Ensuring Quality of Professional Practice and Standards in Equine Facilitated Interactions
Anyone in the UK seeking to engage with practitioners of Equine Facilitated Interactions can now choose from providers belonging to a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care, an independent statutory body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
The register, established by the Athena Herd Foundation (“Athena®”), was awarded Quality Mark/accredited by the Professional Standards Authority in January 2024.
Athena’s Accredited Practitioner Register™ has been established to:
- create and maintain professional ethics and standards that prioritise the health and wellbeing of clients and the public and protect them from harm or injury;
- promote and maintain client confidence and public credibility in the benefits of Equine Facilitated Interactions and the delivery thereof;
- provide a clear definition of professional standards required to support the delivery of Equine Facilitated Interactions;
- maintain ongoing compliance with these standards by all Registered Practitioners (PSA).
Athena’s register has been accredited under the Accredited Registers programme. Registered Practitioners on Athena’s register will be able to display the Accredited Register Quality Mark, a clear sign that they belong to a register which meets the Authority’s robust standards.
Jennifer Geach, Co-founder and Director of Athena® said:
“This is an exciting development for the Equine Facilitated Interactions practitioner marketplace, it is the first regulated register accredited by the Authority that involves the direct use of animals to deliver therapeutic and wellbeing services. Practitioner use of the PSA’s Quality Mark will give extra peace of mind to anyone looking to engage with the service, letting them know that anyone who holds the Quality Mark is committed to high standards. Athena® is pleased to offer the Quality Mark to practitioners that meet the far-reaching standards of the Register, as approved by the Professional Standards Authority.”
Alan Clamp, Chief Executive of the Professional Standards Authority said:
“We are very pleased to accredit Athena Herd Foundation’s register of practitioners. Bringing practitioners into a broad framework of assurance is good for clients, service users and the public and is the best way to promote quality. The programme offers enhanced consumer protection to anyone looking for health and social care services and gives practitioners the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to good practice.”
Accreditation does not imply that the Authority has assessed the merits of individuals on the register, this remains the responsibility of Athena. It does not mean that the Authority has endorsed a particular practice or therapy, so people will need to consider the information provided and decide if it is suitable for them.
Accreditation means that Athena’s Accredited Practitioner Register™ meets the Authority’s high standards in governance, standard-setting, education and training, management of the register, complaints handling and information. Accredited Registers encompass a growing range of occupations and organisations, and the Authority may accredit more than one register in any particular occupation.
The Accredited Practitioner Register aims to serve the entire Equine Facilitated Interactions and Equine Assisted Services market and as such is open to all practitioners.
To find out more about the Register and how to apply for membership, please visit https://athenaherd.org/accredited-practitioner-registers/ or email info@athenaherd.org.