DCP Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities
The Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities is part of the Division of Clinical Psychology. We currently have over 500 members throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
About
The Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities provides a forum for clinical and practitioner psychologists with an interest in work with people with intellectual disabilities.
We have two main strategic roles:
- Promoting the psychological needs of people with intellectual disabilities within policy and practice, both nationally and in local services, within 'mainstream' and 'specialist' services
- Supporting clinical psychologists who work with people with an intellectual disability
If you have any queries regarding the work of the DCP Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities please contact the Member Networks Team.
Sign up to the FPID online community
Becoming a member of the community gives you the chance to ask questions, share research and network with fellow FPID members.
The Faculty for People With Intellectual Disabilities
Our aims
Our aims are to...
- Highlight the rights of people with an intellectual disability, enhance their status and promote a positive image.
- Support clinical psychologists to engage in best practice, and to develop their skills and experience in working with people with intellectual disability
- Enhance clinical psychologists' knowledge of current research, issues within the field and practice developments
- Provide consultation, both informally and formally, to promote the needs of people with intellectual disability and those who support them
- Promote a psychological understanding and the best psychological practice across the lives of people with intellectual disability, including families and carers, services, commissioners and the wider community
What we do
The Faculty is involved in a range of activities. These include:
- Publishing a quarterly journal The Bulletin
- Producing a regular Newsletter for our members
- Organising conferences and training events
- Producing briefing papers and policy documents
- Supporting regional groups of clinical psychologists who work with people with learning disabilities
- Liaising with other agencies and professional groups
- Providing feedback on policy documents that have been issued for consultation by the Department of Health and other organisations
Our committee
Chair: Jason Crabtree
Honorary Secretary: Sabiha Azmi
Honorary Treasurer: Tom Crossland
Committee Members:
- Alastair Barrowcliff
- Cathy Randle-Phillips
- Ellen Boddington
- Jenni Shaw
- Jonathan Codd
- Karen Dodd
- Reed Cappleman
CPD Lead: Jonathan Williams
Research & Development Lead: Kate Theodore
Training Lead: Alison Spencer
Website Editor: Melanie Hodgkinson
Physical Health Representative: Kate Allez
Northern Ireland Representative: Matthew McMurray
Scotland Representative: Moira Phillips
Acting Scotland Representative: Anna Whiteley
Wales Representative: Hayley Thomas
DCP Pre-Qualification Group Representative: Zara Rahman
If you would like to apply for any vacant positions, please complete a Statement of Interest form.
If you would like to find out if there are any other positions available, please contact the Member Networks Team.
News
Events
Guidelines
Resources
FPID Guidelines
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Psychological Therapies and People who have Intellectual Disabilities
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Psychologist working with People who have Intellectual Disabilities
Capacity
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Capacity guidelines - a guide to Best Interests Decision Making
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Capacity guidelines - capacity to consent to sexual relations
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Capacity guidelines - what makes a good assessment of capacity?
Professional practice
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Commissioning Clinical Psychology services for adults with learning disabilities
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Guidance on the Assessment and Diagnosis of Intellectual Disabilities in Adulthood
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Guidance on Neuropsychological Testing with Individuals who have Intellectual Disabilities
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Incorporating Attachment Theory Into Practice: Guidelines for Clinical
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Information leaflet - Therapy with a psychologist: understanding formulation
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Training and consolidation of clinical practice in relation to adults with intellectual disabilities
External resources
- Framework for the implementation of Trauma Informed Care in residential and supported living services for adults with a learning disability
- LD Professional Senate - Outcomes Paper
- Mini MANS-LD User Guide
- QNLD Standards for Adult Community Learning Disability Services
- QNLD Standards for Inpatient Learning Disability Services
- Quality outcome measure for individuals with dementia (QOMID)
- Quality outcome measure for individuals with dementia (QOMID) Scoring Sheet
What kinds of work do clinical psychologists do with people with learning disabilities?
Clinical Psychologists who work with people with Learning Disabilities talk about the type of work they carry out in their role.
How does clinical psychology help support service users?
The British Psychological Society's Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities meets service users to find out about the impact of psychological support.
What is the best thing about being a clinical psychologist working with people with learning disabilities?
Clinical Psychologists who work with people with Learning Disabilities talk about their favourite things about their role.
What might surprise you about being a clinical psychologist working with people with learning disabilities?
Clinical Psychologists who work with people with Learning Disabilities talk about what might surprise you about their role.
Bulletin of the Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities
The Bulletin of the Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities is a publication to keep clinical psychologists working in the field of learning disability informed about:
- Faculty and other relevant Society activities;
- innovative practice changes in statutory provisions and legislation related to people with intellectual disabilities;
- latest research; and
- training courses, events and conferences
It also provides a means for clinical psychologists, trainees and assistants to make contact with colleagues working with similar issues or projects.
Download editions of the bulletin
Read our special issue on Reducing Restrictive Practice for free:
Latest articles - FPID Bulletin
- Periodicals
Editorial - FPID Bulletin: The Bulletin of the Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Volume: 23 Issue: 1
Date of Publication: 01-04-2025
Author(s): Sabiha Azmi
- Periodicals
The WAIS V: Changes to test structure and content - FPID Bulletin: The Bulletin of the Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Volume: 23 Issue: 1
Date of Publication: 01-04-2025
Author(s): Nigel Beail
- Periodicals
Evaluating the impact of bereavement training on knowledge and confidence for staff and carers supporting people with learning disabilities - FPID Bulletin: The Bulletin of the Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Volume: 23 Issue: 1
Date of Publication: 01-04-2025
Author(s): Faith Hurley, Jenna Westbrook
- Periodicals
FPID Committee Regional Representatives - FPID Bulletin: The Bulletin of the Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Volume: 23 Issue: 1
Date of Publication: 01-04-2025
- Periodicals
Adapting a DBT informed programme for people with intellectual disabilities: Reflections - FPID Bulletin: The Bulletin of the Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Volume: 23 Issue: 1
Date of Publication: 01-04-2025
Author(s): Katie Kane, Stephanie Simpson
Projects
Here you'll find information on current and past projects overseen by the FPID.
Reducing Restrictive Practice and Improving Quality of Life
Outcome Measures for Challenging Behaviour
Stopping over medication of people with a learning disability, autism or both (STOMP)
The Faculty is focusing on promoting the physical health of individuals with intellectual disability and guidelines will be published soon.
Fun & fitness: a community sport’s development programme for adults with learning disabilities
Exploration of body perception and body dissatisfaction in young adults with intellectual disability
Achieving Quality and Safety Improvement - Improvement Cymru Strategy
One of the primary aims of the faculty is to share best practice and innovative work through our annual Advancing Practice Conference, the Faculty Bulletin and our online forums and communities.
We're keen to acknowledge individuals at different stages of their career who are actively engaged in this inspiring work and would like to invite members to nominate themselves or their colleagues for one of our FPID Career Awards
We hope that this will provide an exciting opportunity both to recognise the great work being undertaken and to facilitate its wider dissemination amongst colleagues.
FPID Aspiring Psychologist Award - deadline: 16 March 2025
We're looking to identify and highlight dedicated practitioners who are in the early stages of their careers.
This may be an assistant psychologist, trainee or qualified clinical or other practitioner psychologist (up to three years post qualification), who has made a significant contribution to working with people with intellectual disabilities.
Criteria
Nominees/applicants must fulfil or showcase the following criteria in order to be considered for this award:
Early stage career
- Be an assistant, trainee or qualified clinical or other practitioner psychologist up to three years post qualification
Working with people with Intellectual Disabilities
- Holding a post in intellectual disabilities services (inpatient, community, intensive support team, forensic etc) or during their training is undertaking clinical placements or research with this client group.
- Working clinically with clients with Intellectual Disabilities using a range of psychological assessment and intervention methodologies to address clinical issues, presentations or complexity that are common amongst people with Intellectual Disabilities.
An active member of an FPID regional special interest group
- Regular attendee, contributor or committee member in a local group
Demonstrating commitment and enthusiasm in their role
- An enthusiastic proponent of working with people with Intellectual Disabilities, demonstrating passion and professionalism.
Commitment to the needs of people with intellectual disabilities
- Shows an outstanding commitment to or creativity for working with people with Intellectual Disabilities and has successfully implemented innovative work as a result of this.
- This work can be at an individual, group, service, consultative or community level. It will be assessed with reference to whether the person is an assistant, trainee or qualified practitioner.
An advocate of Intellectual Disability psychology
Sharing and encouraging others to share their enthusiasm for work with people with Intellectual Disabilities, for example by:
- Contribution to innovation in their service with plans to develop this beyond their team
- Supporting the culture of inclusion and accessibility across services
- Actively seeking the input of people with Intellectual Disabilities and their families into wider service issues
- Encouraging the local community to be more Intellectual Disability inclusive and accessible
How to apply
Please consult the supplied applicant/nominee criteria and write a short statement (500 words maximum, plus three - four easy-to-read summary bullet points) as to why your nominated person should be considered for this award.
To nominate someone, you must be an FPID member (full membership, affiliate membership or associate membership).
Nominees for the FPID Aspiring Psychologist Award do not need to be current FPID members, but should be an active member of an FPID regional Special Interest Group.
Nominations will be reviewed by a panel including FPID Committee members and/or FPID members and experts by experience.
The prize (a certificate and book tokens for £100) will be presented at the FPID Annual Advancing Practice Conference in May 2025.
The successful nominee will be invited to present a paper or poster at the annual conference or other event, to be agreed with the Chair of the FPID Committee and/or to write an article for The FPID Bulletin, demonstrating an innovative piece of work with people with Intellectual Disabilities.
Submit a nomination/application
Please note: you should specify which award you are submitting for.
If you have any questions please contact the FPID Faculty Chair.
FPID Innovation / Significant Contribution Award - deadline: 16 March 2025
We're looking to identify and highlight dedicated qualified clinical or other practitioner psychologists in regional areas who have worked for several years in Intellectual Disabilities services, focussing on the needs of people with Intellectual Disabilities, the role of psychology and the work of FPID in delivering good care, and demonstrate innovation in their work.
Consider achievements in:
- Service / quality improvement / transformation within service
- Creative and innovative practice
- Outstanding contribution to teamwork
- Leadership from within i.e. not necessarily in a formal lead role
- Supporting wellbeing of colleagues
- Work specifically impacting on or promoting equality/diversity and inclusion
- Innovations using digital formats in promoting care delivery
Criteria
Nominees/applicants must fulfil or showcase the following criteria in order to be considered for this award:
Career stage
- More than five years after qualification as a clinical or other practitioner psychologist
Working with people with intellectual disabilities
- Holding a post within an Intellectual Disabilities service (inpatient, community, intensive support team, forensic etc)
An active member of an FPID regional special interest group
- Regular attendee, contributor or committee member in a local group
Demonstrating commitment and enthusiasm in their role
- Significant evidence of mentoring and supervising others working in intellectual disabilities
- Developing new ideas within services which show innovation in improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities
- Instigating, following up and evaluating projects in intellectual disabilities
Commitment to the needs of people with Intellectual Disabilities
- Shows an outstanding commitment for working with people with Intellectual Disabilities, and has successfully implemented innovative work as a result of this
- This work can be at an individual, group, service, consultative, community or training level
- Going above and beyond the work through links with agencies supporting people with Intellectual Disabilities, voluntary roles or personal links
A known advocate of Intellectual Disability psychology
Sharing and encouraging others to share their enthusiasm for working with people with intellectual disabilities, for example by:
- Offering talks to team members, teaching on the DClinPsy or other practitioner psychologist training courses
- Being engaged in FPID work at a regional or national level, presenting work through conferences, and / or publication of service development, research or other work related to people with intellectual disabilities
- Actively seeking the input of people with intellectual disabilities and their families into wider service issues and innovation projects
- Implementing projects that encouraging the local community and other services to be more Intellectual Disability inclusive and accessible
- Engaging sectors of the public in discussion about people with intellectual disabilities.
- Developing the culture of inclusion and accessibility across services
A team player
- Demonstrating good working relationships within services, wider agencies working with people with intellectual disabilities, and FPID regional
How to apply
Please consult the supplied applicant/nominee criteria and write a short statement (500 words maximum, plus three – four easy to read summary bullet points) as to why you think your nominated person should be considered for this award.
Both the nominee and the person providing the nomination must be FPID members (full membership, affiliate membership or associate membership).
Nominations will be reviewed by a panel including FPID Committee members and/or FPID members, and experts by experience.
The prize (Certificate and gift vouchers of £200) will be presented at the FPID Annual conference in May 2025.
The successful nominee will be invited to present a paper or poster at the annual conference or other event, to be agreed with the Chair of the FPID Committee and/or to write an article for The FPID Bulletin, demonstrating an innovative piece of work with people with Intellectual Disabilities.
Submit a nomination/application
Please note: you should specify which award you are submitting for.
If you have any questions please contact the FPID Faculty Chair.
Join
Apply to join the faculty (students, affiliates, e-subscribers)
Apply to join the faculty (graduate, chartered, and in-training members)
Membership of the Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities is only open to members of the British Psychological Society.
There are three grades of faculty membership:
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Full membership
For psychologists who are Full Members of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) and who work in or have an interest or expertise in the field of people with intellectual disabilities.
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Affiliate membership
For psychologists who are General (Pre-Training) and In-Training members of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP). Affiliate members may take part in discussions but may not vote.
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Associate membership
For General members of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) and non-Division members. Associate members may take part in discussions but may not vote.
If you are not already a member, you can join the faculty at the same time as applying for membership of the society.
Benefits of belonging
Benefits of Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities membership
The Faculty promotes awareness of current research, issues within the field and models of clinical practice at all levels of service provision, as well as within the profession, through conferences accessible to psychologists and others of all levels of experience.
Benefits include conferences and events, briefing papers and policy documents and liaising with other agencies and professional groups.
Member Announcement Email List
The Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities uses its membership announcement email list to inform its members of activities and initiatives that are relevant to their interests and to make requests for engagement on topical issues.
By becoming a member of the Faculty you are automatically added to the announcement list.
To receive these emails you will need to:
- become a member of the Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities
- opt into receiving email communication and provide a working email address
These preferences can be updated by logging into your member portal.
If you have any queries, please contact Member Network Services.
To assist us in responding to your query please make sure to include your membership number and quote 'Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities announcement email' in the subject line.
Member Discussion Email List
To join the Member Discussion List please login to your member portal and click on the Preferences tile, where you'll be able to join the discussion list.
To receive discussion list emails you will need to be
- a member of the DCP Faculty for People With Intellectual Disabilities
- opted into receiving email communication from the Society (you can change your preference by logging onto your account via the member portal)
Getting involved with Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities Committee
The Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities relies on a wide range of people getting involved, and the work of the Faculty is largely achieved through the dedication of unpaid volunteers.
Our volunteers come from a wide range of different backgrounds, whether they be practitioners or academics, or full members or in-training members, and together form an open and inclusive community.