BirthSkills ® Practitioners AgreementJuly 2010
BirthSkills ® is a comprehensive independent childbirth education programcreated by Dr Shari Read, an Australian mind/body therapist specialising inpreconception, pregnancy & postnatal care.BirthSkills ™ is a philosophy andan approach to birth.Techniques embodied in the BirthSkills Program aim tocreate calm, confident welcoming birth.
The BirthSkills Program draws upon current research in the field of birth.Combining best practice childbirth education with the use of deep guidedmeditation and the full spectrum of active birth techniques.These elementsare shared with pregnant women and their birth partners in the context ofworkshop setting.It is in this setting, the BirthSkills Practitioner seeks tonormalize and demystify the process of birth; share strategies to create acalm atmosphere during labour and work through tried and true active birthtechniques.
BirthSkills ® as founded by Shari has grown to become a program that is shared by a small team of certified practitioners with birthing women across Australia.BirthSkills Practitioners are women who come together to share their commitment to empowering birthing women through education and professional support.Practitioners have diverse backgrounds in fields associated with the provision of quality care to pregnant women including midwives, childbirth educators, naturopaths, yoga teachers, and birthattendants.
The BirthSkills Practitioner Training Program certifies practitioners to share theprogram with clients.Appreciating each practitioner brings her ownbackground, skills and expertise, the training, materials and ongoing supportfrom Shari and the team provides a framework for the structure of delivery ofthe program.With the support of the program, each practitioner has thediscretion to deliver in a manner that suits her circumstances, skills and clientbase.
This Agreement outlines Shari’s philosophy for the program, her vision for theexpansion of the program across Australia and her commitment to supportingyour professional development as a certified BirthSkills Practitioner.Shari iscommitted to the development and provision of quality childbirth educationand postnatal support resources and services, and is aiming to offer furtherprofessional development, retail and business growth opportunities in thenear future.
This Agreement has been prepared in consultation with all currently activePractitioners (as at July 2010).As an agreement, it is not legally binding,however it provides the framework for the group.This agreement will bereviewed from time to time to reflect changing needs of the Program as itcontinues to grow and evolve.
As a BirthSkills Practitioner, I, agree to thefollowing:
§I will strive to uphold and maintain the integrity of the BirthSkills program asit has been conveyed to me during my training and ongoing interactionswith Dr Shari Read.
§I will maintain a professional approach to all clients and act professionally,ethically and compassionately in my role as a BirthSkills Practitioner.
§I will not act to provide advice, support or services outside of my areas ofqualification or training.
§I am accountable for my own professional practice, business
management and necessary registration, insurance and updates toensure competency/certification in my areas of expertise.
§I will keep professional records of relevant client details.
§I understand that my role is to support the client in her choice of birth andto provide education as requested by the client.It is not my role to provide advice.
§As a BirthSkills Practitioner I will not perform any medical or clinical tasks or give medical advice.
§BirthSkills ™ does not seek to discriminate women in their choice ofbirthing, and provides support for women choosing homebirth, birth centre and hospital birth including induction and caesarean section.
§Once a client has been referred to me, as the engaged practitioner I willtake on responsibility for all aspects of customer care and service provision.
§I will provide a copy of The BirthSkills Book and CD to all BirthSkills clients; unless there is a special circumstance prevalent for a particular client orgroup e.g. running the program free of charge for a not-for-profit organisation.
§I will work with the understanding of BirthSkills Practitioners fees ands costs, appreciating I am free to set my own fees.
§I will maintain annual membership with BirthSkills ® in order to remain anactive practitioner and retain associated privileges.
§I will not breach client confidentiality, without express written permission ofthe client.
§I will only use the trademarked BirthSkills logo, including name and ‘familyheart’ design for activities directly related to my work as a BirthSkills
Practitioner and understand that Dr Shari Read retains ownership rights tothe trademark and BirthSkills name at all times.
§In the instance of ceasing work with BirthSkills ® I will not act to providenegative information or opinion, written or verbal, to any BirthSkills clients(past, current and future), their family and friends.
§I will regard myself as a member of a group of mutually supportive professionals, sharing insights, research and relevant information with thegroup as opportunity arises.
During the period of my active affiliation with BirthSkills ® as a BirthSkillsPractitioner, as indicated by my payment of the annual affiliation fee (currently $250 due in February each year), Dr Shari Read agrees to provide:
§Referral service for enquiries in my area (web, phone, email)
§Ongoing national marketing activity, such as; BirthSkills website, Facebook,Natural Therapies Page, articles in professional publications, for example,Interaction (NACE) and Essence (ABA), as well as national pregnancy &birth publications for consumers and other publishing opportunities as theyarise.
§Up-to-date website including my professional and contact details
§Business support, which will include (but is not limited to) 2 hours of consultation with Ashley Read MAppPsych (organisational), MBA. This consultation may include professional coaching in the areas of businessdevelopment, professional development, customer service, marketing orother business operations advice. As well as ongoing phone and emailsupport from Shari with regard to servicing clients and establishing andmaintaining a professional standing within the Childbirth education community.
§Professional and business development opportunities as they arise.
§Wholesale prices for BirthSkills ® and associated materials and resources.
§Protection for my business as a BirthSkills Practitioner by not supportinganother practitioner within a reasonable, pre-agreed upon, geographical
area as outlined below: (to be determined with each practitioner on anindividual basis).
Signed & dated by:
Name
Date
Certified BirthSkills Practitioner