CODE of Practice for TRainers

1.         Introduction

1.1      This document provides the entire basis on which providers of S.C.E.N.A.R. training qualify for registered status with ISTA.

1.2      The objective of this Code of Practice is to provide the general public, those seeking suitable training in the use of S.C.E.N.A.R. devices, further training in S.C.E.N.A.R. practice skills, and ISTA members, with the objective information required to make informed choices about their training and career options.

1.3      The information provided against each Registered Trainer is provided by this Registered Trainer, who warrants the currency, accuracy and veracity of the information. ISTA assumes no responsibility beyond undertaking to reproduce this information accurately and in a format it considers most useful to users of its Website. The exception to this is where somebody is designated an ISTA Trainer in any given area of expertise; in such instances the ISTA Trainer will have qualified for this designation against criteria established for each designation.

1.4      In the event of any reported or discovered breach of the Code of Practice, the Registered Trainer agrees that this should immediately be reported to ISTA via this report button . ISTA also encourages positive feedback, and invites this via the same form. Positive and negative feedback may be listed against any Registered Trainer

2.        Undertakings

2.1      Appropriate training in the use of the S.C.E.N.A.R. device and in S.C.E.N.A.R. therapy for the treatment of a wide range of symptoms is an on-going developmental process. ISTA is developing its recommended course outline, which may at times appear in conflict with the commercial dynamics driving trainers. This is recognised by the Registered Trainer who has undertaken to work closely with ISTA towards developing the ideal training model as defined from time to time.

2.2     ISTA will operate a client-initiated rating system which will show against each Registered Trainer how close it is to the ISTA model.

2.3     The Registered Trainer undertakes to conduct its business in an ethical manner, such being defined as being fair in pricing and inclusive of written materials and clear in presentation.

2.4     ISTA undertakes not to interfere in the legitimate conduct of the Registered Trainer's commercial business; its sole concern remains the delivery of high and appropriate standards of training offered to the general public, students, and actual and potential members of ISTA.

2.5    ISTA undertakes to protect and maintain the good name of S.C.E.N.A.R. and, within the resources available to it, to seek formal recognition of it by the appropriate national, trans-national and international regulatory bodies.

2.6    ISTA for the time being undertakes to provide only guidelines on the core skills-training programme a S.C.E.N.A.R. practitioner needs to undergo in order to qualify for ISTA registration. It will publish and maintain this ideal model via its Website. ISTA retains the right to publish its own training material and provide training in areas that it either considers training inadequate or not provided. All its material and programmes will be made available, against payment of a royalty fee, to all Registered Trainers.

2.7    ISTA is developing a series of specialist and CPD trainings which it will either provide itself, for its membership, or will contract with externally registered trainers to deliver.

3.      The Training

3.1    Training in the use of S.C.E.N.A.R. should be appropriate to the model of equipment purchased by the student / trainee. ISTA recommends that all purchasers of S.C.E.N.A.R. devices be offered foundation training in the format recommended by ISTA.

3.2    ISTA recommends that the training period for somebody without previous medical / healthcare experience should extend over an 18 month period; for those with medical experience between 6 and 12 months. These recommended periods reflect the recognition that S.C.E.N.A.R. therapy is best learned from extensive practice, balanced with a sound grounding in theory. ISTA requires all those seeking membership to have undergone training in Anatomy and Physiology .

3.3    ISTA has requested that Registered Trainers do not award their students with certificates implying that the student has reached a certain level of proficiency as a result of attending one of a series of courses. Rather, students should be furnished with completion certificates for each stage of the recommended training programmes. Registered Trainers will have presented their training courses and materials to ISTA's Training Panel. To accommodate the differing trainings during a transition / equalisation period, ISTA has sought to provide equivalencies between differing Registered Trainer's courses. Elements of training programmes recommended by ISTA, which are not provided by Registered Trainers, will either be provided by ISTA Trainers or will be commissioned from Registered Trainers.

3.4    ISTA currently treats all those who are seeking to become S.C.E.N.A.R. therapists, and make application for ISTA membership, as falling into one of the following categories, providing their training is received from Registered Trainers -

Student             for a period of up to 2 years and while the basis of S.C.E.N.A.R. therapy is being learnt

Associate /       after mastery of the theoretical aspects of S.C.E.N.A.R. therapy and while
International    concentrating on developing practical experience, evidenced by the delivery of

                           case notes for evaluation by their Registered Trainer

Member            on completion of all requirements and an examination at the end of the prescribed

                           minimum training period

3.5     ISTA aims to develop the qualification of Registered International S.C.E.N.A.R. THERAPIST (R.Ista), only obtainable after a public examination, and offering the opportunity to practice anywhere in the world. This is currently in an exploratory phase, which is expected to last until end-2005. CPD requirements, which are insisted upon by most government regulatory bodies, are also under active discussion. Registered Trainers and ISTA will remain in close touch over these developments.

3.6     Where the Registered Trainer is also a supplier, s/he agrees to provide the appropriate level of training without placing a pre-condition on the equipment having been purchased from it.

3.7     The Registered Trainer will offer all those who have taken a fully priced course an opportunity to re-take the same course a number of additional times and at reduced rates. Where the person re-taking the course has in the interim become a member of ISTA, the Registered Trainer will provide this re-training at a special ISTA-rate, such not exceeding 10% of the original cost.

3.8     To encourage trainees to experience different training approaches, Registered Trainers will, as a special concession to ISTA members, permit those, who initially trained with another Registered Trainer, to attend same-level courses at 50% of their usual course cost [discuss further - continuity of training / trainer is at stake here, but see ISTA Training recommendations]

3.9       Registered Trainers will support the early training stages of each of their students by putting in place a mentoring programme, and offering regular review events. They will draw students' attention to the events (where appropriate) of the ISTA Network, in which members agree to host professional get-togethers.

3.10     The Registered Trainer will, as far as is reasonable, be aware of any regulations pertaining to medical treatment in the country of residence of the purchaser, and will draw attention to any such likely provisions. Neither the Registered Trainer, nor ISTA, are expected to take responsibility for a student, having been given due warning about potential local legislation, who wishes to take up S.C.E.N.A.R. practice in his or her country of residence.

4.        Advertising

4.1      The Registered Trainer undertakes not to make misleading claims over the capabilities of S.C.E.N.A.R. devices and therapy.

4.2      The Registered Trainer and ISTA will consult where marketing claims may potentially represent discomfiture to ISTA.

4.3       The Registered Trainer may make reference in his advertising and marketing material that s/he is registered with ISTA and include ISTA's Website address.

5.        Relationship with ISTA

5.1     The Registered Trainer and ISTA are entirely unconnected. No financial benefits accrue to ISTA from the activities of the Registered Trainer, except from the once-off administration fee and an annual registration fee.  Where the training is arranged by ISTA, ISTA will pay the Trainer the going rate for training then applying.

5.2      Registered Trainers are offered the opportunity to establish a link between their listing on the ISTA Website and their own Website(s).

5.3     Any complaints received by ISTA against a Registered Trainer will immediately be brought to the Registered Trainer's attention and a remedy agreed as soon as is possible and were practicable and appropriate. The complaint and remedy may be published in the comments columns on ISTA's Website, or may simply appear in the statistical records maintained against all trainers.

5.4     The Registered Trainer agrees to encourage trainees to become members of ISTA. They also agree to provide their course attendance lists containing full contact details; this it to enable ISTA to follow up and encourage people to join.

5.5     Neither ISTA nor the Registered Trainer have any jurisdiction over the other. The ultimate recourse in the event of irreconcilable differences between the two, is for one or the other to withdraw from the arrangements contemplated under this Code and for the Registered Trainer to become a Listed Trainer, without a link to its Website.

5.6     ISTA undertakes to maintain a strict confidentiality and information-flow controls which will ensure that information exchanged between it and a Registered Trainer, which pertains to the Registered Trainer's business, e.g. lists of attendees on courses and training material, is kept confidential and is not inadvertently revealed to a competitor.

6.       Nature of this Code

6.1     This Code is voluntarily entered into between the Registered Trainer and ISTA; it does not represent a legally binding document.

6.2     In the event of irreconcilable differences emerging, the only recourse available to the Registered Trainer and ISTA is the withdrawal from this Code by the Registered Trainer and its removal from the Registered Trainer list by ISTA. Both parties however view this as an in-extremis measure and undertake to seek to avoid this where at all possible.

6.3     The removal from the list of Registered Trainers will be automatic where the Registered Trainer is found to be in breach of the laws of the country of its residence.

6.4     One of two originals of this Code, duly signed by the Registered Trainer and ISTA, is held on file by each party, together with a copy of the application for registration.