Osteopath

Osteopaths apply a holistic approach of manual therapy and health advice to help people with a variety of issues from bad backs to headaches

As an osteopath, you'll use your expert knowledge of the musculoskeletal system to treat various health issues. Taking a holistic approach to the patient's health, you'll assess their symptoms along with their medical history and lifestyle to find the right treatment plan for them.

You'll use manual therapy, such as massage or physical manipulation, as well as giving health advice and sometimes exercises, to treat various conditions including:

• back and neck pain
• joint and muscle deterioration
• injuries, including sporting injuries
• digestive disorders
• problems with posture
• restricted mobility
• sciatica
• headaches and migraines.

Your work will be used for prevention, treatment and diagnosis, and will usually be carried out in a self-employed capacity in private practices or within the NHS.

Osteopath is a protected title, and you must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) to be able to practise in the UK.

Responsibilities

As an osteopath, you'll need to:

• take detailed case histories from new patients, including both general health (lifestyle and diet) and specific symptoms
• assess the patient's general posture and check for restrictions or tensions in joints or muscles by asking them to perform a series of active movements
• undertake physical examinations by using a highly refined sense of touch (palpation) to identify any restricted, weak or strained areas of the body
• make a working diagnosis and plan treatment in partnership with the patient
• provide appropriate treatments using soft tissue techniques, gentle release techniques and other appropriate methods, such as cranial osteopathy
• make lifestyle and dietary recommendations to patients in areas such as posture, eating, exercise and relaxation
• refer patients to their GP or other specialists, if required
• maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records
• undertake continuing professional development (CPD) throughout your career to remain registered with the GOsC and able to practise.

If you're working as a self-employed osteopath, you will also need to:

• attract and retain clients by marketing yourself and your services
• build and maintain referral relationships with external partnerships, such as gym instructors, sports clubs and personal trainers
• carry out administrative and bookkeeping duties related to running a business.

Salary

If you're self-employed, your income will depend on factors such as the price you charge per hour, the number of patients you attract, how many hours you work and your running costs and overheads.

• According to the GOsC, the average initial consultation fee for osteopaths is £55 for a 30-minute session, followed by an average of £48 for follow-up consultations.
• As an NHS osteopath, you'll typically start on Band 5 of the Agenda for Change (AFC) pay rates, which ranges from £29,970 to £36,483. There are opportunities to move to higher bands with experience.

Fees charged will vary depending on a range of factors, including your location and level of experience. Some practices pay a joining bonus.

Income figures are intended as a guide only

Working hours

You'll typically work a standard working week, although if you're self-employed you may need to be flexible to suit your clients' needs. For example, you may choose to work some evenings or weekends. You can work either full or part time.

What to expect

• Work is carried out on a one-to-one basis and can be physically, mentally and emotionally demanding, although very rewarding.
• You'll typically get to spend more time with your patients than in other health-related careers, which can give good job satisfaction.
• Work is available in most areas in towns and cities throughout the UK.
• There are around 5,500 UK-registered osteopaths, which includes just over 400 who practise abroad. There is an almost even gender split within the profession. (GOsC Annual Report).
• You're not likely to spend much time travelling or staying away overnight, although when starting out you may be based at two, or even three, different practices to make up a full working week.

Qualifications

To practise as an osteopath in the UK, you must be registered with the GOsC. To do this, you need to complete a training course that is recognised by the GOsC.

Courses are available at either undergraduate (BSc, BOst or BOstMed) or integrated Masters (MOst) level and typically last four years full time, five years part time or a mixture of both (e.g. two years full time and three years part time). You'll need three A-levels, usually including biology or a related subject.

Qualified chiropractors, physiotherapists, sports therapists and medical practitioners can take an accelerated two-year course that enables them to register as osteopaths.

See the GOsC website for a list of training courses.

Courses include elements of anatomy, physiology, psychology and pathology, in addition to over 1,000 hours of clinical training.

The Osteopathic Foundation aims to support students experiencing financial hardship by providing small grants towards the cost of their education. Contact your higher education institution's student services department for criteria details. Applications from students are not directly accepted by the Foundation.

You'll also need to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, as you may be working with children and/or vulnerable adults, and must be covered by professional indemnity insurance for a minimum of £5million.

Like all healthcare professionals, you also need to be 'fit to practise'. This means showing appropriate professional behaviours and being able to practice to the standards required and outlined in the Osteopathic practice standards.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• excellent interpersonal and communication skills for working with patients and explaining their treatments
• coordination and manual skills
• teamwork skills if working alongside other healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists or acupuncturists
• the ability to show empathy and work sensitively with a range of patients
• strong observational skills
• organisation skills with a logical and methodical approach to work
• the ability to problem solve and diagnose effectively
• initiative and independence
• attention to detail to ensure accurate record keeping
• the ability to work under pressure and manage your time effectively
• business awareness and administrative skills if running your own practice.

Work experience

Although previous experience isn't essential, it may be useful to spend some time with a practising osteopath before applying for a place on a course. To find an osteopath near you, search the GOsC Register.

Experience of working with people in a caring role is also useful.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Most osteopaths are self-employed and you're likely to work as an associate in an osteopathic practice before setting up your own practice or working in a group osteopathic practice.

It's possible to work from home, adapting part of it into a space in which to diagnose and treat patients. Alternatively, you might be based at a health centre, in private sports/leisure facilities or in high street shops, such as pharmacies.

See self-employment for information on setting up a business.

In the NHS you could work in hospitals, with doctors in general practice and in community health centres. You could also work in occupational healthcare in public bodies and private companies, such as sports clubs and city firms with their own medical centre.

Look for vacancies at:

• NHS Jobs
• OsteoJob
• The Institute of Osteopathy

Professional development

To stay registered with the GOsC, you must do at least 90 hours of CPD over three years, plus 45 hours of learning with others.

CPD activities can include:

• attending lectures and seminars
• taking short courses
• taking part in practical sessions
• undertaking individual study
• assessing patient feedback
• having structured discussions with colleagues.

The GOsC website has a list of courses and events.

You may wish to advance your clinical practice by taking a postgraduate course in an area such as sports care, osteopathic treatment of children or care of the elderly. It's also possible to study for a PhD.

The Institute of Osteopathy (iO) also advertises courses and workshops.

You may also want to take business-related courses in areas such as marketing and finance.

Career prospects

There is no formal structured career path in osteopathy, but you'll usually start by working as an associate in an osteopathic practice and then move on to set up and run your own practice. Alternatively, you might progress from an associate to working within a group osteopathic practice.

Once established, you may develop specialist interests or work with specific patient groups, for example, athletes, children or older people.

If self-employed, the success of your practice will depend on your entrepreneurial, marketing and networking skills. You must be committed to establishing and building your reputation, which takes time and effort.

Within the NHS or private healthcare, you can progress by moving into an advanced clinical practitioner role or into leadership and management.

Some experienced osteopaths follow an academic career teaching at one of the GOsC-approved training institutions. There are also opportunities to go into osteopathic research.