The Accredited Practitioner Register Advisory Board (“Advisory Board”) is the principal governing body of the Accredited Practitioner Register (“Register”).

Its primary function is to oversee the Register and its registrants, ensuring that the Register operates in line with the expectations and requirements of the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

Its core responsibilities are defined in Section 6 – Functions of the Advisory Board.

The Advisory Board shall comprise:

• Two designated members of the Athena® Herd Foundation

• A minimum of five members, including the Chair

• Lay members, which may include:

  • Registrants of the Register

  • Representative service users

Appointments & Terms:

• The Chair is elected by a majority of the Advisory Board.

• Initial lay members are appointed by the Chair with support from the Executive Committee.

• Lay members are selected based on relevant experience, skills, and background in:

  • Equine Facilitated Interactions

  • Mental health, wellbeing, counselling, or psychotherapy

• Term: Two years, renewable for one additional two-year term.

• Members may resign but should remain until a replacement is found where possible.

• Removal mid-term requires a clear majority vote, including the Chair.

Other staff or advisors may attend meetings at the Chair’s discretion.

• The Advisory Board meets at least quarterly.

• Agenda and papers must be circulated 48 hours in advance.

• Quorum: Three members.

• Format: Virtual meetings via approved conferencing tools unless otherwise specified.

• Minutes: A written record of each meeting is confirmed and maintained.

Acts as the principal governing body for all strategic and operational decisions.

• The Advisory Board directs strategic, regulatory, financial, and operational matters.

• The Register operates under policies and procedures to safeguard service users.

• Complaints handling is delegated to the Professional Conduct Review Committee (PCRC).

• Other activities may be delegated to subcommittees or responsible bodies, with Board ratification as required.

The Advisory Board makes decisions on a majority vote basis.

• When votes are tied, the Chair’s decision serves as the casting vote.

• All decisions are formally recorded in meeting minutes to ensure transparency and accountability.

The Advisory Board’s functions include:

1. Setting entry, renewal, and maintenance standards for registration

2. Ensuring compliance with PSA requirements

3. Reviewing and approving or rejecting membership applications

4. Maintaining equivalent standards of entry across all applicants

5. Overseeing quality assurance and audits of Register processes

6. Defining and monitoring renewal requirements, including CPD and supervision

7. Keeping the Register aligned with current regulatory requirements

8. Acting on decisions or sanctions from the PCRC

9. Updating and maintaining the Register’s Risk Register

10. Reviewing safeguarding issues and capturing them in risk assessments

11. Reviewing and updating the Code of Professional Practice and compliance declarations

12. Ensuring fair and equal treatment under the Equality Act (2010)

13. Maintaining and reviewing the Standards of Education and Training

14. Assessing non-Athena qualifications for equivalence

15. Promoting the benefits of Equine Facilitated Interactions to public health and care services

16. Developing a public engagement and awareness strategy to maintain public confidence

Members are expected to act in the best interest of the Register at all times.

• Any member with a personal, professional, or financial conflict relating to a matter under discussion must declare it.

• In complaint or investigation matters, conflicted members may provide factual input but must recuse themselves from deliberations and final votes.

• The Register maintains a formal Conflicts Register to ensure transparency and integrity.

• Accounting is subcontracted to:

  Ian S. Anderson

  Chartered Accountant & Registered Auditor

  Chartam House, 16 College Avenue, Maidenhead, SL6 6AX

• Accounting reports are submitted to each Advisory Board meeting.

• Members involved in complaint-related investigations must recuse themselves from final decisions.

• A conflicts register is maintained and all members act in line with the Conflicts of Interest Policy.

The Terms of Reference are living governance documents that may be updated to reflect:

• Changes in regulatory requirements or PSA guidance

• Updates to best practice in Equine Facilitated Interactions

• Adjustments to operational or strategic needs of the Register

Any proposed amendment must:

1. Be submitted in writing for review by the Advisory Board

2. Receive the majority approval of all Board members, including the Chair

3. Be recorded in the official minutes and published as part of the Register’s governance record