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There has been excellent progress in our registrants use of Caerus to revalidate in 2015. 69% had submitted their applications by the end of February compared to 10% in 2014. 79% used Caerus, 21% the hard copy Word form.

Play Therapy UK has learnt valuable lessons from the use of Caerus and our registrants’ feedback over the last 12 months. Caerus was originally developed to make the revalidation process more efficient. It has now become obvious that it is the basis of a good record management, reporting and learning tool, which will make it more useful for our registrants. This will be the main driver of future development. There will be only very minor changes for 2016, but we are planning major improvements for you in 2017/18. Please be patient.

The progress upon meeting the new levels of attainment is also most encouraging: 55% of registrants attained the full status; two thirds of the 44% attaining the minimum level met the requirements in three out of four of the sections. The minimum level is that required to meet the PSA standards applied to the accreditation of our register. Less than 1% are in danger of being removed from the Register through failing to meet the minimum standards. These Registrants are being giving a suitable period of time and support to meet the required standards.

The future in the regulation of health and social care is exciting. The accreditation of our Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists by the Professional Standards Authority is a milestone, an important one, but not the whole journey.

Play Therapy UK took part in a recent seminar run by the PSA reviewing the progress and future of Right Touch Regulation. This was attended by State Regulators, the HCPC and a few Accredited Registers. It was heartening to hear that the policies introduced by PTUK in 2014, position us at the forefront of developments across all health and social professions.

Right Touch Regulation (RTR) is a way of thinking – not a set of rules. It is ‘RIGHT’ not ‘LIGHT’ and can be heavy in its demands, at the right time, as we in PTUK know. Proportionality does not mean ‘light’ – but what is necessary to do the job, which may sometimes entail a lot of work, as again we recognise. An important factor is the quantification of the risks to improve the management of them. It is difficult to identify a problem unless we know what’s going on so we need to collect data. The RTR practitioner combines clinical, professional and communication skills.

The PSA standards will change so PTUK policies will change accordingly. The first one to change will be Standard 9 Education and Training. We have been closely involved in these consultations and in PTUK’s 2015 revalidation we trialled the proposed new requirements to help the PSA. Don’t worry! These changes are very unlikely to affect any of our registrants.

Monika Jephcott introduced Dr Joyce Mills who gave the keynote address at this years PTUK conference. She is the world’s ‘guru’ in generating therapeutic metaphors and this was received with rapturous applause. Joyce also presented an afternoon workshop.

Over the years Joyce has developed a unique training model called ‘STORYPLAY’ which she has adjusted to a new 7 day Post Qualifying course to meet Play Therapy UK’s and Play Therapy International’s registrants’ needs. This exciting new programme was launched at the conference.

This year’s conference, held at Stoneleigh Abbey, Kenilworth, achieved a record attendance – 620 delegate days, over the week. The plenary session, with over 200 attendees was completely sold out. We were sorry that some had to be turned away. We have now reached a size where it is difficult to find a venue that is cost effective for 300 delegates, so we are initially restricting applications for our 2016 event to PTUK registrants.

Monika’s address at this year’s PTUK conference concluded with a Play Therapy International award to Jeff Thomas for his outstanding contribution to the profession over a number of years. Previous recipients include: Violet Oaklander, the eminent child and adolescent psychotherapist and Camila Batmanghelidjh, CBE, best known as the founder and chief executive of Kids Company and Monika herself in 2001.

The Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APAC) is the only training provider accredited by Play Therapy UK to provide entry to the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

APAC announce two new venues for the Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills and The Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy:

• Stoneleigh Abbey, Kenilworth. Ideally placed for Birmingham, Coventry and all of the West Midlands, with easy motorway access – first course started June 2015
• Ennismore Retreat Centre, Cork, Ireland – first course started 10th of July 2015 (now Carnloch Court)

This brings the number of APAC course venues to 10 in the UK, 3 in Ireland and 6 overseas.

Monika Jephcott opened the plenary session with an inspiring address. She spoke spontaneously from her heart showing her passion for helping as many children as possible and the need for professionalism in addition to therapeutic skills. Monika outlined how Play Therapy UK had grown from an introductory course, with 12 participants, held at Fern Hill, Fairwarp in 2000, to the largest Play Therapy professional organisation with a Register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority with over 1500 registrants. She thanked all delegates for their steadfast support over the years in making PTUK’s programme of continuous innovation possible and in particular the recent raising of our standards of implementation to give the children the quality of therapy that they deserve.