Press Release
HPC launch call for ideas on the statutory regulation of psychotherapists and counsellors
Wednesday, July 23 2008
Today the HPC has launched its ‘call for ideas’ seeking the views of stakeholders on the potential statutory regulation of psychotherapists and counsellors.
In February 2007, the government published a White Paper on the future of regulation, 'Trust, Assurance and Safety – The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century'. Subject to legislative approval, The White Paper recommended that psychotherapists and counsellors would be regulated by the HPC, and that this group would be a priority for future regulation.
In anticipation of the legislative approval, the HPC are undertaking a ‘call for ideas’ and believe it is an appropriate time to undertake work to explore possible arrangements for how psychotherapists and counsellors might be regulated.
The call for ideas provides stakeholders with a chance to put forward their ideas on regulation, ranging from how the Register should be structured for psychotherapists and counsellors, which titles should be protected and the potential size of the occupational field. Also the threshold level of qualification for entry to the Register as well as others areas.
The HPC will establish a Professional Liaison Group (PLG), which is a working group made up of external stakeholders with professional expertise set up to provide advice to the Council. The PLG will make recommendations to the Council, on issues relevant to the statutory regulation of Psychotherapists and Counsellors. The work of the PLG will inform the recommendations of the Council to the Secretary of State.
HPC President, Anna van der Gaag, commented, "The HPC welcomes the opportunity to regulate Psychotherapists and Counsellors. We want to understand the views of the many stakeholders involved and gather information about the field.
"We welcome the opportunity to learn from and build upon work which has already been undertaken in this area. The outcome of the 'call for ideas' will inform the work of the PLG. I would therefore encourage stakeholders to have their say by participating in this stage of the work"
The PLG will make recommendations to the HPC Council about the structure of the Register, protected titles, voluntary register transfer and grandparenting arrangements, standards of education and training; and standards of proficiency.
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