AoR will not be held responsible for any outstanding payments between the provider and any other parties. Accept that the AoR does not accept responsibility for any claims made against the provider or its staff or sub-contractors. Let the AoR know if any details about the events or course change. I understand that if I do not inform the AoR of any changes to my events/ course, it could affect my Approval status. Please note that the event approval process can take up to 14 days. I understand that if the provider agreement is not fully complied with at all times, the AoR may suspend or cancel approval of the provider s CPD events. I have read the guidance on applying for AoR CPD event approval. I understand and fully agree to the terms and conditions laid out in the Definitions of Approval, Limitations of Approval and AoR CPD Provider Agreement. I understand that by emailing this form without a signature I am agreeing to the same conditions. Signed. Dated..
Payment Charges for CPD Approval What is it? Cost Total cost Initial Event Approval 125.00 per event Event Renewal (per year) 100.00 per year Event Listing per year or until event expires Amendments to Listings 40.00 per occurrence of the event 10.00 per event Additional tutor fee 40.00 per tutor Change of venue fee 40.00 per tutor Total cost of this application Payment Options Cheques payable to: Association of Reflexologists Credit card or Debit card Please fill out the form below. CREDIT/DEBIT CARD PAYMENT Card Holder Name. Card Number / / / / Expiry Date : Start Date : Issue Number : Security Code (the last 3 digits on the signature strip): I certify that the AoR is authorised to debit my credit/debit card for Signed. Dated... END OF DOCUMENT Copyright of the Association of Reflexologists 2010