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Welcome to the RAMP Hub to answer your queries and keep you up to date with industry matters.

RAMP Report IRVAP Conference 2023

Jo Paul - RAMP President - Forging The Future of the Neuro-Musculoskeletal Industry

Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP) is an industry regulatory body for Chiropractors, Osteopaths and Physiotherapists in Animal Practice. It has recently been recognised as such by DEFRA.

Defra see’s RAMP as a voluntary industry regulator as there is currently no statutory regulator for activities undertaken by animal musculoskeletal practitioners either in the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and the Veterinary Surgeons Exemption Order 2015, but it does have provisions in place that mean members are accountable to RAMP in case of malpractice, even if you have no legal powers of enforcement.

RAMP was founded to address the issues highlighted in the 2015 RMPR project (https://www.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/report-to-defra-on-the-review-of-minor-procedures-regime-and/) which found that there was confusion within the public and other professions regarding types of practitioners and qualifications in the animal MSK industry.

This led to DEFRA advising that industry would need to find a solution before they could address the unworkable legislation currently in place.

The solution is RAMP.

RAMP have set professional standard based on the human statutory regulatory bodies of the Health and Care Professions Council, the General Chiropractic Council and the General Osteopathic Council and educational standards to align with pre-registration courses in human care which is RQF level 6 or BSc level education including 1000 practical hours. These standards are familiar to all industry stakeholders and easily understood therefore accepted.

Once on the register each practitioner must complete an annual renewal submitting a minimum of 25 reflective CPD hours and evidencing current valid indemnity insurance. RAMP carry out an audit of 5% of registrants each year.

RAMP also host a complaints function on the website and have a comprehensive investigatory process in place which functions to look at all complaints independent of any Professional Association.

RAMP work with the UK Higher education institutions and education providers to help build an infrastructure to ensure there is appropriate education available for those wishing to register with RAMP on graduation.

RAMP do the due diligence for the veterinary industry and owners by publishing a register of practitioners reaching RAMP gold standard and give somewhere to complain to anyone who feels best practice has not been delivered. RAMP would urge veterinary surgeons to encourage practitioners to join the RAMP register when they ask for referrals as then they can be sure the standards set by RAMP are being met.

RAMP is currently a voluntary regulator and those who are eligible should be willing to volunteer for scrutiny from an independent and impartial industry regulator.

RAMP had their stand at the IRVAP Conference 2023 as well as presenting an updated RAMP Report to all those attending. This is highlighted above.

2023 London Vet Show (LVS) 17.11.23

Invited Speakers at the LVS for RAMP

Left to right - Diane Messum, Jo Paul, Emma Fretwell, Barbara Houlding, Julia Brooks, Lucinda Stott, Sally Charlton,

RAMP Question & Answers

Q1. What is the significance of RAMP being an industry regulator recognised by DEFRA?

JP: Anyone can set up an Industry Regulatory Body (IRB). IRBs set standards, create policies and procedures for the industry to follow and ensure their registrants reach and maintain these standards. The significance of the latest RAMP news is that DEFRA have recognised RAMP as a regulatory body fulfilling this function. This gives the organisation credibility and encourages other veterinary industry stakeholders to work with RAMP.

Q2. Do I have to be a member of RAMP or any other IRB to practice? JP: No, you don’t need to be a member of any IRB or RAMP as there is currently no statutory regulation in place in animal care as there is in human care. RAMP is a voluntary IRB which means you do not need to be registered but if you are you prove you are willing to have your practice monitored by and impartial and independent organisation.

Also, the more eligible practitioners that join RAMP, the louder our voice is at government level and more likely we are to get a change to sensible legislation that protects animal welfare and allows each profession to flourish.

Q3. I am a member of a Professional Association (PA) who set standards of practice, does that not mean I am regulated? JP: No. Your PA set standards and should provide you with CPD options, mentoring and networking opportunities. They are there to support you as a practitioner. However, if there was a complaint against you the PA would find it difficult to be both defence and prosecution and any investigation may be seen as biased. An IRB exists to protect the public and any investigation is impartial regardless of what PA you belong to. Therefore, your standards of practice are seen to be monitored more robustly giving the veterinary industry and public more confidence in MSK practice.

Q4: I am not sure what RAMP as an IRB does for me? JP: RAMP represents its registrants who come from 12 Pas. This means RAMP can represent the views of a whole industry of professionals to government, insurance and education industry to improve opportunities for its registrants but also the industry as a whole.

Q5: Why do RAMP only register the three professions of Chiropractic, Osteopathy and Physiotherapy JP: The honest answer is resources. RAMP is run by a voluntary council on a very tight budget. We simply do not have the resources to include other professions. This does not mean other professions cannot have an IRB it just means it is not currently RAMP.

Q6: Will there be a time when other professions will have an IRB?

JP: There is little point in RAMP regulating the three professions if the rest of the industry are not regulated in some way. Doubtless when the Veterinary Surgeons Act is revamped something will have to happen and RAMP do have some thoughts that can be put forward. However, the best advice I can offer is that PAs in other disciplines get together an decide on your own industry standards in readiness for some sort of regulation.

Q7: How can I tell if I reach RAMP entry criteria?

JP: The easy way is to look on the RAMP website www.rampregister.org if you have completed a listed AEP course then you are eligible if you have appropriate insurance and CPD hours in place. If your course is not assessed by RAMP then we will need the course module specifications to map the course you have done and tell you if you meet criteria. Not all BSc or level 6 course provide the necessary practical (1000) hours.

If you are entering via the pathway route, then you should contact RAMP prior to submitting an application, once you submit your application it is non-refundable regardless of outcome. We have a transparent mapping system which was externally audited by ECCTIS via the Office of Professional Qualifications which we follow to map your specific qualifications (you can get a copy of this by contacting info@rampregister.org. You need to provide the module specifications and any level 4 course and above that you may have completed. For entry purposes the program needs to have an academic learning level awarded by an OFQUAL recognised awarding body. The RAMP education team will advise you if you meet criteria and if not what you can do to work towards gaining enough credits to apply.

We cannot accept CPD courses with no verified academic learning level or work experience as credits. Once you are on the register CPD education needs to be relevant but does not need a verified academic learning level.

Q8: I have years of experience and a practice in animal MSK work but did not have the opportunity to complete enough formal education to meet RAMP Pathway criteria, can I join RAMP? JP: If you were in practice prior to September 2021 you can apply via the RPEL route. This is a portfolio-based application that can be assessed against industry standards. This is assessed by an educational specialist who is paid to independently assess your portfolio therefore there is an increased fee for this application currently £350.

Q9: I don’t quite reach the educational entry criteria, what can I do? JP: RAMP is working with education providers to provide courses that have academic learning levels and provide top up education. The hope is these opportunities will increase in the next few years and they can be completed as normal CPD with the added bonus of adding to your credits to join RAMP.

You can also teach or volunteer assistance on any of the Ofqual accredited relevant courses as RAMP will credit you with the hours as if you were a student on the program or you can claim hours for practical work completed on research programmes.

Q10 What does RAMP spend money on and will RAMP prices go up? JP: RAMP has held its pricing for automatic entry and renewal since the beginning in 2017 to give everyone the opportunity to jump on. The increase in demand for RAMP to take an active part in promoting the register, engaging legal advice, attend meetings and events and supporting the registrants means the prices will have to increase at some point.

As a not-for-profit organisation RAMP spend all the income on running the organisation with only one paid part time administration officer. The rest of the work is done by our voluntary Council members who all have their own practices to run, as RAMP expands this policy may have to change as the work involved is growing exponentially.

Q11: I know of a RAMP registered practitioner who I do not think delivers best practice, I am not sure that it is valuable to join RAMP. JP: If you feel a RAMP registrant has delivered poor care then RAMP encourages you to make a complaint. This is the only way we can identify those who reach academic criteria but do not maintain practice standards. In this way RAMP can drive standards up by supporting practitioners to work with their PAs/ mentors to raise their standard of care or be removed from the register.

Q12: What is the relationship between me, RAMP and my PA? RAMP and your PA should have good communications for RAMP to inform what the rest of the industry is doing and keep the PA updated on any regulatory changes, and for the PA to convey the thoughts of their members and any issues they would like RAMP to consider. They may also be involved in any complaint lodged regarding one of their members when appropriate.

The PA should support you in your career development as RAMP registration is the minimum standards you should work to, also the PA can help you develop your skills and professional practice. RAMP is there to independently verify you reach minimum industry standards and that you at least maintain these standards giving the rest of the veterinary stakeholder’s confidence in regulated NMSK practitioners.

Q.13 Is a change of legislation to allow autonomous practice for NMSK practitioners a possibility? JP: RAMP would like to believe it is and are working to this aim, but only for RAMP regulated practitioners. We are working towards statutory regulation most likely to involve the RCVS.

However, we need to prove we can competently regulate the professions in animal care. RAMP have spent the last few years evidencing their standards and policies are fit for purpose in providing competent voluntary regulation. DEFRA now acknowledge RAMP are filling a space as an industry regulatory body. The next step is to encourage all eligible practitioners to prove they are willing to be regulated by joining RAMP. We can then evidence we are professionals willing to be responsible to an industry regulator.

Q14: What are RAMP aims? JP:

• To ensure animal welfare by providing a register of professionals who can be trusted to deliver safe and effective care.
• To reassure veterinary industry stakeholders that the NMSK professions have an independent IRB with transparent standards and protocols.
• To provide competent industry regulation.
• To encourage quality education provision to enable graduates to gain RAMP eligibility.
• To gain autonomous practitioner status for RAMP regulated practitioners.
• To push up standards of education and practice.
• To gain statutory regulation for the three professions.
• To gain Protection of title for statutory regulated practitioners.
• To empower regulated practitioners to develop the professions.

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November 2023

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November 2021