(BACP Questions and BICA Response) A set of questions on The Statutory Regulation of Counselling and Psychotherapy – the establishment of a voluntary register and standards for approved qualifications are to be addressed at a meeting of counselling associations on September 28th organised by BACP. Sheila Pike and Judith Baron will represent BICA at the meeting. The questions and BICA's responses are detailed below. If you have any comments or would like an update on the outcome of the meeting, please contact Sheila (0114 2361539 or sheilapike@hotmail.com)

1. Given that it is a prerequisite for an application to the HPC for the statutory regulation of any occupation that there be a voluntary register or registers representing at least 25% of the applicant occupation, is your organization in favour of the establishment of such a voluntary register?

BICA is strongly in favour of a voluntary register in advance of statutory regulation.

2. What do you see as the objectives of such a register?

To set standards of ethical and professional practice which will safeguard both clients and practitioners.
To recognize and encompass the need for additional education and experience in specialist fields to ensure ethical standards of practice.
To oversee the implementation and maintenance of such standards
To identify CPD requirements in relation to the maintenance of such standards and a clear format for fulfilling and evidencing these.
Ownership of our own professional standards and ethical conduct as practitioners
3. independent of the professional bodies and include significant lay involvement.

Would your organization support the establishment of such a register?
Would your organization be willing to place representatives on a steering group to establish such a register?
BICA would support the establishment of such a register and would welcome the opportunity to be closely involved. BICA has specialist knowledge and experience which we feel would be valuable to such a process. We would be willing to place a representative(s) on a steering group

4. Given that it is a prerequisite for an application to the HPC for the statutory regulation of any occupation that there be defined routes of entry and Quality Assurance Agency subject benchmarks or equivalent in existence, or being worked toward for the applicant occupation;

What qualifications should comprise the routes of entry to the register for counselling and psychotherapy?
Should these be limited to Higher Education qualifications?
BICA considers that entry to the register should be via Higher Eduction/Diploma level qualifications in counselling and psychotherapy (skills training/practice and personal development elements essential). However, we would also recommend a transitional period which would allow for counsellors with the necessary experience but not the appropriate qualifications to be able to evidence their competence in an agreed format.

5. All qualifications that are routes of entry to the register must be independently assessed. What impact would this have on your organization?

The Infertility Counselling Award is assessed by a National Assessment Board so BICA is already working with some form of ‘independent’ assessment. However. BICA members responding to this question have queried BACP’s definition of ‘independent’ and consider this question needs further clarification.

6. Entry to the register would be open to anyone practicing the occupation who met the registration standards. (In other words, registration could not be restricted to members of professional bodies or graduates of particular training courses.) Would your organization support this?

BICA would support this – we believe we have specialist services to offer our membership and that clear registration standards would allow us to focus our resources and expertise on these. We aim to provide our members with a range of CPD activities and material (education, specialist accreditation, literature, information services, study days and workshops) which will help them to apply their existing knowledge/skills and develop these further within the speciality of reproductive medicine and health.

Sheila Pike

BICA Chair

September 6th 2004