Professional Notices

Standards of Practice

MovES Ltd has become aware that both with regard to NMA/NMAHM® and other related areas of professional practice invalid, unsupported or unsupportable claims may be made in relation to knowledge, skills, degree of assessed development etc. This has potential to negatively impact the standing of the Approach, as well the professional reputation of practitioners involved in using, or promoting the Approach.

Enquiries with regard to validity of persons purporting to be able to inform on any aspect of the NMAHM® should be directed to either directly to MovES Ltd, or to MANAS.

The content of the various pages in this web-site is intended to outline the calibre/requirements etc of different levels of the NMAHM® student/ practitioner.

The Standards of Practice applied to the NMA/NMAHM® have existed since 1996 (proposed by MovES, ratified by the then Neuromuscular Approach Association). The Standards continue to presume that students and practitioners will fulfil the fundamental tenets of professionalism, and have generally been constructed to indicate criteria applicable to the levels of knowledge and skills associated with different study processes and degrees of NMAHM® educational progression. They are intended to be reflective of the different stages in the hierarchy of professional practice, and of the requirements associated with career etc progression.

MANAS membership will offer some degree of protection to both the Approach, and recognised NMAHM® practitioners. It is expected that member practitioners shall directly assist in protecting the integrity of the Approach by a variety of methods.

In addition to the information related to the Standards of NMAHM® Practice as outlined below it is expected that members and practitioners shall not engage in:

• non-authentic NMAHM® practice (eg recommending or utilising non-advocated methods etc) in the carrying out of their professional duties;

• professional activities with non-MANAS members which may allow the latter to be incorrectly perceived as being NMA/NMAHM® informed, having defined related knowledge and ability etc. This requirement shall extend to include preventing of access to, usage etc of NMAHM® information by such persons.

In brief response to frequently asked questions regarding practice, knowledge, skills etc, the key points within the Standards related to the scope and limitation of practice in relation to contemporary NMAHM® study processes are summarised below. These are expressed in relation to contemporary study options, and should be considered in relation to MANAS membership requirements xxlink to MANAS.

Practitioners undertaking earlier study may appear disadvantaged in relation to these standards, and MANAS membership criteria. For those who require to demonstrate key levels of knowledge, skill etc opportunities for accreditation of prior learning (APL) and accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) will be offered to support practitioner development.

Persons engaged in supervising or monitoring others in their uptake of basic NMA/ NMAHM® practice (e.g. as Key or Link-worker/ clinical equivalent):

• require to have undertaken and successfully completed either the MovES Ltd Level 2/ NMAHM®, or successfully completed Stage 2 of the current Level 3 credit-rated course process (30 credit points);

• may/ may not require to hold additional related qualifications e.g. in supervisory/ equivalent skills to further support and validate ability to undertake related duties from a professional/ occupational/ insurance/ employment duty perspective;
• if such an additional qualification is not held, the person will normally be operating within either a NMA/NMAHM® team led by a more advanced NMA/ NMAHM® practitioner (normally advised as Level 4), and/or mentored and monitored by MovES Ltd;

AND

• are required to continue to regularly update their knowledge and skills since passing the MovES Ltd/ equivalent input to demonstrate at least maintenance of previously assessed levels of ability associated with this level of practice.

Persons engaged in primary delivery of MovES Ltd approved NMA/NMAHM® processes for either general staff (e.g. Manual Handling Awareness Raising/ induction/ basic input), and/ or staff and other persons (e.g. patients) etc with defined additional needs e.g. undergoing rehabilitation, return-to-work processes etc:

• require to have undertaken and successfully completed the current MovES Ltd Level 3 credit-rated course process (30 credit points);

• may require to hold additional professional qualification(s) (e.g. defined training/ educator's qualification, equivalent level of clinical skill) and/or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience etc to validate ability to appropriately plan, develop and undertake planned processes and with the desired outcome(s), monitor and act upon foreseeable and actual outcomes from a professional/ occupational/ insurance/ employment duty perspective;
• If such an additional qualification is not held and the person is otherwise supported from a professional/ occupational/ insurance/ employment duty perspective, the person will normally be operating within either a NMA/ NMAHM® team led by a more advanced NMA/ NMAHM® practitioner (normally advised as Level 4), and/or mentored and monitored by MovES Ltd;

AND

• are required to continue to regularly update their knowledge and skills since passing the current Level 3 course (The NMAHM®: A Course for Movement Facilitators; 30 credit points) to demonstrate at least maintenance of previously assessed levels of ability associated with this level of practice.

Persons engaged in more advanced delivery of MovES Ltd approved NMA/NMAHM® processes:

e.g. for key-workers, Link-workers, clinical skills development:

• require to have undertaken and successfully completed the MovES Ltd Level 4 process, and hold an appropriate qualification relevant to this level of practice e.g. Post-Grad Diploma in Ergonomics and/ or Back Care Advisor, or a relevant clinical skills qualification to validate ownership of necessary knowledge and skills associated with monitoring and audit of professional practice; and/or

• will normally hold, or be working to gain a defined training/ educators qualification.
• if such an additional qualification is not held and the person is otherwise supported from a professional/ occupational/ insurance/ employment duty perspective, the person will normally be operating within either a NMA/ NMAHM® team led by a more advanced NMA/ NMAHM® practitioner (normally advised as Level 4), and/or mentored and monitored by MovES Ltd;

AND 

• are required to continue to regularly update their knowledge and skills since passing their Level 4 course process to demonstrate at least maintenance of previously assessed levels of ability associated with this level of practice.

e.g. for primary trainers/facilitators, clinical skills leadership and development etc:

• at present this level of input will continue to be primarily delivered under MovES Ltd.
• Advanced students i.e. those who have undertaken and successfully completed MovES Ltd Level 4 course process, and who hold or are working to gain an appropriate series of qualifications e.g. primary or Higher Degree in a valid/ associated subject, Post-Grad Diploma in Ergonomics and/ or Back Care Advisor, a defined training/ educators qualification, or a relevant clinical skills qualification to validate ownership of necessary knowledge and skills associated with monitoring and audit of professional practice may apply to assist in the facilitation of such course processes; and
• will be required to continue to regularly update their knowledge and skills after passing their Level 4 course process to demonstrate at least maintenance of previously assessed levels of ability associated with this level of practice.

NB: Tiered membership is proposed within the progressed development of MANAS to reflect the bands of activity, ability etc outlined above. A NMAHM® practitioner register, reflective of levels of practice, ability etc attained will also be developed.