The years through childhood to adulthood are exciting and challenging. Intrauterine and subsequent experiences, alongside a child’s genetic constitution, shape his or her physical, mental and moral journey. We grow not only by our own genetic programme, but by our experiences in life.
During critical growth periods, osteopathy has increased potential to enhance healthy anatomical development. “To unbend the twig so the adult grows straight’’, requires understanding of the normal phases and many influences upon skeletal growth. The normal and variant are then more readily recognised in the young patient. Osteopaths practising in the paediatric field need a thorough knowledge of those diseases that occur only during childhood.
To study paediatrics from the osteopathic perspective is both rewarding and demanding. The paediatric osteopath needs constantly to increase their wealth of knowledge of embryology, anatomy and pathology, osteopathic techniques, and alongside this the ability to stick to the primary respiratory mechanism in a wriggly child, as well as a lot of patience and humour.
It is expected that you are already treating children in your own practice. A current Enhanced DBS certificate to undertake any paediatric study and Safeguarding of Children level 2 or above (or equivalent from the country in which you reside and practice) is required for the diploma and strongly recommended for the Certificate and workshops; copies of which must be supplied to our office.
The POD Pathway is a flexible portfolio of six specialist workshop weekends and optional self-directed study, aimed at deepening your knowledge and skills in treating children.
Study is at your own pace and now no longer carries a large initial financial outlay as each component is paid for separately. Successful completion comprises achieving either:
- The Paediatric Osteopathy Certificate, or
- The Paediatric Osteopathy Diploma
Completion of the Paediatric Osteopathy Diploma entitles the osteopath to Fellowship of the SCCO as recognition of their commitment to the College and osteopathy itself.
Alternatively, just study what interests you. Providing you meet the entry criteria (Modules 2 and 9) you may book onto any of the POD weekends without making a commitment to onward study.
Our weekend courses include:
- Discussion of technique: key issues when using techniques with the involuntary mechanism within the scope of paediatric osteopathy, and the relevance of the techniques in this context.
- Paper patients: to allow you to have time to develop your core knowledge and how you can blend child’s complaint, the child’s development, pathology and osteopathic findings into a working osteopathic diagnosis.
- Technique sessions: in small groups with experienced tutors who have a real passion for the treatment of children
- Guest lecturers: although we have a lot of in house expertise we do ask some other experts to join us where we feel they have a special knowledge to help us understand our work.
All Diploma students will be assigned their own mentor to help and assist them throughout their Paediatric studies.
The Certificate is entirely course-directed and required successful completion of:
- All six Paediatric weekend workshops
- Any two of the following Pathway Modules
Please note that this option provides you with a certificate of attendance on all the Paediatric Diploma weekends.
The Diploma is a combination of course- and self-directed study and requires successful completion of:
- The requirements of the Paediatric Pathway Certificate (see above),
- The Diploma Access Day (prior to taking the workshops)
- 16 clinic visit sessions,
- 3 reflective studies,
- 3 case study,
- 1 reflective action plan
- 1 clinical observations report
- 1 evidence-based practice report
- 1 final clinic assessment day
| ELEMENT | NUMBER | FEE (each) |
|---|---|---|
| Practice visit | 16 | £40 |
| Reflective study | 3 | £35 |
| Case study | 3 | £35 |
| Reflective action plan | 1 | £35 |
| Clinical observations report | 1 | £35 |
| Evidence-based practice report | 1 | £110 |
| Final clinic assessment day | 1 | £200 |
At the heart of the POD Pathway are the weekend workshops. These comprehensive courses have been distributed over a two-year period which means that it will take a minimum of two years to complete all six.
This part of the course will study the systems of the body as the child develops. The basic osteopathic tenet of accessing the physiology through the child’s developing anatomy will be explored. All the weekends will cover clinical methods, applied pathology, applied osteopathy, case study presentations, red flags and points on case history taking.
A child’s immunity changes from conception to teenage years. It is as varied and complex in its connections and responses as the nervous system. As the immune system develops and pervades the whole body, each of the six weekends will discuss the immune development and the disease processes that are pertinent to the system being covered.
P0: Diploma Access Day
£200.00 – £289.006 OCTOBER 2023 STROUD, UK This single day introduces...more→
P2: Development windows & early deficits
£549.00 – £599.003 – 4 FEBRUARY 2024 STROUD, UK This fascinating...more→
“We have returned to our practices after every weekend with new information, new approaches and renewed enthusiasm for osteopathy and how it can help our young patients.”
“Excellent, inspiring and clear teaching and felt that I came away with some concrete techniques that I could use straight away.”
“Over the whole weekend the level of knowledge passed on to us, the pace, the professionalism and the care given to us was superb and invaluable. You cannot read the stuff I learnt in any textbook.”
“After having done quite a bit of the pathway to fellowship at the SCCO, the POD seemed like the next step to take, hone my skills in paediatric treatment and dig on in the world of osteopathy. I thought it would be some more lovely SCCO courses with fascinating lectures and insightful practicals. Little did I know how very wrong my assumptions had been!
While the lectures were fascinating and the practicals were insightful the reflective work we had to do was quite a different story. Perturbing at first, then frustrating and finally after quite a few nudges and direction pointing from my assigned mentor they became amazing. I was led to reflect deeply on my osteopathic practice and models of thinking, changing many assumptions on the way and starting a process of ongoing reflection that, albeit now informal, is ongoing.
Last, but not least, the clinic visits are such a great way of learning. My heartfelt thanks goes to all the people who opened their clinics to POD students and let me watch and learn. Organising the clinic visits was surprisingly easy even from overseas with all the travel included, but don’t wait till your second POD year to start them as I did… too much to pack into a single year.”