FAQs About the Society
Contents:
What is the British Psychological Society?
The British Psychological Society is the representative body for
psychology and psychologists in the UK, and the only body in the UK
which covers all areas of psychology. It is not a trade union but a
registered charity in the UK (Charity Registration Number : 229642).
Can you tell me what the Society does?
Broadly, the Society aims to raise standards of training and practice
in psychology, raise public awareness of psychology and increase the
influence of psychology practice in society. Through its Royal Charter,
the Society is also charged with overseeing psychology and
psychologists. You can find out more on the
About the Society page.
Approximately how many members does the Society have?
When the Society’s
Annual Report was published in 2006 we had around
45,000 members and this number is growing all the time. These
figures comprise of different types of members, including more than
12,000 Chartered Psychologists who are fully qualified to work with
clients.
How is the Society run?
The British Psychological Society is a democratic body run by its
members, using a tiered boards and committees system for
organisation
and governance. The
Society offices are in Leicester (the main administrative centre), Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and London. The British
Psychological Society is a registered charity in the UK (Charity
Registration Number : 229642) and is regulated by the
Charity
Commission.
Can I join the British Psychological Society?
The Society offers different grades of membership catering for those
who just have an interest in psychology through to those with formal
qualifications in the field. Details can be found on our
membership
pages.
What does membership of the Society entitle me to?
There are many
membership benefits that accompany being part of the
Society, including support from professional groups and networks, a
monthly copy of
The Psychologist (the Society’s in-house publication),
access to job vacancies (via the Society’s
Psychologist Appointments),
and discounts on Society journals, conference attendance, books and
much more.
I want to become a psychologist. Can the Society help me?
The Society’s
career pages contain information on what qualifications
and training you need, the different specialisations in psychology and
where to study.
Can the Society help me find a job as a psychologist?
The
Psychologist Appointments is available exclusively to
members as part of our monthly publication,
The Psychologist, and allows you to find jobs that suit you and your
qualifications as a psychologist, as well as read editorial features on
psychology roles. The online version also allows you to search for jobs
in your area, see full advertiser details and apply online.
What does the Society think about topics such as personality disorder, torture and hypnosis?
The Society’s Professional Practice Board issues statements (
position
papers and working party reports) on a range of topics that affect
psychologists and those they work with. The Society also publishes
guidelines developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical
Excellence. Responses to breaking news can often be found via the
What’s New? section of our
homepage or in our latest
press releases.
How does the Society protect the public?
Members of the Society have to adhere to a
Code of Conduct and can be
subject to disciplinary procedures if they break this code. The Society
also operates a
Register of Chartered Psychologists which contains
details of psychologists who have been judged ‘fit to practice
psychology without supervision’. It is not currently compulsory
to be a member of the Society for someone to call themselves a
psychologist so the Society is currently working with the government to
make statutory regulation of psychologists compulsory to offer greater
public protection.
How can I make a complaint against a psychologist?
Usually we can only investigate complaints about members of the Society
or someone who is not a member of the Society but is describing
themselves as such. Our
Regulatory Affairs Team will discuss the matter
with you if you are thinking of
making a complaint.
I haven't found the answers I was hoping for. What should I do?
Please contact the British Psychological Society (e-mail:
enquiries@bps.org.uk; tel: +44 (0)116 254 9568) and we will be happy to help.
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