• Aim

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ understanding of the role of complementary therapies in health and social care and their effectiveness in maintaining health and wellbeing.

• Unit abstract

The aim of this unit is to provide an understanding of the delivery and usage of a range of complementary therapies and in particular to compare this to conventional medicine. Learners will consider the principles behind complementary therapies commonly used in health and social care and will assess the advantages and disadvantages associated with their use.

Learners will analyse the evidence for their benefits to health and wellbeing as well as identify contraindications and health and safety issues in relation to their use. They will also evaluate the effectiveness of regulations in place for different therapies and their practitioners.

• Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit a learner will:

1 Understand the principles behind complementary therapies and their current usage

2 Understand the role of complementary therapies in relation to orthodox treatments

3 Be able to analyse evidence for the efficacy of complementary therapies in sustaining health and wellbeing

4 Be able to carry out an evaluation of the systems for regulating the use of complementary therapies.

Unit content

1 Understand the principles behind complementary therapies and their current usage

Therapies: pharmaceutically mediated eg herbalism, homeopathy; physically mediated eg osteopathy, chiropractic yoga, Alexander Technique; psychologically mediated eg counselling, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy

Treatments: signs and symptoms; processes; frequency; dosage; equipment; materials; agents

Advantages and disadvantages: benefits claimed eg enhancing health, wellbeing; contraindications, intrinsic harm

Unit 18: Complementary Therapies       

 

Unit code: H/601/1635

 

QCF level: 5 

 

Credit value: 15 

       

Access: physical access, financial, referral systems, cultural factors, private sector, public sector

2 Understand the role of complementary therapies in relation to orthodox treatments

Musculo-skeletal: bones, joints, muscles, mobility, pain

Metabolic: digestive and eliminatory processes, dermatological, endocrine functions, immune function, reproductive function

Cardio-respiratory: pulmonary functioning, cardiovascular functioning

Psychological effects: mental health eg stress, depression; learning difficulties eg Attention- Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism

Attitudes: preferred therapies, barriers to use, value

Contraindications: comparison between orthodox treatment and complementary therapy treatments

3 Be able to analyse evidence for the efficacy of complementary therapies in sustaining health and wellbeing

Sources of information: therapy practitioners, health professionals, commercial sources, science, systematic research

Claims: benefits eg cure, amelioration, prevention of signs and symptoms, enhancement of wellbeing

4 Be able to carry out an evaluation of the systems for regulating the use of complementary therapies

Regulation systems: legislation, code of practice, code of ethics, self regulation, complementary therapy practitioner representative umbrella organisations

Effectiveness: minimising risk, benefits, professionalism, developing public understanding, working with orthodox therapies, emerging trends

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria

 

Learning outcomes Assessment criteria for pass

 

On successful completion of The learner can: 

this unit a learner will:   

         

 

LO1 Understand the principles 

1.1explain treatment processes for widely available

 

behind complementary   

complementary therapies

 

therapies and their current  1.2assess the advantages and disadvantages of the

 

usage 

      complementary therapies       

     

1.3analyse factors influencing access to complementary

       

therapies, both locally and nationwide         

 

LO2 Understand the role of 

2.1analyse the role of complementary therapies in relation

 

complementary therapies in   

to orthodox treatments in the care of musculo-skeletal,

 

relation to orthodox   

metabolic and cardio-respiratory needs

 

treatments  2.2evaluate attitudes towards complementary therapies

     

     

2.3assess the psychological effects of complementary

       

therapies

     

2.4compare the contra-indications between orthodox and

       

complementary therapies       

 

LO3 Be able to analyse evidence 

3.1carry out an analysis of the reliability and validity of

 

for the efficacy of   

information sources on complementary therapies

 

complementary therapies in  3.2evaluate evidence which claims the benefits of

 

sustaining health and 

      complementary therapies 

wellbeing   

       

     

3.3make recommendations based on the evidence

       

gathered for the use of complementary therapies within

       

a specific group of users of health and social care

       

services       

 

LO4 Be able to carry out an 

4.1evaluate the effectiveness of current regulation systems

 

evaluation of the systems for   

for the use of complementary therapies

 

regulating the use of  4.2make recommendations, supported by evidence, for

 

complementary therapies. 

      improving regulatory systems for the use of       

       

complementary therapies.         

 

Guidance

Links

This unit has links with, for example:

•Unit 9: Empowering Users of Health and Social Care Services

•Unit 12: Physiological Principles for Health and Social Care

•Unit 16: Understanding Specific Needs in Health and Social Care.

This unit also has links with the National Occupational Standards in Health and Social Care. See Annexe B for mapping.

There may also be links to relevant occupational standards for the practice of complementary therapies.

Essential requirements

It is essential that learners have a good understanding of human physiology and a short overview of this would be useful basis in delivering this unit. Learners also require a basic understanding of treatment and care processes in orthodox medicine.

Learners will need to access a research facility with relevant academic and professional literature which provides information on health care professionals and complementary therapies.

Employer engagement and vocational contexts

This unit would benefit from input from health or care professionals with experience in the use of complementary therapy in health care. Contributions from experienced complementary therapy practitioners would be a further advantage for the learner.