Workforce and training updates - February 2021

Developments in Physical Healthcare

The National Psychological Professions Workforce Advisory Group had agreed to set up an Expert Advisory Group in physical health areas to set out the case for change in the way the psychological needs could be addressed. Once a chair is agreed for the Group there will be a process of recruiting members to the Group.

In parallel, the BPS, under the Practice Board, has established a group to look at the issues of psychologists input in the area of physical health care and how this can be promoted. Membership of the group has been agreed, with the physical healthcare DCP Faculties having a strong presence, and the first meeting arranged.

Training Commissions News

A 25% plus increase in training commissions was agreed for last year in Scotland, England and N Ireland. A smaller, deferred by a year, increase was agreed in Wales. This increase will be continued in Scotland for the 2021 intake. Although no formal announcement has been made to consolidate these increases for 2022 in England and N. Ireland, we are working hard to achieve this. A formal announcement is expected in the next few weeks.

Availability of Measures to NHS and Social Care – Free

All Trusts and Health Boards are able to access and use the measures that are held in the NHS Digital Repository free of charge. The NHS has negotiated with the publishers of the measures that these can be used free of charge. There is guidance on the website (Could we add the link it is webpages.).

On the web site there is also guidance for organisations to register to gain access to these measures. It was thought that this was not widely known amongst psychologists and was an important free resource.

New Psychology Advisor to the Scottish Government

We are delighted that Dr Lynne Taylor, a senior Consultant Clinical Psychologist, has been appointed to this new post within the Mental Health and Social Care Directorate which she took up in February 2021. We all wish Lynne well in this new role which she takes up in the depths of the pandemic. It marks the recognition that psychology should be at the heart of Government.

National Assessors

The joint BPS/ACP-UK National Assessor review group chaired by Professor Tony Lavender has completed its work.

National Assessors are used for any appointments into consultant level posts (Band 8c and above).

The work has produced revised Guidance for National Assessors, Guidance for Employers, revised role descriptions, application forms and selection processes for the Chief, Speciality and Nation Leads and National Assessors.

The future operation of the Scheme will move from the DCP to the Practice Board.

Tony would like to thank the review group Linda Graham, Sheelagh Rodgers, Amra Rao (BPS/DCP), Tori Snell, Ruth Stocks (ACP-UK), Helen Barnett, Emma Smith and Lisa Howard (BPS) for their work on the review.

There have been meetings with the Lead National Assessors who will now oversee the operation of the Scheme and take forward the work of the review group with the support of the Practice Board (rather than the DCP) staff at the BPS.

A revised system is being introduced whereby employers seeking a National Assessor can either go to those Assessors with whom they have current relationships or directly to the National Assessor list or go to the BPS staff who, with the assistance of the Lead assessors, will find Assessors for the employer.

The system will also capture National Assessor activity. This system is currently being put in place and as soon as this work is completed the revised guidance and procedures will be launched.

Final checks are being made to ensure current Lead and National Assessors are able to continue

 This process will make it clear the areas where new Lead and National Assessors are required.

Thus, rather than having an open call for new National Assessors a more targeted recruitment of new Lead and National will follow in the spring.