Achievements 2022 – what a busy year!

2 December 2022

Life is busy, and no less so for the BAcC team. Emerging from a pandemic and making great strides in restoring our depleted reserves, we’re delighted at the key milestones we’ve achieved and delivered on this year for the benefit of our members.

Launch of our new website and member database

It was a long time coming but our new website, which launched in the summertime, was designed with member input and is fully integrated with our new membership database. It offers improved site structure and navigation and an altogether better experience for members, the public and our staff. Meanwhile, our new database – with its ease of use, automation potential, self-serve functionality and data provision – allows us to build capability for the future. [Read more here]

As we move into 2023 and as the website develops, we want to ensure that its content is optimised to raise the profile of both the BAcC and our members – emphasising the gold standard of training and codes of practice – and to raise awareness of acupuncture as a valid healthcare option, reflecting the tradition and relevance of acupuncture for all.

Members had their say in our annual members’ survey

Putting members at the heart of what we do is one of our core strategic aims. We strive to always listen to our members, to seek their views via our different channels and, this year, has been no different. Nearly 350 members responded to this year’s survey, which gave us a baseline understanding of how, in members’ opinion, we are delivering against our strategic aims and our levels of communication. A summary of the results, data and responses can be found here. We will continue to provide regular opportunities for engagement and increasing opportunities for two-way dialogue as we move into 2023.

Our annual ‘in person’ conference returned!

This year, after a two-year hiatus, our BAcC Annual Conference returned ‘in person’. Not only that,  the ARRC Symposium and the conference came together for a long weekend in September – what a great weekend it was! From research papers, round table discussions and inspirational speakers, to practical techniques, movement sessions and connecting with friends, we hope there was something for everyone. It was great to receive such positive feedback and we’re looking forward to sharing details about next year’s event very soon.

As we now look forward and plan for 2023, much of our work will build on some of the great foundations we’ve laid down this year, including:

  • developing more collaborative opportunities in the ‘Integrated Projects’ space
  • delivering a more structured and aligned communications plan
  • increasing membership through targeted campaigns
  • delivering our 2023 ARRC & Annual Conference and our ’Let’s talk about…’ campaigns
  • providing new factsheets and engagement with NICE guidelines
  • continued website development to provide more resources to members
  • working with accredited course providers to support students and aid conversion into membership

 

The BAcC Strategy 2021-26

The strategy document sets out our vision, mission, values and key aims and objectives over the next five years and high-level measures of success.

Download document

A summary of our achievements in 2022

  • Always put members at the heart of what we do
    • Enabled members to have their say in our annual members’ survey.
    • Provided structured channels for member feedback and two-way dialogue, including the summer Town Hall event and monthly ‘coffee and comms’ sessions.
    • Incorporated ‘Open Discussion’ sessions into this year’s annual conference to hear members’ views and created a focus group of members interested in research.
    • Supported members by hosting webinars based on the needs of the members.
    • Successful reaccreditation with PSA
    • Updated advertising policy and ongoing work on policy development
    • Designed our new website to be easily navigable with clear contact instructions for members.
    • Ensured safe practice codes for members remain relevant and up to date, hosting 11 safe practice webinars and communicating these effectively to the membership.
    • Increased engagement and followers through all social channels with additional focus planned for 2023.
    • Delivered a hybrid contact programme for BAAB-accredited course students, offering regular presentations on BAcC and member benefits
    • Our Safe Practice Officer, Professional Conduct Officer and Research and Policy Manager have worked together to ensure accurate evidence-based responses to queries.
    • Highlighted the Mentoring-Supervision programme to members and supported the increase of supervisors.
    • Developed our hybrid version of Acu. to increase its uptake and reduce printing costs overall in 2022.
    • Offered discounted/free tickets to events and webinars to members, promoting the value of membership.
    • Delivered two ‘Let’s talk about…’ campaign series to highlight topical issues
    • Completed review of the Standards for Education and Training in Acupuncture, relaunching as our BAcC Educational Standards.

  • Raise the profile of our members
    • Improved the public face of our website to ensure that it reflects the professionalism of the membership, highlighting the standards of our members.
    • Helped establish an Integrated Project at Inner Gloucester Primary Care Network, providing employment opportunity for three members.
    • Ensured material on website is accurate and up to date, accessible to other appropriate organisations.
    • We are in open dialogue with members about how traditional acupuncture should be described to the public and with other stakeholders, and this conversation continues.
    • Through our Professional Recognition Working Group (PRWG), and by working closely with the Accredited Register Collective (ARC), we have lobbied PSA for increased awareness of accredited professional bodies and better public & stakeholder recognition of BAcC.
    • Developed public FAQ and safe practice area of the website.
    • Started to develop blogs and research case stories for the public.
    • Building a communications and content strategy that emphasises public facing content about acupuncture and the ‘gold standard’ of our membership.
    • Creating events, using tradition and evidence-based outcomes to promote acupuncture profession for a lay audience.
    • Worked with students to promote the benefits of mentoring and supervision and our regional groups.
    • Established working relationships with key stakeholders, including ETCMA, AACP, BMAS and RCHM.
    • Attended conferences and networking events to highlight the work of BAcC.

  • Uphold professional standards
    • Established and are continually updating the public-facing FAQ page with relevant, up-to-date information.
    • Ensured BAAB website is appropriately linked from our new website and have promoted cross collaboration and support.
    • Reviewed the educational standards in conjunction with CHAC.
    • Updated necessary documentation for the public, members and appropriate stakeholders, hosting campaigns and webinars to explore changes and updates.
    • Established a new photo library for members to support them with their own marketing communications.
    • Hosted regular induction sessions with colleges and students, highlighting the benefits of BAcC membership.
    • Provided a joint response with BMAS and AACP to NICE Osteoarthritis Guideline.
    • Hosted a webinar and drafted an article for peer review on the NICE Osteoarthritis Guideline.

  • Help members to deliver best practice and to run a business
    • Researched and accessed up to date evidence and government guidelines to ensure BAcC information remains accurate and comprehensive.
    • Created supporting material, webinars and events. Supported the public by ensuring that members deliver safe, legal and fully insured patient care.
    • Continue to support members in promoting their work through positive media coverage, locally and nationally, emphasising safety and effectiveness.
    • Worked with PSA to obtain BAcC recognition with insurance companies, HMRC (for VAT purposes), local authority registration and blood donation deferral period.
    • Working with members to understand and develop a stratified approach to promoting acupuncture research.
    • Hosting ‘Let’s talk about…’ campaigns on website and developing associated resources for members to adopt.
    • Presented high level expertise and innovative outcomes at our annual conference, the ARRC Symposium and other events, to show the authentic use of acupuncture.
    • Actively promoted the BAcC’s PSA accreditation and the supporting resources for members.
    • Used recommendations by PSA to support members and provide relevant CPD opportunities eg. The ‘Let’s talk about…Advertising’ campaign.
    • Stimulated and nurtured dialogue with other acupuncture associations, complementary medicine organisations, relevant charities etc, to create openings for members in a variety of healthcare settings.

  • Run the BAcC as an organisation which is cost effective, open and accountable

    • Monitoring governance structure and articles of association to ensure it is fit for purpose
    • Worked with the chairs of all committees to ensure there is appropriate membership representative, and that the committees and working groups remain fit for purpose.
    • Developed and delivered a revised policy on insurance, and an up-to-date adjunctive therapies list.
    • Developed online sign-ups for Direct Debit mandates and payments

  • Strive to be a green and environmentally friendly organisation in line with current best practice
    • Monitored print levels and devised new electronic processes across the organisation to reduce paper use, including:
      •  a new, fit for purpose CRM/database which eliminates paper files
      • online CPD records
      • online delegate handbooks at conference
      • Direct Debit administration
    • Worked with third party printers for Acu. who are World Land Trust and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.
    • Developed online shop function with more environmentally friendly products available
    • Supported UK charity, Trees for Cities, committing to plant a tree in the UK for every five survey responses we received back from our members