Special Group for Independent Practitioners

The Special Group of Independent Practitioners (SGIP) provides support to members to develop their practices in a variety of ways that would not breach Competition Law, such as "how to manage and price your time and market your services".

This included a special Peer Hub meeting in November 2022 and there will be another one in Spring 2023.

Please make sure you are aware of competition law and how this could potentially be an issue when discussing charging practices.

Below is the text provided by Hannah Farndon, Policy Advisor for Professional Practice (who advises the Practice Board), followed by extracts from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Competition Law

Could you please make sure you are aware of competition law and how this could potentially be an issue when discussing charging practices.

The government website has some helpful information and guidance available here.

- Hannah Farndon

The government website also provides some competition law guidance.

The website of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has some specific guidance and a case study describing the action taken against a group of medical consultants and a private health provider who undertook to fix prices for the price of an initial consultation.

The CMA has provided a lessons learned section;

Lessons learnt

• never agree to fix prices or share future pricing information with competitors; it can be illegal to agree on pricing even if you don't have to change your prices as a consequence
• never suggest or try to facilitate an arrangement where competitors fix or coordinate prices or share future pricing information
• you can find out what prices are charged by your competitors where this information is publicly available, but you must not discuss with rivals their future prices or pricing intentions
• if 2 or more competitors participate in an anti-competitive arrangement, whether written or verbal, it is illegal - it doesn't matter if not all competitors in the market participate
• if you are approached to join an illegal pricing arrangement – reject the approach immediately and unequivocally, and report the incident to the CMA
• regardless of whether you are a medical practitioner in private practice, a small business or a sole trader - competition law equally applies to you

There are a million ways to market an independent practice.

Your strategy will depend on your specific goals, skills and the time you can allocate to marketing.

In this webinar, we will discuss how to create an effective and efficient marketing strategy for your practice so you can fill up your books with ideal clients without wasting precious time on "busy work."

One of the key benefits of being a member of the Special Group for Independent Practitioners (SGIP) is our dedicated email list. It gives members the ability to be in contact with, ask questions of, seek advice from and just chew the fat with a wide range of independent psychologists from all of the BPS divisions and across the UK.

It is easy to join the list and it enables you to post an enquiry and  receive views, feedback and facts from those who have previous experience or are undergoing similar difficulties or opportunities.

To join the discussion list you will need to be a member of SGIP, opt into receiving email communication from the Society and provide a working email address. You can change your settings by logging into the member portal and then 'Preferences'.

To be added to the discussion group you need to email Member Networks at the BPS to request the address. Please include your membership number and you will need to use the email address linked to your membership record to participate in the discussion.

Thinking about Intellectual property (IP), copyright, and trademarking can feel overwhelming for those of us in private practice.

They can then become things we put to one side and forget about. But as we'll learn in this webinar, it's as important to protect our business interests, as it is to safeguard our clients and patients. 

In this 90-minute webinar, you'll learn:

• Why it's so important to get a handle on your IP
• The key things to think about and do when it comes to protecting your IP
• How to protect the copyright of products and services
• What it means to trademark things such as your business name and products

Speaker information

Clare Veal is lawyer specialising in commercial, intellectual property, e-commerce, consumer and data protection. She works extensively with psychologists in private practice across the range of specialisms, including clinical, educational, and forensic psychology.

Watch the webinar

This recording is for SGIP members only.

If you cannot see the video please sign in to your BPS account and refresh the page.

Most psychologists have experience of offering telephone consultations, and there are many similar considerations in having a video session.

There is good evidence that therapy can be delivered competently via different media, is usually acceptable to the client, and that it is possible to build up therapeutic relationships that are as strong as those formed in face-to-face therapy.

The information presented here is a resource for those planning video consultations and is not intended to replace local guidance.

It is recommended that you also consult any policy and/or guidance documents relevant to your NHS Trust/organisation.

Read our top tips for providing effective therapy via video.

The resources here provide some recommended essentials you should have in place before seeing a client.

• Set Up Safely In Independent Practice - Resources
• Independent Practice - Cashflow Template

SGIP has commissioned four webinars on core areas identified on previous member surveys, as being of particular value to members; along with two Question and Answer Sessions and succinct summaries.  All of the webinar recordings and supporting summaries are available to SGIP members. 

Our four core areas for webinars are (two webinars are available now and the remaining two will be posted after the running of the webinars in September and October respectively):

• Selecting your particular specialism and market
• Different models of Independent Practice
• Financial aspects of independent practice* with a guest speaker - an accountant with IP Psychology expertise.
• Getting your independent practice known

Make sure you have logged in to the website to access the recordings.

Watch the webinars

Wendy Kendall is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Coaching Psychologist and registered coaching psychologist.

She spent the first 7 years of her career working as a military psychologist specialising in training, performance, and organisational development. In 2003, she moved to France and set up her first private practice, specialising in talent and organisational development in global companies.

In 2008, she became an associate partner of a Hamburg-based consultancy, running multinational teams delivering programmes such as assessment and development centres, strategic corporate mentoring programmes and executive coaching for international companies. 

She has since moved across borders twice more, taking her private practice with her each time. In 2013, she started to focus on building her own brand specialising in supporting international companies to move executives around the world. This shift in focus led to colleagues asking her to mentor them to build their own brands and companies.

Wendy was struck by the comparative lack of talent development opportunities for psychologists in private practice. So in late 2017, she launched the first iteration of the talent and organisational development programme for psychologists in private practice called The Psychology Practice Accelerator. This programme grew rapidly and in 2020, Wendy co-founded Inspiring Psychology Practices, where she is now the principal coach.

You can connect with Wendy and find out more about her career on LinkedIn.

Dr Zenobia Nadirshaw is a Clinical Psychologist who spent many years in the Learning Disability Psychology Service at Harperbury Hospital in Hertfordshire, rising through the ranks until she became the Head of Service and Leader of its resettlement programme which led to the successful closure of the hospital.

It was during the years of resettlement that Zenobia began to understand the impact of cultural clashes and misunderstandings between services and individuals from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds .

Zenobia became a founder and champion of the campaign for recognition of the needs of BAME communities in the BPS and in Local Authority and NHS services.

She was lauded for that work in an article about her contribution to the BPS in The Psychologist  in 2020.

The BPS presented her with an Award for Challenging Inequality of Opportunities in Edinburgh in 1997, and she received an Honorary Life Member Award of the British Psychological Society  in 2016,

She had received the British Medical Association 2001 Book of the Year Award for "Clinical Psychology, 'Race' and Culture: A Training Manual", and she was made a Professor University of West London and Vice Professor at the University of Exeter and has three Honorary Doctorates for her teaching and publications.

Today, Zenobia is the President of the World Zoroastrian Organisation , and she passionately promotes her cultural and religious identity.

The list of Zenobia's achievements and awards is too long to list in full, but they include;-

• The TIAW "World of Difference Award "(2012) which she received alongside Hilary Clinton in Washington DC
• "The Inspiring Woman of the Year Award" (2016)
• 'Key to the City of London' An honour bestowed at the Guildhall, City of London (2017)
• An MBE at Buckingham Palace from Prince William in 2019

Elaine Iljon-Foreman is a highly regarded independent psychologist, owner of Freedom to Fly, a company that specialises in the treatment of fear of flying and other anxiety related problems.

She holds an Honours Degree from Durham University, and a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Aberdeen University.

She is Chartered, and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS), an HCPC Registered Practitioner (Clinical) and is BABCP and UKCP accredited.

Her highly specialised treatment programme is based on over 340 years of clinical experience, and on her ongoing research and development of cognitive behaviour therapy.

Research into the treatment of anxiety has been undertaken at Middlesex Hospital Medical School and invitations to present her findings have taken her to Europe, the Americas, Australia and the Far East.

Lectures and workshops are given both nationally and internationally on an ongoing basis to professional and self help audiences.

Elaine's many interviews on radio and T.V. programmes, along with her research results have been presented on an international platform.

Her professional views are regularly sought by TV and Radio in recognition of her clinical research into anxieties and phobias.

Elaine has published extensively in her specialist field.

Elaine is also a Committee Member of the Leadership and Management Faculty of the BPS and is the BPS Representative for the National Reading Well Books on Prescription Scheme.

Dr Louise Langman is a clinical psychologist, HCPC registered practitioner psychologist, chartered scientist and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. 

Dr Langman is on the Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors and has served previously as Chair Elect of the South West of England Branch of the British Psychological Society (2012-2018). In 2023, Dr Langman joined the British Psychological Society Practice Board as a representative for Independent Practice. 

As a compassionate clinician, researcher and educator, Dr Langman is aware of the multiple challenges and opportunities for psychology professionals in Independent Practice.

Motivated to improve access to evidence based psychological services across the lifespan, Dr Langman founded Flourish Psychology in 2015. Flourish is now an award-winning dynamic family friendly clinical psychology practice offering assessment, therapy, supervision, training and consultation.

By joining the Special Group of Independent Practitioners, Dr Langman supports and connect psychologists who are engaged in our evolving profession, across specialities and settings, at all stages of their careers, to strengthen our ethical business, practice and leadership skills.

Dr Carole Allan, is a Clinical Psychologist, chartered by the British Psychological Society and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.  

Her career has spanned a variety of clinical leadership, organizational, and academic roles within the NHS in Scotland.  

She has held a variety of roles within the BPS.  This has included Chair of the Special Group of Independent Practitioners, Chair of the Committee for Training in Clinical Psychology, Chair of the Professional Practice Board, and BPS President and Honorary General Secretary for the Society.  

She is a Trustee with a national mental health charity and provides advice on clinical governance.

She now practices as an independent clinical psychologist. Her clinical interests are in the fields of mental health, addictions, trauma, occupational health.  and the governance aspects of clinical practice.

In 2021 was awarded Honorary Life Membership for outstanding service to psychology through the British Psychological Society.

Carole is also a member of the Division of Clinical Psychology, the Leadership and Management Faculty (DCP), Defence and Security Section and Crisis, Disaster and Trauma Section.

Dr Hayley Lewis is an award-winning psychologist with 25 years' experience in the field of organisational and business psychology.

She has been an independent practitioner, with her own consultancy, since 2016. Her specific areas of expertise are leadership and management behaviour and how this can impact team and organisational performance and culture, and she works with organisations and leaders across all sectors with these issues.

In addition to this, Hayley's academic research is focused on female entrepreneurs in the start-up phase of business, in particular the psychological factors that help them succeed. As well as working with leaders, as an executive coach, she also works as a business coach and mentor for female founders of one-person and micro-businesses in HR, Training, and across different domains of psychology.

Prior to starting her own coaching and consultancy business, Hayley's experience included 11 years leading various local government services. Before this, Hayley spent eight years at the BBC where she was an organisational psychologist, supporting leadership development and executive assessment activity.

As well as running her own consultancy, Hayley is also joint programme director for the two-year MRes in Professional Practice in Occupational Psychology, which is the first stage of the Professional Doctorate in Occupational Psychology, at Birkbeck, University of London.

Hayley regularly shares practical evidence-based tools, tips and her very popular one-page sketchnotes via social media. And she is often sought as an expert commentator by the media. She is a Chartered Coaching Psychologist, Registered Occupational Psychologist, Certified Principal Business Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Fellow of the RSA.

In recent years, Hayley has twice been identified as one of the most influential thinkers in HR, by HR Magazine.

Dr Esther Cole worked in the NHS for 12 years and joined the independent sector in 2017. She is a Visiting Lecturer, Founder and Clinical Director of her Prestige Award-Winning team: Lifespan Psychology - The Diverse Practice®.

As a third-generation British Jamaican Psychologist managing long-term conditions, as a Mum of three, Dr Cole warmly welcomes clients from all walks of life and has a passion for supporting people living alongside mental, physical or neurological difficulties and trauma.

Dr. Cole is co-editor of Psychological Therapy for Paediatric Acquired Brain Injury: Innovations for Children, Young People & Families (Jim, J. & Cole, E. 2019. London: Routledge), and is honoured to be the first Black Psychologist to receive the Early Career Award 2020 from the BPS. She also holds a position on the committee of the BPS

Esther is also a member of the Division of Clinical Psychology Diversity & Inclusion Sub-Committee

Paul-John Griffiths has spent the past few years assisting with the Peer Practice Hubs, and facilitating Cafe Psychologique Networking Events alongside Chirstine Hamilton, Elaine Iljon-Forman, Louise Langham, Clare Mulligan-Foster and Esther Cole.

Paul sits on the Professional Practice Board's HCPC Sub-Group representing Independent Practitioners, and shares the DFP/SGIP Liaison Role with Rachael Wheatley, representing Independent Forensic Practitioner Psychologist on the SGIP Committee.

Paul has been in private practice since October 1999, with a history of working for Statutory Agencies (NPS & NHS), together with Not for Profit, and Charitable Organisations.

As a Forensic Psychologist, Paul balances his psycho-legal work, alongside a small private clinical practice, providing specialist support to Health & Custodial Services, as well individuals & groups seeking psychotherapeutic interventions, for difficulties that may include complex trauma, personality, substance use, and neurodiversity issues.

Paul also sits on the Advisory Panel for HMP Grendon (GAP), still the UK's only Therapeutic Prison, run entirely as a Therapeutic Community (TC), and continues to maintain an active interest in Offending Behaviours, especially with young people who commit serious and specific offences.

He is an active campaigner for human rights within custodial and correctional environments, that currently includes the facilitation for neurodiverse individuals, to navigate the UK's legal system, from arrest to discharge, and moreover, reintegration with adequate adjustments/accommodations, into mainstream society.

Dr Rachael Wheatley is a British Psychological Society chartered forensic psychologist and Health and Care Professions Council registered (practitioner) psychologist. Dr Wheatley is a full member of the Division of Forensic Psychology, a BPS chartered scientist, associate fellow of the BPS, holds a European Certificate in Psychology, and has an expert witness qualification.

Dr Wheatley has worked for Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Services (UK) Psychology Services Group for 21 years and now oversees forensic psychology professional practice programmes, including the innovative online postgraduate diploma in Forensic Psychology Practice, at the university of Derby.

She is also an independent practitioner, continuing to provide psychological risk assessments, individual interventions, supervision, training, and consultancy, specialising in addressing stalking (and related VAWG offending).

Dr Wheatley was the lead author on the recently published BPS practitioner guide for psychologists working with those who have engaged in stalking and is the co-developer of the Early Awareness Stalking Intervention (EASI), working in partnership with the police and providing therapeutic interventions with people investigated for stalking offences.  

Dr Wheatley has specialised in working with people who have stalked for the last 15 years and completed her Doctor of Psychology degree on what drives men who stalk and how practitioners can best respond to their needs, publishing widely on this topic.

Dr Wheatley is particularly interested in raising awareness of stalking behaviours and in working to improve (early) interventions with those who stalk and is a proud trustee with the Alice Ruggles Trust. She is also a committee member for the BPS Division of Forensic Psychology and being new to working in independent practice, recently joined Paul Griffiths, her DFP Committee Colleague, to share the DFP/SGIP Liaison Role, representing independent Forensic Practitioner Psychologist on the SGIP Committee. 

Dr Wheatley remains research active, is widely published (including peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters and book editing), is an editorial board reviewer for the Journal of Forensic Practice, maintains a large network of industry partnerships, and is often invited as presenter as conferences, or in recording podcasts and interviews on the topic of stalking.  

• The SGIP Discussion List - where IP's share knowledge, tips, ideas, concerns, requests for specialist services with each other (monitored by the Committee to enable topics of concern are quickly addressed and if helpful-escalated to BPS staff, Board of Trustees etc). 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. 
• A series of tailored webinars on IP specific topics such as Marketing, Social Media, Setting Up, Growing and Closing their IP business.
• AND coming soon a one-hour Lunchtime webinar Series
• Day long CPD workshops-heavily subsidised for SGIP members
• Peer Practice Hubs-where IP's can meet virtually- share experiences, personal observations about trends in IP and questions they'd  like to share with others "in the same boat".
• Representation of IP interests at Practice Board
• Brief Updates on matter of specific interest to IP's 

• E-Learning Packages for IP's 
• Develop Independent Practice toolkits for members to use including templates; how to guides; case-studies and sources of information and FAQ's extracted from our webinars.
• Provide updates on key changes which may impact Independent Practitioners or be of prime interest on the website and the members' Newsletter.
• Mentoring for members at key points in their careers
• Attracting IP's from more Divisions and Branches to ensure IP needs are visible and more likely to be met.

The Special Group for Independent Practitioners uses its e-newsletter to inform its members of activities and initiatives that are relevant to their interests and to make requests for engagement on topical issues. 

To receive this you will need to:

1. become a member of the Special Group for Independent Practitioners
2. check your email preferences that you have opted into receiving emails
3. ensure that your email address is correct

You can check your preferences by logging into your member portal.