We are excited to welcome our new diploma students this weekend. We hope this is the start of a long and happy journey into Complementary Therapy. We wish you all the best. Wishing you were joining the new cohort, thinking about a career change or already qualified and looking to add to your portfolio? Applications are open for the April 2022 diplomas with dates to be added soon. Email us at hif.natural.healthschool.nhs.net or call 01423 557316.    

Important new course for 2021. Available online or in the classroom. ITEC Level 2 Award Infection Prevention for Complementary Therapists and Sports Massage Classroom based and Remote learning options available More than ever before, members of the public are seeking assurances that the therapists they choose to visit understand how to protect them from infection. Are you a qualified complementary or sports massage therapist, or are you planning to train in either occupation? Are you aware that Regulated Infection Prevention and Control training is now a compulsory module within Complementary Therapy and Sports Massage courses? Do you know all of the steps you must take to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and other infections to your clients and members of your own household? Do you know how to use PPE correctly? Are you aware that many insurance companies and professional associations are seeking to make such training mandatory in the near future? Further information is on the course listing or by email hdft.natural.healthschool.nhs.net

ITEC Level 3 Diploma Students The HDFT NHS Natural Health School would like to offer their sincere congratulations to our newest graduates. An incredible achievement during a very challenging year. We wish you all the very best and hope that you are very proud of the results.

April 2021 We are delighted to welcome our students back for full practical training at Rudding Park from 1st April. The team are excited to have our learners back in the classroom for practical training. We will be watching the developments closely and will update with any changes. At HDFT NHS Natural Health School, we are committed to providing you with an excellent learning environment in which you can achieve your very best potential. As part of this commitment, we have a responsibility to ensure that you are safe and your health is protected at all times whilst in class or exposed to our training facilities. Please keep up to date with the NHS best advice; https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

Just do it!  NHS Certificate in Complementary Therapy (Cancer Pathway)  With the aim of gaining practical experience as a complementary therapist in a cancer-care setting, I found my way to the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Cancer Centre in Harrogate where the first NHS Natural Therapy School is based, for the 12 week program leading to the NHS Certificate in Complementary Therapy (Cancer Pathway).  This program offered an unique opportunity to learn and work within a professional, supportive and caring team, to NHS standards, while helping people during their cancer treatments, their carers, and patients on wards in the main hospital, through the power of touch – in my case, aromatherapy massage.  The required medical and professional standards were obviously very high, and I was a bit daunted at first.  There was a lot to learn about professional standards in the NHS, about the many forms of cancer and how these impact on people and how to tailor treatments to individual circumstances and the constraints of being on a hospital ward.  However, as experiences go, this was probably one of the most rewarding professional and human experiences I have had, if not the most.  Underpinning this was the expert and ongoing coaching and guidance from Gwyn Featonby, who leads the program, and support from Beverly Harrison and the wider team, which was invaluable. “Light touch” but the right touch.  Also, the chance to work with and learn from fellow therapists was an added bonus.  Through evidence-based practice, it was satisfying to see positive results for patients.  Being accepted by medical professionals as part of the wider team supporting patients was amazing. So, if I have any advice for anyone considering embarking on this journey, it would be to “just do it”!

In line with the current Government guidelines we are suspending all training until February 21st 2021. Our ITEC Level 3 diplomas will continue via online learning, all other planned courses have been postponed. If you are booked on to a course we will be in touch very shortly and appreciate your patience at this time. We would like to thank all our students and staff for their hard work, commitment and support in these uncertain times. Please direct any enquiries to hif.natural.healthschool@nhs.net    

We will be closed from December 15th 2020 until January 4th 2021. Any emails will be answered on our return. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy and peaceful time as we move into 2021.

Due to unforeseen circumstances we have had to postpone the Introduction to Complementary Therapies course booked for November 27th 2020. We have sent out an email offering alternatives; if you have not received this and are booked to the course please contact beverley.harrison11@nhs.net or hif.natural.healthschool@nhs.net. Thank you

We are thrilled to be offering the ITEC Level 3 Diplomas in Aromatherapy, Massage or Reflexology in January 2021. We will also be delivering the combined diploma in all three therapies (Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Massage), also starting in January 2021. An exciting opportunity to study Aromatherapy, Massage and Reflexology at the same time. Places are booking now and are limited. If you would like further information or to book an interview please email hif.natural.healthschool@nhs.net.  

We are delighted that we are now able to return to practice, move forward with our courses and offer treatments again (with the exception of facial treatments) All of our therapists are following the latest industry and government guidance to safely and confidently practice their therapies. As always we will be watching and updating as anything changes. The latest advice and guidance on returning to practice can be found here CNHC Preparing to return to work Please keep up to date with the NHS best advice https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/