The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is the professional body and

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits (s ...

for

physiotherapists Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions. It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, patie ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Nor ...

. Founded in 1894, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has grown to become the profession's largest membership organisation with more than 53,000 members. Queen Mary was royal patron from 1916 until her death in 1953, when

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

became royal patron. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Membership

The CSP's membership is made up of a range of physiotherapy professionals: qualified and retired physiotherapists, students of physiotherapy and associate members (support workers and other professionals whose work involves some delegated physiotherapy duties). CSP members work in a variety of settings across the NHS, in the community, in private practice and in

sports Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, t ...

. Members are entitled to use

postnominals Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles, designatory letters or simply post-nominals, are letters placed after a person's name to indicate that the individual holds a position, academic degree, accreditation, ...

'MCSP'; fellows 'FCSP'.

Aims of the society

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy's stated aims are to: * lead and support all members in developing and promoting high quality innovative patient care * protect and further advance the interests and working lives of its members * raise the profile of the profession and awareness of the benefits physiotherapy offers in preventing ill health, increasing independence for people with long term conditions, and rehabilitation after illness and accident.

Foundation

The Society was established in 1894 as the Society of Trained Masseuses by four nurses - Lucy Marianne Robinson, Rosalind Paget, Elizabeth Anne Manley and Margaret Dora Palmer - who wished to protect their profession after stories in the press warned young nurses and the public of unscrupulous people offering massage as a euphemism for other services. In 1894 the British Medical Association (BMA) inquired into the education and practice of massage practitioners in London, and found that prostitution was commonly associated with unskilled workers and debt, often working with forged qualifications. In response to what became known as "the Massage Scandals of 1894", legitimate massage workers formed the Society of Trained Masseuses (now known as the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy), with an emphasis on high academic standards and a medical model for massage training.Callaway and Burgess, S. 2009. History of massage. Chapter 2 In: Casanelia, L and Stelfox, D (editors). Foundations of massage, 3rd edition. Harcourt Publishers Group (Australia). . In 1900 the society acquired the legal and public status of a professional organisation and became the Incorporated Society of Trained Masseuses. Under the new name of the Chartered Society of Massage and Remedial Gymnasts the society was granted a

royal charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but s ...

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Quee ...

on 11 June 1920. In the same year the society amalgamated with the Institute of Massage and Remedial Gymnastics. The society adopted its present name in 1944.

Professional body

As a professional body the CSP provides a range of professional services, promotes learning and good practice, and supports its members to achieve

continuous professional development Professional development is learning to earn or maintain professional credentials such as academic degrees to formal coursework, attending conferences, and informal learning opportunities situated in practice. It has been described as intensive ...

(CPD).

Trade Union body

As a trade union the CSP is an affiliated member of the

Trades Union Congress The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in England and Wales, representing the majority of trade unions. There are 48 affiliated unions, with a total of about 5.5 million members. Frances ...

(TUC). Lesley Mercer, the former director of the CSP Employment Relations and Union Services (ERUS) was

President of the TUC The President of the Trades Union Congress is a prominent but largely honorary position in United Kingdom, British trade unionism. History Initially, the post of president was elected at the annual Trades Union Congress (TUC) itself, and would serv ...

for the year from September 2012 until September 2013. The current Director of Employment Relations and Union Services, Claire Sullivan, who took up her post in October 2014, is a member of the TUC General Council.

Research and education

The society supports research into physiotherapy through the CSP Charitable Trust which funds the Physiotherapy Research Foundation. It works to build knowledge in the professions by funding research to inform clinical practice and clinical effectiveness and build research capacity in the profession by providing new researchers with opportunities to gain funding to enhance their research skills and experience. The society is a member of Consortium of Independent Health Information Libraries in London, and its members benefit from this through preferential rates for journal purchases.

Structure and governance

The CSP is organised into nations and regions of the UK, through English Regional Networks and National Boards of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The CSP has offices in London, Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff. The CSP’s elected governing body is the CSP Council which identifies and agrees CSP policy and strategy. It includes representatives from the English Regions Network, National Boards. The work of the Council is directed by the Industrial Relations Committee and the Practice and Development Committee.

References

External links

CSP website
{{Authority control Healthcare trade unions in the United Kingdom 1894 establishments in the United Kingdom Organisations based in the London Borough of Camden

Physiotherapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions. It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, patien ...

Trade unions established in 1894 Trade unions affiliated with the Trades Union Congress