Guidance on the Use of the Professional Standards Authority Mark for PTUK
Registrants
This is a formal notification that PTUK Registrants can now use the new Accredited Register logo.
Do:
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Highlight to your referrers, parents, other service users, commissioners or employers that
you are a Registrant on the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists,
http://www.playtherapyregister.org.uk/ managed by PTUK and accredited by the Authority
Use the phrase ‘I am on the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists that has been
accredited by the Professional Standards Authority’
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Tell your audiences that the programme was set up by the Authority to improve standards
and safety for the benefit of the public in general and in our case, the children in particular
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Emphasise that accreditation demonstrates your commitment to high professional standards,
to enhancing safety and delivering a better service
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Display the Accredited Register Mark where appropriate – in your premises, on your
stationery, on your masthead, in your email signature and on your website. You should
follow guidance provided below
Don’t:
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Mislead anyone about what accreditation means
Claim that you are accredited by the Authority. The register is accredited. You are, as an
individual on an accredited register – the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists,
managed by PTUK and accredited by the Authority
Claim that any treatment or service you provide is endorsed by the Authority or by the
Government. (However you can say that part of PTUK’s quality assurance is the
measurement of the effectiveness of Play Therapy and point to PTUK’s published research).
Use the Register mark contrary to its governing regulations and the Authority’s corporate
brand guidelines, as advised below.
Mix up other services such as counselling, Reike, parenting classes etc on pages where you
put the mark. If you offer services other than those included on the PTUK Register you
must only use the logo on the appropriate pages or against services covered by the
Register. Make sure that it is quite clear that only the grades that are covered by the
PTUK Register are associated with the mark. Please also remember that it is individuals
who are accredited on the PTUK Register, not organisations. If you have staff, who are not
Registrants, delivering services, it must be made quite clear that the mark does not apply to
them.
Once you have amended your web site please send your web address/link to mokijep@aol.com for
a check that you are compliant with these requirements.
PTUK will also be carrying out a sample check in the future on brochures and leaflets to see that
they are compliant.
The Authority is committed to working with professional organisations holding registers to ensure that the programme is
successfully communicated to all relevant stakeholders. If, however, a registrant is found to consistently or flagrantly
ignore the ‘dont’s’ section above, and the organisation does not take action to address the issue, the Authority reserves
the right to withdraw accreditation and prevent organisations and their registrants from using the AR logo
Guidance for PTUK Registrants on the use of the AR logo etc
The Accreditation Mark (new logo from December 2014)
The following rules regarding colour, exclusion zone and placement must be observed:
The darker purple colour of the mark is in coordinates of 108 (R), 44 (G) and 145 (B):
Exclusion Zone
The logo should always have a comfortable amount of space around it. The minimum
amount of space should be at least the size of the AR logo ‘head’. (NB this picture is for
illustrative purposes only – do not use it!)
Placement
When placed next to other marks or logos, the AVR logo should be sized proportionately
so that it is approximately the same scale as any accompanying logos. (NB this picture is for
illustrative purposes only – do not use it!)
Go to http://www.playtherapy.org.uk/Caerus/index.php for more Accredited Register material.
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Guidance for PTUK Registrants on the use of the AR logo etc
It is a condition of use that the Accreditation Mark shall not be used without indicating that
it is a Certification Mark.
Suggested actions
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Inform your employer or commissioners of your Play Therapy services including
PTAs, Boards of Governors if relevant. Suggest to them that it is in their interests
to publicise the Register and your Registration
Update your website with the logo and some explanation – please note the cautions
above about mixed services
Put the logo on your stationery, brochures and leaflets
Include mention of the Register in your CV
Send out press releases, see below
Narrative for external communications
You may use any of the text in this section in your marketing or other communications.
There are a wide range of health occupations and social care occupations in England where
practitioners are not required by law to be on a statutory professional register, including Play
Therapy and its derivatives. Many of these occupational groups have formed organisations – such as
Play Therapy UK – whose role is to develop and maintain standards of professionalism in their area
of practice. Frequently, these organisations hold registers of practitioners who meet certain
standards of conduct and competence. Many of these organisations act as representative bodies,
promoting the interests of their occupational group.
The Professional Standards Authority’s Accredited Registers scheme exists to provide assurance
that accredited registers are well run and achieve its high standards in the following areas:
governance, setting standards for registrants, education and training, managing the register,
complaints and information. Accredited registers require their registrants to meet standards of
personal behaviour, technical competence and, where applicable, business practice.
Since December 2012, the Authority has been inviting organisations holding registers of health and
care occupations to apply for accreditation. Play Therapy UK participated actively in the consultative
process leading up to the definition of the standards and was one of five professional organisations
chosen to test the accreditation processes. The Play Therapy UK Register was formally approved
on 11th April 2013.
Accredited organisations are able to display the Authority’s registered AR symbol and are listed on
the Authority’s website. Organisations or registers not listed on the Authority’s website have not
been accredited by the Authority.
Template press release material
This is a major opportunity to let the world know about Play Therapy where 99% are ignorant of
the valuable work that we do. We urge you to write and send a press release to your local
newspaper and radio stations. You might want to do this through your local support group so that
communications with the media may be co-ordinated in your area.
Draft it by combining some of the suggested text below with material, including photographs about
your own services.
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Guidance for PTUK Registrants on the use of the AR logo etc
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If you have any problems writing one, send your draft to jefferyht@yahoo.co.uk
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If you have any questions from the media that you can’t answer contact Monika at
mokijep@aol.com
Alternative headlines
Choose or adapt one:
Independent quality mark for Play Therapists
Play Therapy recognised by an independent quality mark
Play Therapy UK’s Register accredited by the PSA
Quality assurance scheme for therapeutic work with children in (your area eg South London)
A new layer of protection for parents of children who need support for emotional, behaviour or mental health
problems in (your area eg South London)
A new layer of protection for organisations/agencies/schools who need to provide support for children’s/pupils’
emotional, behaviour or mental health problems in (your area eg South London)
Text boilerplate
From today, parents, teachers, doctors, social workers and other professionals will be able to
choose a Play Therapist belonging to a register vetted and approved by the Professional Standards
Authority for Health and Social Care. Play Therapy UK’s Register has been accredited under a new
programme set up by the Department of Health and administered by an independent body,
accountable to Parliament.
Play Therapy practitioners, Filial Pay Coaches and Certified Clinical Supervisors on Play Therapy
UK’s Register will be able to display the Accredited Register quality mark, a sign that they belong to
a register which meets the Professional Standards Authority’s robust standards. In addition trainees
who are in the process of obtaining a qualification for the Register will be included for the
protection of the public.
Monika Jephcott, the Chief Executive of Play Therapy UK said:
“The quality mark will give extra peace of mind for anyone looking for a Play Therapist, letting them
know that anyone who holds the mark is committed to high standards. Play Therapy UK is pleased
to offer the quality mark to our members who meet the far reaching standards of our register, as
approved by the Professional Standards Authority. It recognises the hard work of our members over
the past 10 years in raising the standards of clinical governance, training and clinical supervision. Our
Register is the only one at the moment that specifically covers therapeutic work with children up to
the age of 12.”
Harry Cayton, Chief Executive of the Professional Standards Authority said:
“We are very pleased to accredit Play Therapy UK’s register of Play Therapists and related
practitioners. Bringing these professionals into a broad framework of assurance is good for children,
their parents, carers and teachers and is the best way to promote quality. The scheme offers
enhanced consumer protection to anyone looking for health and social care services, and gives Play
Therapy UK’s Registrants the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment.”
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