I’ve been listening and learning – would you like to know more?
 
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the discrimination quandary posted  last week. I had no idea it was so controversial – my world is very black and white, if you will pardon the pun.
 
Responses ranged from the outraged, to the indifferent (everyone has a right to decide) to questions about the real reason for the refusal to accept a treatment from a black therapist. I should have said that these therapists have a Harley Street Clinic and are in no way taking chances with infection control (they have done my training – they are all over infection control).
 
My video learning has continued this week as I have interviewed some of the charities and support groups who have kindly agreed to help us to distribute our ten thousand gifts.
It has been a  joyous and a challenging week – there have been many happy stories and some heart...

Meet Emma (left) and Sam (right) - they persevered in the face of a pandemic and gained their Jennifer Young Postgraduate Diplomas. 

Meet Emma Pymm

Earlier this week Emma finished her online training and became Jennifer Young’s first fully online qualified therapist (well there are two of them – you’ll meet Sam next week)

Emma took our Oncology Massage and Balanced Body and Mind courses and passed with flying colours.
   
When looking back at her time on the course, Emma said “I am really privileged to think that I am one of the first on line trained oncology therapists, how exciting! I have found the training to be excellent from start to finish, with constant support when needed. It was a bit daunting to begin with being assessed via Zoom, but the Jennifer Young tutor put me very much at ease each time and gave me good constructive feedback.”

"I know so many people that have been affected by cancer personally and always...

I have been concerned about risk assessment being used as a weapon to discriminate against the vulnerable. If you have completed the Control of Cross Infection Qualification, you know I raised this an issue in June. This pre-dates the data showing the increased vulnerability of the Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups.

I wanted to explore this further when creating our discrimination in wellness learning area (you can join for free) I asked a few questions (you know me and my questions).

I clearly wasn’t expecting that – what is your answer to this problem?

Sending eye openers,

Jennifer

How much did you know about risk assessment and control of cross infection before March 2020? 

If the answer is 'not as much as I do now' why is that? 

In this short video I reflect on my learnings as a student of beauty and holistic therapies and wonder if I deserved to be taught more. Control of cross infection is fundamental to our practice and has been ingrained in us since day 1. We just haven't been told that it is. 

Our touch therapy training includes many control measures that allow us to work with the immunocompromised. 

I am aware that haven't labelled the control measures, I have taught the routines that include them but not been explicit about their purpose. Other brands have done (or not done) the same - should we have done more?

Jennifer Young and insurer Alison Livings discuss informed consent, empowerment of cancer patients and dynamic risk assessment.

We are taught not to touch cancer patients. 

Specialist Training gives us the skills to work with those affected by cancer but we still have to demonstrate an understanding of the risks as well as an ability to explain them to the client. Informed consent allows the client to make a decision about if they wish to proceed with a treatment or not, if not, they may seek medical consent. A therapist cannot facilitate informed consent unless that have a good understanding of the medical condition with which the client presents and the impact that a treatment may have upon it.

Add dynamic risk assessment into the mix and it all gets a bit overwhelming.

Jennifer and Alison navigate a way through the jargon and the complexity (in a minute and a half).

“Betty experienced facial flushing and heat whilst going through treatment.”

*Betty, 61, from London was in the middle of radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer when she agreed to be a case study for one of our Jennifer Young therapists, Lisa. Betty experienced hair, lash and nail loss as a consequence of cancer treatments. She was delighted to have a specialist oncology massage, and enjoy some nourishing relaxation thanks to Defiant Beauty by Jennifer Young’s natural and organic products. Lisa used Jennifer Young’s adapted cancer massage light touch technique, and made Betty feel truly nourished and gorgeous.

Because of Betty’s positive experience with the specialist oncology massage, she immediately organised to return for more treatments after radiotherapy. Betty enjoyed a Jennifer Young rejuvenating facial treatment with the Defiant Beauty Smooth Skin Oil, and a hand and nail treatment using the Defiant Beauty Nail Oil...