Advanced Diploma in Somatic Therapy
Health Sciences and Social Services - Promotive Health and Developmental Services
Purpose and Rationale
Qualification Overview
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to enhance the professional development and leadership skills necessary to be a successful somatic therapist. The qualification also assists the learners in transition from the institution into a professional setting. The qualification supports the learner in improving career progression and in pursuing personal interests in a topic in greater depth. Qualifying learners will be able to practice independently and function as managers in practice involving employees and colleagues and interact with other health care professionals providing optimal therapeutic service through referral and cooperative practice. Clinical training will take place in various clinical settings such as private practices, public and private hospitals, integrative practices, wellness centres, health care settings, medical spas, medical aesthetic clinics, community clinics and sport rehabilitation centres. The learner therapist will deliver service under supervision of qualified health care professionals and/or therapists. Such therapists perform non-therapeutic and therapeutic services offered through the application of skilled manual techniques, massage techniques, mind-body techniques, movement therapies, light therapies, lifestyle modification, relaxation therapies, stress management skills and natural therapies. As health advocates, therapists will be responsible for using their expertise to advance the health and wellbeing of the community. A lifelong learning and research culture will be promoted and therapists will be driven to master their field of expertise, with full recognition of the need for continuous professional development. This qualification articulates vertically to the Postgraduate Diploma in Somatic Therapy.
Rationale:
This qualification is also designed to prepare learners for postgraduate study through deepening their knowledge and understanding of current thinking, practice, theory and methodology in somatic therapy. The Somatic Therapist will be expected to promote health and wellness through complementary approaches that complement conventional medical care. This qualification is suitable for continuous professional development through encouraging learners to deal with, formulate and resolve more complex theoretical and practice-related tasks through the selection and use of appropriate methods and techniques. This qualification will enable qualifying learners to further their professional/specialised qualification in somatic therapy. The qualification is in line with government policies to provide necessary professional career paths for learners to get access to higher education qualifications in health professions and related clinical sciences. This qualification will cater for learners with diploma qualification in Somatic Therapy or Somatology who want a qualification of a professional nature and who want to further their discipline-specific and practical knowledge. The base qualification, somatic therapy, will enable learners to find employment in any health care setting where integrative and complementary therapies are employed. Through Advisory Committee meetings, industry engagement, evolved employment opportunities and Work Integrated Learning (WIL), the qualification will have a curriculum with a deeper health and wellness focus.
Outcomes
- Demonstrate integrated knowledge and understanding of the central areas of Somatic Therapy and other related fields as well as how that knowledge relates to other fields and disciplines or practices.
- Demonstrate the ability to understand knowledge as contested and the ability to evaluate types of knowledge and explanations typical in central areas of Somatic Therapy.
- Demonstrate an understanding of a range of methods of enquiry in Somatic Therapy and their suitability to specific investigations and an ability to select and apply a range of methods to resolve problems and introduce change within a Somatic Therapy setting.
- Demonstrate an ability to take decisions and act ethically and professionally, and the ability to justify those decisions and actions drawing on appropriate ethical values and approaches, within a supported Somatic Therapy environment.
- Demonstrate an ability to access, process and manage information within a Somatic Therapy setting.
- Demonstrate an ability to develop and communicate own ideas and opinions in well-formed arguments, using appropriate academic, professional, or occupational discourse in a Somatic Therapy setting.
- Demonstrate an ability to manage processes in unfamiliar and variable Somatic Therapy contexts, recognising that problem solving is context-and system-bound and does not occur in isolation.
- Demonstrate an ability to identify, evaluate and address his or her learning needs in a self-directed manner, and to facilitate collaborative learning processes.
- Demonstrate an ability to take full responsibility for his or her work, decision-making and use of resources, and limited accountability for the decisions and actions of others in varied or ill-defined Somatic Therapy contexts.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Evaluate and apply Somatic Therapies for efficacy and value according to relevant evaluation criteria.
- Identify and apply Clinical Management measures of actual clients to improve the assessment and treatment process.
- Evaluate and critique Somatic concepts, principles, rules, and theories.
- Explore Somatic Therapy's role in health care by applying integrated knowledge of nutrition, business practice, and research principles.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Evaluate and validate Somatic related techniques and therapies for quality.
- Evaluate Somatic related terminology and descriptions.
- Evaluate Somatic related knowledge in social and cultural contexts.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Investigate methods of enquiry in Somatic Therapy to solve somatic related problems.
- Identify evidence-based solutions by integrating clinical expertise and relevant research evidence.
- Develop appropriate processes of information gathering in Somatic Therapy.
- Evaluate sources of information in Somatic Therapy.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Evaluate professional and ethical values in Somatic Therapy.
- Explore principles and practices of ethical accountability in Somatic Therapy.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Develop appropriate processes of information gathering in Somatic Therapy.
- Evaluate sources of information in Somatic Therapy.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Discuss Somatic Therapy ideas and views in a professional setting.
- Critique independent ideas and opinions in Somatic Therapy.
- Evaluate information exchange between health care disciplines.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Discuss Somatic Therapy's role in health care.
- Identify appropriate processes of information gathering in Somatic Therapy.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
- Identify and evaluate self-directed learning needs.
- Select, manage, and assess learning activities.
- Identify collaborative learning processes.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
- Explore responsibilities for acquiring information.
- Explore responsibilities for evaluating resources.
Integrated Assessment:
- Formative Assessment: Various assessment options to demonstrate professional competencies.
- Summative Assessment: Written and practical examinations, portfolio of evidence.
- Integration of theory and practices through problem-based learning and scenario learning.
The final integrated assessment aims to measure applied competence in assessing clients, designing treatment plans, performing treatment procedures, advising clients, understanding theoretical basis, and reflecting on practices.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Advanced Diploma
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
Education Cost Calculator
This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.