This is a unique opportunity to Chair the committee of a ground-breaking project to set out the training requirements and practice standards for counselling and psychotherapy. Background The counselling and psychotherapy professions are not regulated by statute, they are instead held to account via the accredited registers scheme under the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). The PSA sets minimum standards for registration with the focus on public protection. There are several accredited registers in the field of counselling and psychotherapy and each Register has its own distinct standards of training and practice.
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) are seeking an Independent Chair who can provide effective and dynamic leadership of the SCoPEd Oversight Committee (SOC) ensuring that the partners focus on the aims and objectives of the project and, manage the work effectively to achieve a shared competence framework. The Independent Chair will share a passion for the vital work that the partners undertake for the profession and will work closely with the Chief Executives of the partners along with the Chair of the Technical Group. They will help the SOC navigate the challenges and opportunities of the project and build on the new collaboration.
They are looking for an exceptional individual with considerable experience in strategic leadership, change management and professional standards. This is a unique and exciting role offering the chance to make a real contribution to the future of counselling and psychotherapy professionals working with adults. The Independent Chair will have relevant experience of, and success in, leading committees of this kind. A strategic thinker, with excellent relationship-building skills they will identify and encourage collaborative working, thinking about how the SOC can achieve the project aims and objectives for the benefit of members and the profession.
The role requires a high degree of tact and negotiation skills along with flexibility and commitment. The counselling and psychotherapy profession are fully committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, which the Independent Chair is also expected to champion. This is a lay role and applicants are not expected to be a member of a counselling and psychotherapy body. They particularly welcome applications from individuals outside the counselling, psychotherapy, and wider mental health profession in order to support full independence and facilitate the strategic nature of the group’s work.
The role of the independent Chair
- To prepare for and Chair the SOC meetings in a professional and effective manner
- To keep the focus on the objectives of the SCoPEd project
- To ensure that the SOC meetings are conducted according to the principles of equal participation allowing each member to have a voice
- To facilitate the process of achieving consensus where decisions need to be made
- To facilitate issue resolution and decision-making processes, as necessary, between meeting
