Jennifer Wayte has been actively involved in multidiscipline therapies for almost 20 years in many diverse roles including lecturer, assessor and verifier in further and higher education. She runs her own school and clinic, is an NHS governor, has chaired education for the General Council for Massage Therapy and was instrumental in forming the Professional Forum for Sports and Remedial Therapy. She has a special interest in writing professional qualifications and has worked closely with the Skills Sector Councils. Jennifer works with the voluntary regulators the CNHC as a professional advisor to the council, a role that developed from former work of putting together the framework for regulation. Throughout her many roles uppermost has always been to develop high standards, ensure regulation standards and protecting the interest of professional therapists but foremost FHT membership.
Never one to take the easy options in life Jennifer's career has spanned some 30 years! During that time, let's just say she has tried pretty much everything involved with complementary therapies and has no plans to stop that now!
She is qualified to advanced and fellowship level in over 20 disciplines including; Sports Massage, Sports Therapy, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Indian Head, Infant Massage, Reiki Master Teacher, the list goes on.
Jennifer is very passionate about teaching complementary therapy, to impart her knowledge and experience on others. She has a Cert Ed plus an Assessor and Verifier qualification and has won many prestigious awards including a Local European Teaching Award for services to students.
Jennifer has taught in a variety of education establishments including 6th form, community, collegiate colleges and CFE's. She is an accredited examiner, assessor and verifier for the FHT, covering private colleges, CFE colleges and universities.
In 1994 (year), Jennifer set up the Centre for Health, Sports Injuries & Natural Therapies (C.H.A.N.T) her own accredited teaching, treatment and hydrotherapy centre.
Jennifer is involved with a large number of Body's and organisations with the aim of influencing strategy for the education and development of complementary therapies, these include;
l Chair of Education and Training for the General Council for Massage Therapy. Within this role she has put together core curricula in Body Massage and Remedial and Sports Massage. l She has been selected to become for GCMT and the Complementary and Natural Health Council, a member of the Professional Specific Board looking after the specifics of the therapy?s and who will act as advisor to the Regulatory Board l A member of the Strategy Board of Skills for Health to look at upgrading complementary therapies l Governor of an NHS Trust.
Jennifer works extensively with the FHT
l She has put together ... advanced core curricula in both Sports Injury, Treatment and Reflexology l She is on the education board putting together standards and core curricula l She has worked on putting together the FHT Code of Conduct and Ethics l She even finds the time to represent the FHT at high profile events such as the Palace of Westminster. Meeting with decision makers and policy makers.
Believe it or not Jennifer has also managed to squeeze in some time to write her book, Advanced Reflexology. Unfortunately, due to work commitments it is sitting, waiting for final amends before it can be delivered to the printer and finally the shelves!
Commenting upon what she brings to the board and what she hopes the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) will achieve Jennifer says.
"I am passionate, pro-active, and have a total belief in the ability of FHT to become the lead Professional Body and have within this remit a standard of service that cannot be matched.
Our role at the FHT is to look after the interests of our members and in my experience this has always been paramount. But with changing times and regulation, the FHT also needs our experience and help.
Without FHT, I feel our members will be the losers. It is up to the board to support a superb working staff and exec to take FHT forward. Our new CEO although what I would call a lay person is the best choice we could have made and his passion will ensure the whole board are involved in every move towards ensuring FHT's future as THE LEAD PLAYER.
My hope for FHT for the future is to encompass a more proactive and dominant role within Education. We have a standard of CPD and pre requisite courses that in my experience is top of the league. I see no reason why this cannot be developed to include full stand alone courses in all areas."
It is hard to believe that Jennifer has any spare time but the little time she does have, she likes to spend wisely!
She was a Riding and Road Safety instructor and Examiner for the British Horse Society, a District Commissioner for the Pony Club, had a riding school, competed and instructed in Riding. However, work commitments mean she doesn't have times for the riding school but she still has two horses a cattery and even chickens which lay the coloured Easter eggs - low in cholesterol!
Other interests include governorship of a NHS Trust, Hot Air ballooning, travelling on the Orient Express, swimming, her spa and spending her husband's money!!!