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Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP)

By Tim Cate (Chair, Division of Clinical Psychology)

2007 has been a year of consolidating and developing the newly re-organised Committee Structure of the Division, which was approved at the 2006 AGM. The Membership Services, Professional Standards and Policy Units are fully functioning and this has allowed the Executive Committee to focus on working towards the Strategy that was agreed with the Divisional Subsystems at our strategy meeting in April.

There have been many successes and achievements for the Division this year, not only in terms of accomplishing core strategic objectives, but reacting to members needs and working collegiately with other parts of the Society in response to external drivers.

Thus for the purposes of this report it is perhaps helpful if a summary of the main activities and strategic objectives are listed, together with a summary of progress to date.

Strategic Objectives 2007 - 2008

Objective 1 - Production of a Marketing Strategy

A Marketing Strategy is being developed in partnership with Mental Health Strategies and is on target to be delivered by the end of 2007, including any products that are being designed. The strategy is using a broad based approach highlighting the health and well being agenda and the contribution made by Clinical Psychologists across agencies and services, and is being developed as a tool to enable and empower Clinical Psychologists to sell their unique skills to commissioners.

Objective 2 - New Ways of Working

The Division has contributed heavily to the production of the New Ways of Working Report and Executive Summary and continues to engage with the on-going work of developing implementation plans and a regional roll out programme.

I am very proud of the work that has completed with this project and fully endorse the messages held within this report about how applied psychologists can make a greater contribution to creating healthier organisations for staff and more innovative and effective services for users and carers.

Objective 3 - Improving Access to Psychological Therapies

The Division has been heavily engaged in the developments concerning Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) and welcome the guidance that has been produced to psychologists, managers and commissioners that was produced by the IAPT Group of the New Ways of Working for Applied Psychologists project.

I am delighted about the recent funding announcement regarding the investment of £300 million over three years in IAPT and am proud of the important part that the Division has played in this important project.

Objective 4 - Record Keeping Guidelines

The development of guidelines for Record Keeping Guidelines for both paper and electronic records could not come at a more appropriate time, especially with the adoption of the National Health Service’s on-line based record system. I look forward to the publication of this important resource for our members.

Objective 5 - Member Networks (Subsystems) Services Review

The second stage of the Division’s re-organisation is to review the structure and function of the Branches, Faculties and Special Interest Groups of the Division, which have grown organically and reflects the vibrant and flourishing science and application of clinical psychology.

A working group made up of representatives of the Divisions subsystems have considered various structures and option appraisal, led by Jenny Taylor, Chair Elect, and Christine D’Netto, Honorary Secretary. A proposal is being developed and will be considered at our next Strategy Meeting in April.

Objective 6 - Diversity

The Divisional Committee are actively engaging with the Race and Culture Faculty to address the need for race and culture issues to be considered in all of its activities and reflect the diverse nature of our clients and members.

Apart from the Strategic Objectives of the Division, there has been a great deal of activity in terms of committee business, led by the units previously mentioned.

The Membership Services Unit has been delivering and developing services to our members in the form of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Workshops, that are free to members and are planning the programme for 2008. An exciting development in this area is an on-line resource where members can download workshops to enhance their professional practice instead of attending workshops; this will be available in 2008.

The Professional Standards Unit, in conjunction with the divisional subsystems have produced a number of Good Practice Guidelines and Briefing Papers to enhance resources and information available to our members. Another important area of work for this unit is the safe guarding of training standards and professional practice together with leading the Division on work force issues.

The Policy Unit has led the Division’s input to Government Consultations and it’s input to Society Activity in terms of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, among others has safe guarded the theatre of the provision of clinical psychological interventions.

Through out all of this activity, the Division has been encouraged and supported by the Service User and Carer Liaison Committee to change its culture of its communication and decision making resulting in a move to a more open and publicly comprehensible mode of operation. Their insight about what makes a difference to service users and carers and their perspective priorities has proved invaluable.

In summary, looking back 2007 has been a very busy and productive year! On a personal note, my term of office is ending in December 2007 at our AGM and Jenny Taylor will take on the mantle of leading the Division.

My personal thanks goes to all of you who have given your gift of time and expertise that has resulted in particularly successful year for the Division and I look forward to seeing the Division build on those achievements in 2008. I also wish to thank the Team at the Society Offices in Leicester for their help and support during the last year, namely Lynn Hartshorn, Liam Gallagher, Courtney Rawle and Lynn Williamson.