HCPC guidelines

Question 1

HCPC (full name)

Answer 1

Health and Care Professions Code

Question 2

What does the HCPC guideline consist of (for practictioners)

Answer 2

guidelines for all practitioner psychologists
specific guidelines for practitioners:
- clinical psychologists (with extra guidelines for counselors)
- educational psychologists
- forensic psychologists
- health psychologists
- occupational psychologists
- sport psychologists.

Question 3

HCPC guidelines specifically for clinical psychologists

Answer 3

• Standards for education and training: For clinical psychologists, the minimum qualification required is a Master’s degree with BPS qualification and a doctorate.
• Standards for prescribing: There are standards for prescribing medication. This includes the knowledge and training to be able to prescribe appropriately and safely.
• Standards for counselors: Therapists offering counseling must understand the importance of empathy and imagination as well as the philosophy behind psychological therapies

Question 4

HCPC’s standards of proficiency (summary)

Answer 4

• legal & ethical boundaries
• impact of culture, equality & discrimination
• confidentiality
• safe practice

Question 5

Credibility of HCPC

Answer 5

SPECIFIC: The Standards refer to well-defined achievements that can be understood by anyone with a psychological background
MEASURABLE: It’s obvious when someone meets the Standard or falls beneath it
ATTAINABLE: The Standards aren’t impossible to meet; most practitioner psychologists meet them
RELEVANT: The Standards have specific expectations for clinical psychologists and other types of psychologists
TIME-BOUND: Members have to re-register every 2 years and show that they still meet the Standards

Question 6

Objections of HCPC

Answer 6

SPECIFIC: Just where do “legal and ethical boundaries” lie when it comes to clinical psychology?
MEASURABLE: The psychologist who took ecstasy in the company of her young clients was not engaging in “safe practice” but no actual harm was done to them.
ATTAINABLE: The accusation that the HCPC acts like a “moral police force” would mean that its Standards are unattainable for ordinary people with difficult private lives - or not enough money to fund expensive appeals.
RELEVANT: Are all the Standards equally relevant?
TIME-BASED: Is 2 years often enough for re-registration? Or too often?