We are selective about who we work with. Every homeopath on the Similia network meets the following minimum standards before we make a single referral. We verify this ourselves. It is not self-reported.
Registration
All practitioners must be registered with a recognised professional body. For homeopaths, this means the Society of Homeopaths (RSHom or MRSHom), the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths, or the Faculty of Homeopathy for medically qualified practitioners.
Registration means the practitioner has met the educational and ethical requirements of their professional body and is subject to its code of conduct and complaints process. You can verify a practitioner’s registration at any time via the Society of Homeopaths register at homeopathy-soh.org.
Qualification
All practitioners must hold a recognised qualification in homeopathy from an accredited training programme. In practice this means completion of a four year degree level programme or equivalent.
Insurance
All practitioners must hold current professional indemnity insurance. This protects you as a patient in the event of a complaint or clinical incident.
Continuing professional development
All practitioners must be engaged in ongoing CPD as required by their professional body. Homeopathy, like all healthcare disciplines, evolves. We expect our practitioners to be actively engaged in their own development.
Code of ethics
All practitioners must practise in accordance with the code of ethics of their professional body. This covers areas including informed consent, confidentiality, scope of practice and the relationship between homeopathy and conventional medicine.
GP signposting
All practitioners on our network are expected to signpost patients to their GP where clinically appropriate. Homeopathy is not a substitute for conventional medical care. Any practitioner who discourages a patient from seeking conventional treatment where it is indicated is not someone we will work with.
Student practitioners and the Low Cost Clinic
Year 3 and Year 4 student homeopaths on our Low Cost Clinic programme are completing their clinical hours as part of an accredited four year degree programme. They are supervised, insured through their training institution and practise under the ethical framework of their programme.
They are not yet fully qualified or registered, and we are transparent about this. Low Cost Clinic patients are matched with student practitioners only where we judge it appropriate for the presenting concern. For complex or long-standing conditions, we will recommend a fully qualified practitioner.