We’ve had a lot of interest in our Level 7 Qualification in Botox and Dermal Fillers but a common question that we hear from our delegates considering this route is:

“Is it true that I will need to have a Level 7 qualification by 2018 to practice Botox and dermal fillers in the UK?”

With lots of opinions flying around on this matter it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of who to believe. In this ever-changing landscape of the thriving aesthetics industry, we are here to provide a transparent, first-hand overview on the current training recommendations in the UK.

So if you’re considering a career in aesthetic medicine but unsure of whether the Level 7 is right for you, continue reading…

What is the Level 7 Qualification?

The Level 7  Qualification is a necessary movement towards a more standardised level of training for medical professionals considering a career in aesthetic medicine or those who are wanting to gain more formal recognition of their skills.

Is the Qualification mandatory and will I need it to practice in the UK by 2018?

With so many providers now offering this qualification we can see how easy it is to start thinking that the Level 7 qualification is in fact mandatory. But in short, it isn’t. At present there is no legal requirement for you to hold a Level 7 Qualification in order to practice Botox and dermal fillers or any other non-surgical aesthetic treatments for that matter.

Although the Department of Health strongly support the recommendations that have been provided by Health Education England (HEE) the Government have not accepted the case for statutory and mandatory regulation in the non-surgical aesthetic sector.

In response to this, the only option was to have an independent council that is devoted to the development and implementation of the guidelines. Therefore key stakeholders within the industry have formed and created the Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) whose aim is to set the standards of clinical and practice proficiency in order to provide a safer patient outcome.

The JCCP are working towards reaching a point whereby all aesthetic practitioners adopt these standards within their practice.

If I don’t complete the Level 7 Qualification will I still be able to continue my aesthetic practice?

Yes. As the qualification is not mandatory you will still be able to continue your aesthetic practice as normal. However, it is worth considering that most major stakeholders including leading insurance providers, independent training establishments and pharmaceutical companies amongst others, are supporting this movement.

In addition to this, if you would like to be registered with the JCCP as a cosmetic practitioner then you will have to provide evidence that you have completed or are working towards an accredited Level 7 Qualification.

Will I still be able to complete one day training courses?

Yes. Independent training providers and pharmaceutical companies will still be offering one day courses so that you can continue to develop your skills and gain CPD points.

Are all Level 7 Qualifications registered?

If you have decided that the Level 7 Qualification is the right option for you then it is important to be aware that not all training providers are offering registered Level 7 Qualifications. In line with the HEE guidelines, in order for a Level 7 to be a recognised qualification it must be OFQUAL registered. We discuss this further in our latest blog ‘What to look for in a Level 7 training provider?

Level 7 Qualification in Botox and Dermal Fillers at Cosmetic Courses

Our Level 7 Qualification has been developed using a multi-faceted approach to your learning to suit all academic styles with a personal approach. It involves a combination of online learning, clinical observations, practical hands-on, mentoring and assessments to provide you with 277 hours of comprehensive learning.

And if you have already started practicing in aesthetics we provide pathways for you to achieve your Level 7 Qualification through recognition of your prior learning.

Contact our friendly team today to discuss your training options and to clear up any questions you may have about your next steps.

Useful resources:

Please note the above is in the development stages and therefore is subject to change.

Now we have seen our fair share of odd cosmetic procedures. From “Bull Semen Hair Conditioner” to fish pedicures but even we had to hide a gasp at this new trend…

Snail facials

Picture of Snail Facial (Source The Guardian)

In the heart of Chiang Mai sits a salon, this salon only homes one treatment for its clients, snail facials.

Known (only until doing research were we made aware…) for their anti-aging benefits, the snails helix aspera muller glycoconjugates (we call it mucus) contains nutrients and antioxidants.

The Snail Facial Treatment…

The treatment involves placing snails on your skin. They are then left to roam around and are only nudged when they go off course.  The treatment lasts for 40 minutes and beauty-goers are told the results are gradual resulting in firmer and softer skin.

As they become accustomed to their new surface they leave behind a trail of mucus. This is something they do when they are stressed. Mixed into the skin, the mucus is said to heal wounds, scars and leave skin glowing.

Before we go any further, please do not go into your garden and stick a snail on your face expecting to look 10 years younger.

Snail facial farm

Luc Champeyroux, co-owner of the snail spa in Chiang Mai inside his snail farm.

These snails are “special snails”. Kept on an organic farm within the clinic and fed only the finest chemical free fruit and veg. They are then handpicked for their starring  moment.

While the treatment itself has only appeared within the last few years. The multi use of snails have been apparent since ancient Greece. With remedies made up to cure skin infections. The french have also developed numerous creams and lotions from these slimy friends in order to achieve a brighter glow, or shall we say “Escarglow”.

The trends stems further than Thailand with Japan, Russia, China and our very own London opening up their own Snail Spas to name a few.

We look forward to seeing how far this treatment progresses. In the meantime, I think we’ll stick to our scientifically proven Neostrata range of skincare products!

Alternative treatments to get that glow

If you’re looking for that Summer glow, but aren’t brave enough to try the Snail facial then we have some great alternatives here at Cosmetic Courses:

  • Microdermabrasion – a deep exfoliating treatment to clear out pores
  • Facial skin peels – a rejuvenating treatment that removes the top layer of dry skin
  • Platelet rich plasma therapy – an intensive treatment that’s completely natural stimulating collagen production

For more information on these treatments please visit our model page. As a model at Cosmetic Courses you have access to the latest skin treatments and products, with the top 300 aesthetic practitioners in the UK but for a fraction of the high street cost. 

Register as a cosmetic model today or call our friendly team to find out more.

On Friday 31st March at 3:40pm you have another chance to see our Medical Director Mr Adrian Richards speak at the Aesthetics Conference & Exhibition (ACE) 2017!

Mr Richards will be speaking in the Business Track Session in the main Exhibition Hall on the topic of:

Aesthetics Conference & Exhibition“Update on Industry Training Recommendations”

“Consultant Plastic Surgeon Mr Adrian Richards will lead this engaging session that will discuss the latest recommendations from the JCCP on regulation and training within the Non-Surgical Aesthetic Industry including the Level 7 Certificate in Injectables for Aesthetic Medicine. The JCCP was established in early 2016, following the release of Health Education England’s guidance for qualification requirements for the delivery of cosmetic procedures. Mr Richards will explore what the developments mean for both experienced aesthetic practitioners and those who are new to the industry.”

How to register your place at the Aesthetics Conference 2017

This is a great chance to rub shoulders with the industry’s finest practitioners. Navigate your way through an array of stalls, live demonstrations and talks. Online registration is now available on the Aesthetics Conference website.

Secure your place at the Aesthetics Conference and Exhibition 2017.  Gain FREE access to the KOL-led masterclasses, live demonstration expert clinics and business track workshops as well as the exhibition floor.

 Venue

The Business Design Centre 

52 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0QH

Travelling by public transport

The Business Design Centre is within walking distance of Angel tube station which services the Northern Line and is also only a short distance from King’s Cross and Euston mainline rail stations which also offer multiple tube services.

Further information on the JCCP and industry  updates

If you are unable to attend ACE 2017 but you would like further information on the JCCP and the latest industry updates subscribe to our newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out. Our recent guide to the Level 7 Qualification in Injectables also provides in depth details on the industry movement towards a more standardised framework of learning and how it can benefit  both new and existing aesthetic practitioners.

After our success at last year’s My Face My Body Awards winning ‘Best Training Program 2015’ we are proud to announce that we are once again finalists for ‘Best Training Program’ 2016.

Over the past year we have been continuously improving the quality of our aesthetic training we provide to our delegates. We offer an ever-increasing variety of cosmetic courses from basic Botox and Dermal Fillers to Chemical Skin Peels and Microsclerotherapy to name just a few. We have also invested in online learning such as our Managing Botox Complications online video series.

As always we pride ourselves on the amount of hands-on practical training we offer to our delegates with all models provided by us covering a wide range of skin types and concerns.

We’d love to be recognised once again for the quality of our aesthetic training program but in order to do this, we need your support!

Our category will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Does your training programme engage with the delegates and is it well received?
  • How much time is allocated to practical hands-on assessment?
  • What level of support do you offer following training such as e-learning, videos or mentoring?
  • Do you offer a full range of training workshops within Aesthetics?
  • Is your training course accredited?

It only takes a few seconds to vote in the My Face My Body Awards. So if you’ve trained with us at Cosmetic Courses and would like to lend us your support, we’d really appreciate it!

How you can vote for us

You can cast your vote on the main My Face My Body Awards. Scroll down to Best Training Program, click in the check box next to Cosmetic Courses, then scroll down to the green ‘Submit Your Vote’ bar.

Alternatively, you can go to our entry page and leave your comments at the bottom of our listing – this also counts as a vote for us, so either way is fine!

About the My Face My Body Awards

The My Face My Body Awards is the premier consumer and industry awards event for the cosmetic industry both in the UK and across the world. They were launched to educate a wider audience about the aesthetic industry and have quickly become one of the most high-profile awards, attended by experts in this field as well as a host of celebrities!

There are even awards for newcomers to the aesthetic industry including Best New Practice. So if you’re just starting out in your aesthetic career, you could set your sights on Best New Practice 2017 and learn from the finalists of this year’s awards to find out what it takes to win one of these prestigious awards.

This year the My Face My Body Awards will be held at the 5* Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, London on Saturday 12th November 2016. There will be a drinks reception, followed by a 3 course meal before dancing the night away in the magnificent ballroom.

As always, our dedicated team of trainers including Clinical Director Mr Adrian Richards himself and our hardworking course co-ordinators will be present on the night, enjoying a well deserved evening of celebrations.

Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page in the coming days. We’ll be putting up some badges soon that will link through to our award entry page. After the awards, we’ll put up some photos from the night too.

In the meantime thanks for your support, and if you can spare a couple of seconds to vote for us, we’d be hugely grateful!

 

Emma Davies, Clinical Director of Save Face, reviews the background to the current regulatory framework in the aesthetics industry, exploring its weaknesses and makes a case for voluntary self regulation for non-surgical cosmetic interventions, based on government reviews, reports and strategic policy.

Introduction

“You are where you are right now because of the actions you’ve taken, or maybe, the inaction you’ve taken.” ― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free.

Why does this topic go round and round? We are faced with an unacceptable and  apparently overwhelming web of political, regulatory, commercial and professional conflicts to unify in order to focus and succeed in protecting public safety.

Background

This field of practice is quite unique.  Though medical in nature, there is no provision, nor ever has been, in the NHS, which has left training provision and standards to evolve organically and without recognised accreditation.  The client base is healthy and treatment is a choice rather than a necessity. Unlike other medical procedures, it is possible to provide these in a variety of venues with relatively low capital cost and overheads.

Because of the association with beauty the vanguard of early adopters commonly provided services in association with beauty salons, chartering new territory without reference to any expert authority to interpret and apply regulation developed with accountable institutions in mind. It is no small wonder, given the exponential growth of the market, and the commercial gains to be made, that providers from a wide variety of backgrounds have exploited the apparent loop holes in legislation and regulation and seized the opportunities to practice with apparent impunity. The resulting diversity of practice and growing accessibility of services, left unchecked for over two decades, has led us where we are today.

Non-surgical cosmetic services may be provided by ANYONE, ANYWHERE and where legislation and regulation are breached, sanctions are not robustly applied and fail to deter.

It is reliably estimated there are some 7000 providers in the UK alone. Approximately 800 belong to professional associations (e.g.BCAM/BACN/BAD) providing influence, guidance and political representation on standards and education related specifically to Aesthetic Medicine. This suggests there are thousands who don’t know what they don’t know and likely do not care.

The Case Against More Statutory Regulation

In 2011 the Prime Minister, in a letter to Cabinet ministers said, “We need to tackle regulation with vigour to free businesses to compete and create jobs, and give people greater freedom and personal responsibility …I want us to be the first Government in modern history to leave office having reduced the overall burden of regulation, rather than increasing it.”

It is quite wrong to complain that this field of practice is entirely unregulated. Every aspect of practice falls under regulation, however the framework is complex, expensive and unable to adapt quickly to new challenges.

“..regulators are frequently unable to make important changes that would allow them to improve their performance, work less bureaucratically, reduce costs to registrants and respond more fairly and effectively to both public and professional concerns. The current legislative framework over-regulates the regulators themselves by constraining their freedom to adapt and modernise.” (DOH, 2011)

The statutory professional regulators are  largely dependant on the cooperation of employers/ providers in managing concerns at a local level, but some 28% of regulated health and social care professionals for whom data is available, work in the private sector, many in a self employed capacity. The regulators are too distant from where the risks arise to be able to act proactively and preventatively in all circumstances and an over reliance on centralised regulation, weakens local responsibility for good governance mitigating risk and managing complaints. (DOH, 2011)

Legislation which applies to our practice isn’t specific to the practice of Aesthetic Medicine which explains the necessity for the layers and devolution of responsibilities, accountabilities, overlap and gaps.

This overlap and duplication of accountability and responsibility leads to confusion and pillar to post reactions to concerns raised. Leaving the individual victim at a loss.  The case of Maria McGinty being one in point. The victim, not equipped or expert in navigating the web of regulations and regulators in place for her protection had nowhere to turn.

Post-Keogh, the government measured the value, cost and impact of instigating and enforcing yet more legislation. It has called upon the regulators (primarily the MHRA, GMC, NMC and GDC) to examine what more they can do in line with the responsibilities they have under statute, and there is an expectation that non-medical, non-prescribing practitioners will (voluntarily) work under the supervision of regulated and accountable practitioners. (DOH, 2014)

National Diversity

“The Destiny of Man is to unite, not to divide. If you keep on dividing you end up as a collection of monkeys throwing nuts at each other out of separate trees.”― T.H. White

In England, The Healthcare Commission charged with inspecting, regulating and auditing the NHS, private healthcare and voluntary organisations, was replaced by The Care Quality Commission in 2009, and in 2010, provision of non-surgical cosmetic services was excluded from the scope, presumably, because its impact was negligible and the cost proved prohibitive.  Like many regulators, their remit is clear, but their scope is diverse; hospitals, care homes, private health services, GPs, dentists. The annual cost to the tax payer is £110M and the CQC will have to be cost neutral by 2016. The £230M annual budget will have to be met by registration fees. (Secretary of State for Health, 2011)

The Public Health Bill (Wales, 2015) proposed licensing for special treatments; tattooing, body piercing, acupuncture and electrolysis. The inclusion of dermal fillers and botulinum toxin at a later date is not completely ‘off the table’ and no new legislation would be required for them to expand the list of ‘special procedures’, but the licensing would be entirely inclusive. (Welsh Government, 2015)

This year (2016) Scotland is implementing regulation for  private clinics where services are provided by healthcare professionals within the scope of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS). The definition of an independent clinic in terms of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978, are clinics that are not part of a hospital and from which a medical practitioner or dental practitioner provides a service, which is not part of the national health service. The term “service” includes consultations, investigations and treatments.  Currently the regulation of any other staff group (eg. beauty therapists) other than those indicated above, is not included in the Bill. (SCIEG, 2015) It is proposed that providers of cosmetic procedures, who are not covered by HIS, will be licensed by local authorities, the details of when and how have not yet been determined. In only including healthcare professionals it patently fails to address the risks and we are likely to see many unintended consequences, detrimental to public health and safety.

The Case for Voluntary Self Regulation

“The principal purpose of regulation of any healthcare profession is to protect the public from unqualified or inadequately trained practitioners. The effective regulation of a therapy thus allows the public to understand where to look in order to get safe treatment from well-trained practitioners in an environment where their rights are protected. It also underpins the healthcare professions’ confidence in a therapy’s practitioners and is therefore fundamental in the development of all healthcare professions.” (House of Lords, 2005)

Everyone had high hopes for a positive change to come from The Keogh Report and there was wide spread disappointment, if not despair once the recommendations and government response were published in July, 2014.

Continuing to call for greater regulation is an emotional rather than an intellectual demand. There is no perfect fix for the risks to the public and the practitioners who treat them. The commercial imperative and market forces will constantly shift and evade any legislation or regulation and budgets, manpower and priorities will always limit the impact of any such regulation.

We may take one of two positions. Either we consider ourselves hopeless and helpless in the absence of further targeted statutory regulation, or we apply ourselves to the gaps and the distance and consider how we might address them through voluntary co-(self) regulation. We must focus on what we can achieve rather than accept defeat and allow the ‘market’ to be driven by the lowest common denominators. Let us take ownership of the SAFE, responsible, credible, ethical and professional and draw a line in the sand between best practice and the shameful headliners, which embarrass and frustrate us.

The ‘distance’ lies between the consumer/patient and the statutory regulators. But also between the unaccountable practitioner ,self employed in private practice, and the regulators. The ‘gaps’ lie in the lack of credible, objective data to inform regulation, the paucity of public and media education and the lack of direct  accountability; of the provider to the patient, when things go wrong.  We need to close the distance and seal the gaps. These are not insurmountable challenges.

A Way Forward

“Success is determined not by whether or not you face obstacles, but by your reaction to them. And if you look at these obstacles as a containing fence, they become your excuse for failure. If you look at them as a hurdle, each one strengthens you for the next.”― Ben Carson, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story.

If nothing else, Keogh and HEE have given us experience of working together and insight into our shared challenges and concerns. Since it now seems unlikely that any of the recommendations will be mandated by statute, there is a real danger that the reality of the current landscape (the public making unsafe choices and unsafe, unethical practice flourishing with impunity) will not improve for the better in any meaningful way.

In February 2011, the Government published the Command Paper ‘Enabling Excellence – Autonomy and Accountability for Healthcare Workers, Social Workers and Social Care Workers’. This document sets out the current Government’s policy on regulation, including its approach to extending regulation to new groups. In particular, it sets out the Government’s policy that, in the future, statutory regulation will only be considered in ‘exceptional circumstances’ where there is a ‘compelling case’ and where voluntary registers, such as those maintained by professional bodies and other organisations, are not considered sufficient to manage the risk involved.

The paper also outlines a system of what is called ‘assured voluntary registration’. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 has implemented a number of the policies described in the Command Paper. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care now has powers to accredit voluntary registers of people working in a variety of health and social care occupations. The idea behind this, to provide assurance to the public that these registers are well run and that they require their registrants to meet high standards.

It is our duty to work towards achieving fit for purpose self regulation. In the select committee report it was recommended  ‘that, in order to protect the public, professions with more than one regulatory body make a concerted effort to bring their various bodies together and to develop a clear professional structure.’ (Stone Report, 2005)

In working towards effective regulation for complimentary and alternative therapies, a federal structure was explored and determined, and we might take inspiration and heart from their journey and success (PFIH, 2006) (House of Lords Select Committee, 2002).

When considering the options for Complimentary Alternative Medicine (CAM) a great deal of work was undertaken, the author has identified a great deal of commonalities  and  rather than ‘reinvent the wheel’, refers the reader directly to the  documents already published, to describe the risks and benefits of a Federal Structure from which to base a sound framework for self regulation in Cosmetic Medicine.

Health Education England published its final report in January 2016 and proposed a new landscape which included; A Joint Council (inclusive of ALL stakeholders) to establish a competent authority to oversee and accredit new education and training standards in line with the proposed educational framework, and an independent register accredited by The Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

Whilst the government support inclusion (of beauty therapists etc), The PSA only regulates registers of health and social care registers, including the statutory bodies. Given that none of the proposals are mandated by legislation, the author would entreat the professional bodies to focus on expediting progress addressing the issues faced by regulated healthcare professionals, primarily that of appropriately accredited education and training. Whether or not progress is made on an inclusive Joint Council, which they may also be part of.

  • A Federation to unify the regulated healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, dentists and prescribing pharmacists) (HEE, 2012) and foster collaboration to minimise duplication of activity and resources.
  • The Professional Associations to represent, educate and support the individual professional groups
  • A single independent register to accredit those who meet the standards set by The Federation- undertaking verification and inspection and providing a direct connect with, and accountability to, the consumer.

Joined up – we have a real chance of educating and supporting patients to make safer choices and strengthen the  credibility of the regulated professionals providing these services.

Save Face, in just over 12 months have demonstrated how much can be achieved with a ‘can do’ attitude. This work and achievement has required significant risk and investment- in excess of £500,000 to date. It has delivered credible standards, published policies, procedure protocols, patient information and consent forms, guidelines and CPD accredited learning to support best practice and mitigate risk. Unlike any other register of non-surgical cosmetic service providers, it verifies each accredited practitioner- registration, training, insurance and CPD and inspects every premises accredited. It provides guidance, information and resources to support best practice standards and most importantly, it encourages and facilitates patient feedback and when concerns are raised or complaints made, it ensures fair and professional resolution.

Ultimately, the consumer drives and shapes the market. Whatever regulation is in place, the public does not fully benefit unless it is well informed and motivated to make safe choices. Website SEO, blogs, engagement on social media, local and national campaigns and working with journalists are all an essential part of this, but behind every story, the offending practitioner must be held accountable to the regulations in place, and made an example of.  Independent of political and professional agendas, Save Face has focussed entirely on the needs of the risk averse consumer. It has strategically invested and acted to build awareness of not only the register, but to rock the assumption that nothing can be changed.

Having examined numerous government reviews and reports, and in particular, The Hampton Review (Hampton, 2004) the author is confident the model Save Face presents is not only fit for purpose, and PSA accreditation will give assurance of that,  but represents the best way forward for regulated healthcare professionals specialising in non-surgical cosmetic practice. There is great potential for real progress if only we all joined forces and harmonised from a single hymn sheet rather than singing individual tunes to smaller audiences.

 

POSITION: Aesthetic Trainer

DEPARTMENT: Cosmetic Courses

LOCATION: Based principally in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire but will be required to travel.

JOB PURPOSE: To train the Cosmetic Course delegates from a basic to advanced level and support them where needed through their aesthetic career. To work with the team where needed to update current courses and introduce new techniques.

JOB DUTIES:

  • Teach and mentor the Cosmetic Courses delegates to the highest standard which meets with both the delegate and company’s expectations.
  • Introduce new courses and produce new course literature if needed.
  • Secures patient/delegate information and maintain patient confidence by completing and safeguarding medical records; keeping patient information confidential.
  • Have the drive to encourage delegates to return for further training and to progress in their career.
  • Verifies patient information by consulting patient; recording medical history; confirming purpose of treatment.
  • Maintains safe, secure, and healthy work environment by establishing and following standards and procedures; complying with legal regulations.
  • Serves and protects the Cosmetic Courses practice by adhering to professional standards, policies and procedures, federal, state, and local requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS:  Experienced aesthetic practitioner with at least 3 years in practice, prescriber, teaching background is preferable.

SKILLS: Strong verbal communication, computer literate, good team member, infection control, creating a safe, effective environment, organisation skills, scheduling, professionalism, customer focus, confidentiality, bedside manner, business acumen, excellent team member.

If you are interested in applying for this position with Cosmetic Courses then please email [email protected] with your CV.

 

The Importance of Business Insurance

Regardless of the size and industry type, all businesses will deal with risk on a daily basis. Business insurance is there to help you manage these risks and keep the costs of any unexpected risk or accidents to a minimum. Examples include theft, fire, accidental damage and equipment breakdown to name a few. Those that choose not to take out business insurance risk losing their business should the worst happen.

Business insurance is made up of a group of insurance coverages that are in place to protect the business against work related risks and lawsuits. Within the Aesthetic Industry, the following insurances need to be considered:

– Public Liability Insurance

– Employers Liability Insurance

– Professional Indemnity Insurance

– Medical Malpractice Insurance

Public Liability Insurance:

As a business owner, you can be liable for all kinds of accidents to either the property or a member of the public. Public Liability Insurance is there to protect your business against any costs of defending or settling claims for property damage of bodily injuries to a member of the public, including trips, falls and slips. This type of insurance is for businesses who have customers visit their premises or if they visit customers in their own homes and for those that employ members of staff.

Employers Liability Insurance

Your employees are one of your greatest investments, and as an employer you have an obligation to provide safe working conditions for them to work in. Employers Liability Insurance is there to protect your business against any employee claim, whether that is a bodily injury or Illness caused by the work your employees do for you.

Who needs Employers Liability Insurance?

In order to safeguard all employees in the UK, it’s a legal requirement* for most businesses with employees to have at least £5 million of cover in place. If you’re self-employed, liability insurance will also, in most cases, be a legal requirement if you employ one or more people.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Also know and ‘PI’ insurance, this can help to protect your business if there is a claim made against the work that you have done for a client. PI will offer you cover if you need to pay compensation to correct a mistake, and cover your legal costs if you are settling a claim including; negligence, infringement of property rights and breach of confidence.

Medical Malpractice Insurance

This Insurance is designed for anyone working within the healthcare industry, and provides public liability and professional indemnity cover to safeguard claims of negligence and medical malpractice.  This cover will cover you for legal costs of defending action as well as bodily and mental injury and illness cover.

Insurance Providers

Here at Cosmetic Courses, we work with a number of insurance companies who will be more than happy for you to contact them if you’re looking at, or have decided to have a career within the aesthetic industry.  The medical professionals that we train will already be aware of the necessary insurances that will be needed to ensure they are covered, but will incur extra charges when mentioning that they wish to start in the aesthetic industry. Here is a little more information on the insurances companies that will be more than happy to discuss your needs:

HPPB: cosmetic courses hppb logo

Cosmetic Courses are proud to partner with Healthcare Professional Protect (HPPB) to offer our delegates comprehensive packages of support and insurance for aesthetic treatments. Giving you protection and support at a fixed price. 

Once you have completed your training it is time to obtain your insurance. HPPB have teamed up with an underwriter at Lloyds of London to offer competitive fixed price insurance based on the treatments you perform. You can apply through their online application process by clicking here. 

As a member of the Healthcare Professional Protection family you will have access to 24/7 advice and support from peers and their specialist claims handlers with decades of experience in protecting healthcare professionals.

HPPB are specialists in supporting practitioners through every sort of complaint or claim if things go wrong.

They believe that you should not be harried by complaints of dissatisfaction which are more related to a desire to reduce costs. HPPB care about all aspect of the cost of complaints and claims.

Website: www.hppb.co.uk/healthcare-professional-protection

If you would like to find out more about how you can get in contact with any of the above insurance companies, or you would like to discuss anything mentioned with any of our team, please call 01844 390110 or email [email protected]

With recent ‘cowboy’ practitioners making major headlines over the past few weeks, it’s no wonder that the aesthetic industry is back in the spotlight.  It has become apparent that there is a slight ‘grey’ area in standards for practitioners and the level of care given to patients, both pre and post treatments, for both surgical and non-surgical. In this blog we explore the 7 essential standards when providing cosmetic procedures by the General Medical Council.

Establishments such as SaveFace and the Safety in Beauty Awards, are working hard to ensure reputable practitioners and clinics are recognised for their contribution to following best practice and industry standards. They have been campaigning for standards within this industry to be tightened up and enforced to ensure patients who put their faith in what they believe is a trusted practitioner to not be disappointed with their results. These concerns were initially raised by Professor Sir Bruce Keoghs in his 2013 Cosmetic Industry Review, as well as the Scottish Cosmetic Interventions Expert Group over the years.

It appears that their cries are finally being heard, and action is being taken. As from the 1st June 2016, the General Medical Council (GMC) are setting out 7 essential standards that need to be adhered to by any Doctor who offers surgical or non-surgical treatments to patients.

The standards will be set out within a guidance document, detailing ethical obligations and standards that practitioners will need to meet, as well as advising the best way to meet these standards.

The 7 essential standards when providing cosmetic procedures advice to be included will be along the lines of the following:

  • Seeking your patients consent – It will be your responsibility as a practitioner to discuss the cosmetic procedure with the patient giving them all the information that they require to make an informed decision. This cannot be delegated to another member of staff, and it is best practice to offer all your patients a consultation period before booking any treatment.
  • Give your patients reflection time – Patients must have enough time to reflect and assess  if their chosen procedure is the right choice for them. This is why a consultation period and break before the treatment is advised.
  • Consider your patients psychological needs – consider your patients vulnerabilities and be certain that they are going into having the procedure voluntarily and have not been forced.
  • Work within your competency levels – recognising your limits, asking for advice or referring the patient to a colleague with the correct skill set will ensure no repercussion in the future post treatment.
  • Up to date training – ensure that you are up to date with the latest techniques and undertake any relevant training courses.
  • Providing all information to your patient – this includes written information, support networks and aftercare advice.
  • Marketing your services – no promotional tactics will be able to be used to entice patients to make drastic decisions. Any advertising must be clear and factual.

Fiona Website profileRegarding the above guidance standards, our Aesthetic Trainer, Dr Fiona Durban thinks this is a step in the right direction “The GMC has simply defined standards of practice we should all currently be following. Practitioners should be self-directed in their learning in order that they are up to date with current best practice for procedures they perform. This also needs to be demonstrated for part of appraisal and revalidation. We should all be offering an initial consultation where treatments with our patients can be planned, their suitability assessed (including any psychological vulnerability) and information given. Consent should never be delegated to others.  This guidance I hope is another step towards the profession demanding high standards of care and best practice”

Cosmetic Courses is able to offer you any training requirements that you may need, as well as advice and support in ensuring that you are ready for these standards coming into force on 1st June 2016.

If you would like any advice on the 7 essential standards when providing cosmetic procedures, or refresher training, drop us an email to [email protected] or call the team on 01844 390110.

With so many things to consider when setting up on your own, one of the most important is to think about the structure of your business. This will determine the tax structure that you will be operating in going forward.

To help you to be able to make an informed decision, we have taken the most popular structures and looked at the pro’s and con’s for each one.

Sole Trader

Sometimes known as “one man bands,” a Sole Trader is a business that’s run by one person, who takes full control, responsibility and makes all the decisions. This structure can also be referred to as a micro business due to its size, and is used by many skilled tradesman such as electricians, plumbers and decorators to name a few.

This structure will need to yearly account for all sales, expenses and profits for any income tax and National insurance.  VAT will also need to be paid if the businesses yearly turnover exceeds the limits that have been set by HMRC.

Advantages and disadvantages with this structure include the following:

Full control

You would have full control over the daily and strategic planning and operations of the business and the size and rate in which you would wish for it to grow.  However, this has it’s pitfalls in that you will be solely liable for any business failures, debts and other liabilities.

Easy to set up

Cosmetic Courses;picture showing account and financeThe process to register is quick and easy as it would only be yourself that you would need to declare. You would need to inform the Inland Revenue that you are self -employed within three months of starting up. Failing to do this could result in penalties and charges.

Less regulations and start-up costs

There is less paperwork needed for a sole trader than there is for the other structures.  You would need to fill in an annual self-assessment tax return form to the Inland Revenue each financial year. All financial information would be private and would not have to be registered to companies house at the end of each year as is with limited companies and you would not need to register your company.

No management or staffing required

As you would be working on your own, any profit made would not need to be split between anyone else.  As great as this sounds, it is important to remember that your income will stop if you do. You will need to factor in your earnings if you decide to take holidays and plan for what would happen if you were suddenly taken ill. Critical illness insurance is available but it would be worth checking to see how long you would need to be off work for before this would take effect.

Lower accounting costs

As there is less work to undertake due to this being a personal tax return, accountants tend to charge less. A profit and loss account would need to be completed for the accountants to check, and it is advised to create a balance sheet and cash flow statement to help you control and manage the cash flow of your business on a regular basis.

Partnership

This is an agreement between two or more people to operate a business. Each partner has a proportion of or equal amount of shares with the same authority to run the business, and should be involved in the day to day operations and decision making.  With any decision made, each partner will be held equally responsible. You can enter into a partnership with anyone, but it is advised to have an impartial lawyer draw up a partnership agreement for everyone to sign, and a business agreement can be created to protect you and the business should someone choose to leave in the future.

Advantages and disadvantages of a partnership

They are easy to establish

Partnerships are easy to establish, but to ensure that everyone involved has a clear direction on their individual roles. It is best practice to draw up a partnership agreement. Within this agreement you can determine the processes and course of action for any scenario including; what would happen if a partner dies, if one of more members of the partnership wishes to dissolve the partnership, as well as how the business will be financed.

Easy to raise funds

Unlike a sole trader, the ability to raise funds is increased. The members within the partnership may be able to contribute more, or the borrowing capacity maybe slightly greater.  With this, any profit that is made must be split between all the partners. However, tension can be created if there is one partner who has put in less time than others, and this will need to be taken into consideration at the time of setting up the business.

Broader set of skills

Each individual will have certain strengths and skills to help drive the business forward. Just remember that when it comes to expanding or growing the business, some partners may or may not be prepared to take risks. This may cause a slow decision process and friction within the partnership, and can make the business not as flexible as it could be.

Limited Companies

Cosmetic Courses ; image showing Weighing scalesA limited company allows the person setting up the business to keep their own assets and finances separate from the business  along with a separate bank account.  This means that if the aesthetic business was ever in a position where it needed to terminate trading, you should not have to use you own personal belongings to pay off any outstanding debts.

There are two types of limited companies to choose from:

Public Limited Company (PLC) – companies that allow members of the public to invest in the company and buy part of the business (known as shares).  Any profits and losses made for the company must be made public on the Stock Exchange. There must be at least two directors of the business to be able to trade as a PLC.  Generally, this is for very large business with a turnover of £20 million.

Private Limited Company (LTD) – can be run with one director, but differ to a PLC in that they cannot trade shares publically. These types of business are normally family run or business partners looking to run a business and wanting the protection that a limited company gives over a partnership.

Both private and limited companies must be registered with Companies House to be able to legally start trading. Each company will be taxed on its trading profits and where relevant will pay VAT on its products and services.  The director or directors take full control of the running of the business and any person that has bought shares within the company (known as shareholders) help to fund the business and reap the rewards of any profits that are made. It is important to note that that under The Companies Act 2006 , a director cannot be under the age of 16.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Limited Companies include:

Financial security

Any debts accrued by the either a PLC or a limited Company should not fall to the Director the business to pay with any personal belongings. The shareholders become liable according go the levels of their investment (how many shares they own). For a limited company, it is important to remember that there is a restriction on the raising of capital when it comes to selling shares, as they are only available if someone wishes to invest in the shares.

Separate entity

A big plus for limited companies is that they will be able to exist beyond the life of its original members, as they are run and function as a separate entity. Employee security can be ensured with this, but there can sometimes be disputes between directors and shareholders of public companies when it comes to decision making for the business.

Don’t always need office premises

When you start out your limited company, your funds will more than likely be limited and a big office space is something at the present time that would not be needed. Until your business expands, you can run it from the comfort of your own home, and then claim back a proportion of the cost of heating, lighting and electricity from your business.  The accounting for any limited company is more complicated than those of a sole trader with many different documents legally required to be kept up to date throughout the year. These can be difficult to understand, time consuming and costly, but they are essential.

Ownership and Control

Directors of Private Limited Companies are normally the main shareholders, leaving both the ownership and control in their hands. Decisions can be made quickly and effectively, but it can be difficult to know what the best option is when faced with a difficult decision, and mistakes and obstacles can occur. Public Companies don’t have it so easy. There can sometimes be disputes between directors and shareholders of when it comes to decision making as ideas and direction can vary between each individual. Further sales of shares can lead to more investors, with a counter balance of there being more people that are involved in any decision making and having to keep happy. Decision making therefore can be slow, and time consuming.

Cosmetic Courses; image showing The Right KeyMaking the right decision for your aesthetic business

There is not right or wrong choice when it comes to deciding on the type of business you want to be.  Each type has their differences, advantages and disadvantages which all need to be taken in to consideration.

To ensure you make the right decision for you we advise that you:

Conduct more research on all of the structures – gather as much information as possible to help you be certain of your choice.

Seek advice – if you find yourself with information overload, or you’re still not sure, you can make an appointment with a business manager at your local bank, or with an accountant who can give advice on what they think would be the best option for you.

Our team can offer support for you and your business after completing one of our courses. If you would like to find out more information on the courses that we offer, please call the team on 01844 3901101 or drop us an email; [email protected] 

You can also enroll on our online business course to further your knowledge here! 

After supporting MacMillian last year with a coffee morning at head office, we decided it’s about time with supported another cause.

In 2016 we’re supporting both Against Breast Cancer with the return of our bra recycling scheme and Cancer Research UK by participating in our very first team entry into the Race for Life 5k alongside our sister companies Aurora Clinics and Aurora Skin Clinics.

Bin your bra for Breast Cancer!

Against Breast Cancer logo | Cosmetic Courses For those of you that have been to our Head Office in Buckinghamshire, you might  remember seeing a bin for your bras in our reception area in October 2014. We supported    the Bin your Bra campaign for Against Breast Cancer, and had such a good response that    we decided to bring back the bra recycling scheme for 2016.

Why recycle your bras?

For every tonne of bras received, Against Breast Cancer receive £1,000 to go towards vital research for better detection and increased survival rates after breast cancer diagnosis. Your unwanted bras will go towards helping small businesses in Africa where the materials from these bras can be sold by traders locally. This type of recycling keeps many people both out of unemployment and more importantly out of poverty.

Cosmetic Courses; picture showing oour Bin your bra bank at The Paddocks Clinic in BuckinghamshireIf you’ve had a breast augmentation, a breast reduction or simply fancy having a clear out of your unwanted bras then please don’t just throw your bra into any bin! Throw it into our bra recycling bin!

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far.  If you’ve got an appointment scheduled at The Paddocks Clinic in the next few weeks or are attending a course with us and would like to help, please feel free to bring in your bras and help us to fight breast cancer!

Race for Life – Aylesbury and Falkirk 5K

All the ladies at Cosmetic Courses and our sister companies Aurora Skin Clinics and Aurora Clinics are joining forces to raise money for Cancer Research UK by joining the #PinkArmy. A total of 17 of us have entered the Aylesbury Race for Life and 6 of our colleagues across the border the Falkirk Race for Life!

Almost every member of our team has been affected by cancer in some way. So by coming together and raising money for such a great cause hopefully we can go some way to beating cancer once and for all.

Do you want to join the #PinkArmy?

We’d love to see you there as part of the Pink Army, running or walking alongside the Aurora team or simply cheering us on. If you’d like to join us in beating cancer then the dates and venues are as follows:

Aylesbury 5KSunday 15th May at 10:30am Venue:Waddesdon Manor, Silk Street, Waddesdon, HP18 0JY

Falkirk 5K: Sunday 12th June at 11:00am Venue: Callendar Park, Callendar Road, Falkirk, Central, FK1 1YR

How can you donate?

Race for life logo | Cosmetic CoursesWe would really appreciate any donation towards our Race for Life. You can do this in person when you pop into clinic either at The Paddocks Clinic in Princes Risborough or The Gatehouse Clinic in Northampton.

Alternatively you can visit our Just Giving page, where you can donate online. It only takes a few minutes and we would really appreciate the support towards such a fantastic cause.

Remember every donation, big or small, can help us save more lives!