Advancing Professionalism to Unlock the Potential of Health Coaching

As we navigate the changing health and care landscape and as the nature, shape and size of the health coaching sector rapidly evolves and its powerful evidence-base becomes established, advancing professionalism in this evolving discipline becomes a priority if we are to unlock its potential to support population health.?

As the leading professional body, UKIHCA continues to be proactive in its commitment both to advance professionalism in health coaching and unlock its potential wherever health coaching happens.?

Health coaching is happening everywhere?

We are seeing health coaching in:?

• public sector health and care bodies (NHS GP practices, Primary Care Networks, Integrated Care Boards)?

• private and integrative health care organisations and practices?

• the independently employed health coaching sector??

• third sector bodies, communities and advocacy bodies?

• the sports, leisure and physical activity sector?

• organisations and workplaces?

• places of education?

As the decline of our populations’ health and wellbeing continues, its toll on human suffering, impact of health disparities on community and societal cohesion and its economic impact can no longer be put on the ‘back-burner’.??

We know that traditional thinking and reactive healthcare systems are not the solution. The future lies in prevention and proactive healthcare which sees people supported to take a confident, informed and pro-active part in their own health.?

Advancing Professionalism to Unlock the Potential in Health Coaching.?

In the coming weeks and months, UKIHCA will be launching a campaign with the aim of ‘Advancing Professionalism to Unlock the Potential in Health Coaching'.?

Advancing Professionalism at UKIHCA comprises four inter-related components:?

• World-class Standards for Education and Training for Professional Health Coaching
• A Scope of Practice for UKIHCA-Approved & UKIHCA Registered Health Coaches??

• A UKIHCA Register for Professional Health Coaches?

• A clear focus on Continuing Professional Development (CPD)????

UKIHCA Standards for Education and Training for Professional Health Coaching?

We have been undertaken a review and update of UKIHCA’s world class Professional Standards and Standards for 2024 will be published on 15 September?

These Standards are designed to set the minimum criteria that schools are required to meet to gain UKIHCA approval, based upon national educational levels, teaching credentials and the high level of training in coaching skills that are expected of a professional health coach.???

Against these Standards, UKIHCA carries out a rigorous and robust approvals process with all schools and programme providers who wish to gain a UKIHCA Course Approval and can demonstrate that they have the capacity to respond appropriately to the ever-changing nature of health coaching.?

Scope of Practice for UKIHCA-Approved & UKIHCA Registered Health Coaches?

In June 2024, UKIHCA published a reviewed and updated health coaching Scope of Practice with an accompanying discussion paper.?

UKIHCA Register for Professional Health Coaches?

The UKIHCA Register for Professional Health Coaches is for professional health coaches who, in addition to achieving the relevant UKIHCA qualifications or portfolio or work-based experience to become a UKIHCA-Approved Full Member, are committed to engaging with a high standard of professionalism and related professional activities.?

What will a UKIHCA Register of Professional Health Coaches mean????

• Confidence and quality assurance for the public, employers recruiting staff or a commissioner buying services and?referring health care professionals.
• Enhancing safe and effective practice for qualified, eligible health coaches.
• Professional development for UKIHCA-Approved Full Members??
• A clear progression route for UKIHCA-Approved Full Members, NHS Health and Wellbeing Coaches and other disciplines aspiring to add professional health coaching skills to their portfolio??
• An aspirational goal for those wishing to enter the profession and work towards Registered Health Coach status??
• A badge designating a qualifying UKIHCA-Full Member as a UK & International Health Coaching Association Registered Health Coach??
• The elevation of the health coaching profession?throughout every sector with an interest in improving population health?in the UK and internationally?

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Continuing Professional Development (CPD)???

CPD is the ongoing process of frequently improving skills and competencies to enhance workplace performance and future career prospects. It is an essential requirement for membership of UKIHCA and a renewed focus on CPD will provide a central element to our ‘Advancing Professionalism’ campaign.?

Completing regular CPD demonstrates commitment to professionalism and to ongoing learning. CPD encourages us to look forward and identify opportunities to learn something new, refresh existing knowledge, improve our practice or simply keep up to date with the latest developments within the profession and industry of health coaching. CPD is also an opportunity for reflection and professional growth.?

CPD is the underpinning bedrock for advancing professionalism in health coaching and unlocking its potential.?

It’s time for health coaching?

Health coaching is exploding throughout the health space and UKIHCA is proud to be at the vanguard, supporting our members in growing their practice and driving the positive, dynamic change and evolution of professional health coaching everywhere.?

Our White Paper ‘Towards a Healthier, Happier Britain: The Case for Health Coaching’ sets out a vision where every person has access to a health coach whether at home, in the public and private health sector, in the physical activity sector, in the workplace, at their place of education or in their community.?

It makes detailed arguments and recommendations for a future premised upon a proactive, preventive approach to health and wellbeing, placing health coaching at the forefront of every health and wellbeing relationship. It presents the impact on patient activation, self-efficacy and motivation to adopt and self-manage healthy behaviours.?

UKIHCA is proud of upholding and advancing world-class standards and provision for this important and often, life-changing discipline.??

Health coaching is the beating heart of the future of medicine and health creation - it's time for it to be mainstreamed and centre stage. And there has NEVER been a better time for making health coaching happen.?