2008 Plans

The Society of Homeopaths’ Aims and Objectives for 2008

The Society of Homeopaths is currently the UK’s largest regulator of homeopaths as well as a leading provider of membership services.

By January 2013, the Board of The Society of Homeopaths expects that an independent single register and regulatory body for homeopathy will have been firmly established, with The Society remaining the UK’s largest and most importantly, leading membership body representing professional homeopaths.

Having passed on its regulatory function to an independent ‘Single Register & Regulatory Body’, The Society will have redirected its infrastructure and resources to providing unparalled support for its members as well as representing the profession in the media etc. Planned activities will include:

regional CPD workshops and seminars covering the latest in homeopathy along with best
practice in business
communications, promoting The Society and raising awareness about homeopathy through the media, government, public, other CAM bodies etc.professional conduct advice and practitioner representation
research opportunities
comprehensive insurance packages
comprehensive membership categories
support for colleges

Alongside its member support function, The Society will also continue its work to promote homeopathy, moving towards its long term vision of ‘homeopathy for all’.

Values underpinning The Society’s work will continue to include excellent customer service, user friendly processes, transparency and accountability.

1. Plans for 2008
Develop existing membership services

Development and promotion of The Society’s intranet ‘First Class Mail’
Development and regular updating of the website
Increase involvement and profile of students within The Society
Develop the programme of Induction Days for newly registered members to reflect changes in the registration process introduced in the summer of 2007 and in the light of feedback from members attending these workshops during the autumn of 2007.
CPD: Target the different interest groups within the membership and the profession as a whole, eg new practitioners, potential members, supervisors and practitioners with particular areas of interest, also bearing in mind particular regional interests and needs.

Utilise the e-bulletin service to efficiently communicate important developments to the membership. Ensure effective reporting of developments in the Society newsletter including new membership facilities such as e-commerce
Hold a 2 day seminar in November 2008 with Massimo Mangliavori

Provide support and advice to newly-registered members engaged in the ‘revised’ registration process and to their supervisors
Publish regular information about education matters through The Society Newsletter

Introduce New Services to Members

Set up and develop on-line shopping and financial transactions for TradCo products, CPD events, conferences, seminars, membership fees etc
Promote and organise special one day student conference prior to main conference in April
Registration: Develop workshops for those supervising or wishing to supervise newly-registered members. Produce and distribute materials to support supervisors on the Society’s ‘approved’ list, including a regular supervisors’ e-bulletin
Develop a range of CPD packages and services wide ranging and attractive enough to be of relevance and interest to a majority of our members (as well as potential members)
Produce a booklet to coincide with our 30th anniversary, pulling together the useful ‘tips’ from current research into what makes a thriving practitioner, to be distributed to all registered members
Offer credit/debit card processing facilities for our members to take payments from patients
Appoint a research consultant to work closely with the Chief Executive and Communications Committee to provide information regarding current research in homeopathy, in particular providing supportive data for any media work
Education: Offer the option of focussed visits on a specific theme to teaching teams in place of general liaison visits

Progress the establishment of an independent Single Register and Regulatory Body

Registration: Liaise with the Society’s Education Department and the Homeopathy Accreditation Board regarding any proposals for individual routes to registration and the possible recognition of ‘apprenticeship’-based courses
Establish the Society’s own criteria for the handover of its regulatory functions to any new regulatory body and prepare a process for doing so once these criteria have been met
Education: maintain representation on the Homeopathy Accreditation Board or whatever body emerges as the driver for the establishment of independent accreditation for homeopathy courses
Be pro-active in negotiating a clear agenda for transition of recognised courses to accredited status
Actively contribute to the circulation of information and discussion within these groups and communicate developments to Course Providers
Investigate other routes to independent accreditation of courses as a contingency if HAB proposals should prove unacceptable or unworkable

Raise General Awareness of Homeopathy

Work alongside external bodies (profit and not for profit) to establish reciprocity and raise awareness about the value and benefits of homeopathy and The Society of Homeopaths.

Continue to develop and implement new initiatives to raise the profile of the organisation and homeopathy
Appoint a media consultant with homeopathic knowledge to be proactive in generating positive, accurate media coverage of The Society in national press/TV/Radio/on-line media.
Develop and maintain relationships with key media contacts
Continue to implement crisis management protocol in The Society's reactive response to crisis public relation situations to ensure that the reputation of The Society is protected
Ensure awareness of the Society's 30th Anniversary in the CAM field

Ensure Society website and published material withstands review by outside agencies in terms of integrity and professionalism in line with The Society Code of Conduct & Ethics
Run Homeopathy Awareness Week (HAW) in June 2008, to enable members to raise the profile of both homeopathy and their own practices at local level.

Campaign for increased awareness and provision of homeopathy eg through the All Party Parliamentary Group on Complementary Health; ECCH; Department of Health

Keep up to date with relevant select committees and latest developments within the Department of Health, especially in relation to regulation and respond to relevant consultations
Ensure that courses are informed about, and link into, SoH initiatives for publicity, such as Homeopathy Awareness Week

Promote The Society and Attract New Members

Promote the 30th anniversary to the membership, members of other homeopathy organisations plus the public
Maintain a fully working, consistent, accurate and integrated site, updated on a monthly basis as a minimum and reflective of all activity within The Society, in particular targeting the public and the media.
Overhaul ‘All Members’ database to simplify Society processes and provide more time on developing membership services and better personal contact with members
Market CPD to a wider audience within the Society and also to non-Society homeopaths
Market FREE student membership and reduced rate Student Clinical Membership launched for 2008 to commemorate 30th Anniversary plus wider selection of student discount rates negotiated with homeopathic suppliers for 2008
Ensure the homeopathic community are aware of the promotional tools TradCo offers to assist the professional in the marketing of their business in their local community

Offer ‘CPD taster sessions’ to course providers, especially aimed at 3rd and 4th year students
Continue to market CPD to a wider audience both within The Society and also to non-Society homeopaths. Make it clear that CPD is for everyone – not just newly registered members.
Promote and maintain the Society’s Registration system, communicating both with those completing college courses and with homeopaths already in practice.

Education: Regular review of the ‘Individual Route’ in order to facilitate a fair, workable and efficient system, particularly welcoming and supportive to experienced practitioners

Uphold Professional Standards

Conduct a comprehensive review of all professional conduct processes

Review and develop further the ‘revised’ registration programme to support high standards of practice among newly-registered members
Provide support to supervisors so they are clear about the standards expected within the Society’s registration process
Through CPD events explore ways to encourage more rigorous reflection on practice and critical evaluation within CPD
Continue to operate our recognition process as laid out in the Education Policy, ARCS 1,2 & 3
Continue to produce and publicise a list of recognised courses
Conduct a five year review with the relevant cohort of courses, including the evaluation of follow-up submissions from courses which have already undertaken the review
Continue to co-ordinate and feedback on individual courses’ Annual Reviews
Ensure that applicants who apply through the Individual Route meet qualification criteria equivalent to those of our recognised courses

Provide support in educational matters related to homeopathy and to future accreditation e.g.
workshops and focussed liaison next year on ‘degree level equivalence’