The Royal Society for Public Health has announced the launch of a new Level 2 Award in Infection Prevention and Control aimed at practitioners in Special Procedures. Special Procedures Practitioners are individuals who practice acupuncture, body piercing (which includes the piercing of ears), electrolysis or tattooing.
The qualification has been developed in partnership with the Welsh Government and support of Public Health Wales and Welsh local authorities. This qualification forms part of a response to new licencing requirements for special procedures practitioners which are to be introduced in Wales. The qualification will be an important step in helping to ensure the health and safety of people undergoing these procedures and the practitioners themselves. The qualification is supported by a range of organisations in the sector including the Welsh Government, the West Midlands Skin Piercing and Special Treatment Group, the London Special Treatment Working Group, and the UK’s Association of Professional Piercers.
The qualification itself will be assessed by a multiple choice examination consisting of 30 questions and has been assigned a total qualification time of 7 hours. The qualification specification is available in full here, and centres can now apply to deliver this through our Centre Area, or by contacting the qualifications team.
Richard Burton, RSPH Director of Qualifications, said: “There is a strong demand by practitioners in the industry, as well as environmental health officers, for a unifying standard of infection control. Most customers are not aware that practitioners today are not required to undertake such training, thus they don’t ask for qualifications or paperwork when selecting a practitioner. This is quite shocking considering the practitioner will pierce a person’s skin. This makes it clear that this should be regulated on governmental level. I welcome the new licencing requirement from the Welsh Government, and hope the rest of the UK will follow suit.”
Dr Frank Atherton, Chief Medical Officer for Wales, said: “Our aim has been to improve the regulatory framework so that the standards of the best become the standards of all. The RSPH Level 2 Award provides the essential skills required for practitioners to demonstrate they have been properly trained in hygiene and infection control and are able to provide appropriate aftercare advice to their clients”.
