I’ve recently become a grandfather for the second time.
Sophia has joined my family. And my family is better and stronger and happier
for her arrival.
Over recent months, UK clinical psychologists have come to
the conclusion that the time has come – in order better to promote the principles
they value, the best interests of the NHS, their clients and their profession –
to establish a new professional body, the ‘Association of Clinical
Psychologists’. In my view, this is a positive move. There are many reasons to
hope that such a new organisation will l be successful. And I strongly believe
that the British Psychological Society should actively work with this new
group; actively negotiating a division of responsibilities and discussing
robust mechanisms of joint working.
My position, outlined in writing and presented at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Division of Clinical Psychology
in York on 5th June, is that there was a powerful argument for the
establishment of a new body. I argued that the BPS as it is currently
constituted is too big and disparate to be cohesive and effective, and clinical
psychology needs either very radical, very rapid reform of the Society (which
now seems highly unlikely) or its own organisation. I likened this to the birth
of a granddaughter; a new and welcome member of a family, rather than a rival
or alternative. I suggested that the birth of a new professional body for clinical
psychologists, working with, but independent of, the existing BPS, was rather
like the relationship between the Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Physicians (or indeed the British
Medical Association). I pointed out that, if the activities demanded by the clinical
psychologists was indeed the remit of the British Psychological Society, then
we should simply get on with business, but that has proved difficult for many
years, and I am sadly not optimistic. Alternatively, if these activities (as we
have repeatedly been told) lie outside (‘ultra vires’) the Society’s
responsibilities, then both parties should logically be happy for a new organisation
to take on these duties.
Now that a decision to establish a new organization for clinical
psychologists has been taken, I repeat my position that I think the BPS should
work with it, even actively negotiate a division of responsibilities. Unfortunately,
my colleagues on the British Psychological Society Board of Trustees disagreed.
Their collective position was that the Society needed to press forwards with
one message; that the Society (and only the Society) was the natural home for psychology
and psychologists. This ‘one Society’ message was, and is, in significant
contrast to my message of ‘we need to discuss respective areas of
responsibility’. Hence, my position as a Trustee became untenable.
My position has really not changed. I am more than proud of the
work I have done with and for the Society over the years. We have had major
successes, and I think we have worked hard and effectively to take forwards the
promotion of the effectiveness and utility of the science and practice of psychology
and psychologists, pure and applied.
I remain proud to remain a Member of the British Psychological
Society, and I am confident that we will continue to be successful in promoting
the Society’s charitable objects. I do now, however, think that the time has come
for a new, more dynamic, professional body for clinical psychologists. I very
strongly hope – and believe – that the existing BPS and any new body will
rapidly learn to work together on issues of mutual interest and learn to divide
up areas of responsibility rather than compete fruitlessly. I shall work actively
to that end… just not as a Trustee of the British Psychological Society.
Nice
ReplyDeleteNice information, valuable and excellent design, as share good stuff with good ideas and concepts, lots of great information and inspiration.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Online Dissertation Proposal