MEMBERS HANDBOOK - - The National Council of...

MEMBERS

HANDBOOK

NATIONAL COUNCIL of

PSYCHOTHERAPISTS PO Box 541, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD21 9DS

0800 170 1250

www.thencp.org

[email protected]

NCP/ICP Members Handbook 2016

MEMBERSHIP

When joining the National Council of Psychotherapists a practitioner of any modality of

psychotherapy, hypnotherapy or coaching, or in combination, has a clear career progression

path and guidance of how to achieve all they wish in their chosen profession. The National

Council will support and encourage the member on this path but with it comes certain

professional requirements, all of which are clearly defined here.

CONTENTS

o Levels of Membership

o Member Accreditation Scheme

o Code of Conduct

o Complaints Procedure


STUDENT MEMBERSHIP

As a student you are likely to be at the beginning of your career as a psychotherapist, coach

or hypnotherapist. It is our intention to guide and support you as you progress to full

membership and to become an accredited member of NCP.

Student membership is open to those undertaking a course that includes classroom tuition

and is at least diploma length (at least 37 credits or 370 notional study hours). Every unit

and qualification has a credit value and a level. One credit represents ten notional hours of

learning, showing how much time the average learner would take to complete the unit or

qualification. The minimum level is to be equivalent to QCF Level 4. The National Council

accredits training centres and courses to these educational standards. The NCP

management reserve the right to ask for assignment and/or casework to demonstrate a

high enough standard of practice to warrant membership.

MEMBER - MNCP

Membership is for those who have graduated from an NCP accredited diploma or suitable

alternative diploma. This qualification must be at least 37 credits or 370 notional learning

hours and at a minimum equivalent to QCF Level 4.

Membership is also available to other practising psychotherapists, counsellors, coaches and

hypnotherapists. The applicant must demonstrate their training or practice experience to

be of a standard suitable for membership.

ACCREDITED MEMBER – MNCP (Accred.)

Accreditation is for members who achieve the Accreditation Criteria laid out in this

document.

SENIOR ACCREDITED MEMBER – MNCP (Snr Accred.)

After a further six years continuous accredited membership the member may apply for

senior accreditation. They will then be able to use the letters - MNCP (Snr Accred.).

FELLOWSHIP - FNCP

Is awarded by the Governance of the NCP for outstanding contribution to their field of

expertise and/or to the NCP.

NON-PRACTISING MEMBERSHIP


Members who are retired or no longer practice whose membership is up to date may

continue to use the letters of their practising membership with the letters (NP) attached.

e.g. MNCP(NP)

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

For those who are not in practice as a psychotherapist but do not fall into the other

categories.


MEMBER ACCREDITATION SCHEME

Guidance on Progression

You can apply for accredited membership if you provide psychotherapy, hypnotherapy or

coaching to individual people, couples, groups or families and can provide satisfactory

evidence to meet all Criteria 1 to 9. (This scheme is open to all qualified members regardless

of their modality of work.)

Once accredited the member may use the letter MNCP (Accred.) and the following statement

in their professional stationery, advertising and website: "An accredited member of the

National Council of Psychotherapists."

The accreditation remains in place with continuous practice and annual proof of continuing

supervision and CPD at the qualification levels. Continuous practice includes up to one year

off in any three years.

STANDARD FOR ACCREDITED MEMBERSHIP

“To demonstrate the capacity for independent, competent, ethical practice”

In order to meet the standard for accredited membership, you must demonstrate that you

can satisfy each of the criteria that follow, which are numbered 1 to 9.

CRITERIA FOR APPLICATION

Eligibility Criteria 1-5

When you apply, and throughout the assessment process, you must be:

1. A member of the NCP

2. Covered by professional indemnity insurance

When you submit your application you must be:

3. Practising counselling, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy or coaching

4. Your training and supervised practice must meet one of the following criteria:

EITHER:

4.1 You have been awarded a qualification from a NCP accredited training course

AND have been in practice at least three years when you apply for accreditation.

In addition:


a) Have at least 450 hours of supervised practice accumulated within three to six years

(they do not have to be consecutive years).

b) Have been supervised for at least 1 hour per month throughout the period of practice

submitted.

OR:

4.2 You have successfully completed and received an award for practitioner

training that:

a) Included at least 37 units or 370 notional learning hours at level 4.

b) Covered theory, skills, professional issues and personal development.

AND

a) Have been in practice at least three years when you apply for accreditation.

b) Have at least 450 hours of supervised practice accumulated within three to six years

(they do not have to be consecutive years.)

c) Have been supervised for at least 1 hour per month throughout the period of practice

submitted.

5. Supervision

You have an ongoing contract for counselling/psychotherapy supervision for a minimum of

1 hour per month for each month in which practice is undertaken.

Reflective Practice Criteria 6-8

6. Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

As a professional you have a responsibility to keep your skills and knowledge up to date.

The Professional Associations Research Network defines CPD as,

'any process or activity that provides added value to the capability of the professional

through the increase in knowledge, skills and personal qualities necessary for the

appropriate execution of professional and technical duties, often termed competence’.

a) CPD must be at least 30 hours per year and can be anything from reading a book

about your profession to taking a full diploma in another modality.

b) Describe a CPD activity, relevant to your area of practice that you have undertaken

in the 12 months before applying for accreditation. Provide a summary of this CPD

activity (minimum 400, maximum 600 words) and in this demonstrate how the

activity has influenced your practice.

Items 7, 8 & 9 are covered by one piece of written work of no more than 1,500

words.


7. Self-awareness

Describe an experience or an activity which has contributed to your own self-awareness.

This should include reasons for choosing the experience or activity and show how this self-

awareness is useful in your practice.

8. Knowledge and understanding

Describe a rationale for your client work with reference to the modalities that inform your

practice. Reflect within this how you place your self-awareness within your way of working

and comment on how issues of difference and equality impact upon the therapeutic

relationship.

9. Practice & Supervision

Demonstrate how your practice is consistent with your described way of working and how

you use your self-awareness in the therapeutic relationship and how supervision enhances

your practice.

A portfolio of the above must be completed and sent to The National Council of

Psychotherapists. PO Box 541, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD21 9DS.


CODE of CONDUCT

All Members of the National Council of Psychotherapists agree to:

1 Provide service to clients solely in those areas in which they are competent to do so and for

which they carry relevant professional indemnity insurance.

2 Remain aware of their own limitations and wherever appropriate, be prepared to refer a client

to another practitioner (regardless of discipline) who might be expected to offer suitable treatment.

3 Ensure that wherever a client is seeking assistance for the relief of physical symptoms, unless

having already done so, that the client be advised to contact a registered Medical Practitioner.

4 Confirm that they will never knowingly offer advice to a client which either conflicts with, or is

contrary to that given by, the client’s registered Medical Practitioner/s. (If they have doubts or

concerns with regard to a client’s prescribed medication, they should, always with their client’s

permission, contact the Medical Practitioner personally).

5 Accept that any client referred to them by a registered Medical Practitioner (or other relevant

agency) remains the clinical responsibility of the Medical Practitioner (or agency) and thereby agree

to keep that Medical Practitioner (or agency) suitably informed of the client’s progress.

6 Maintain strict confidentiality within the client/therapist relationship, always provided that such

confidentiality is neither inconsistent with the safety of the client, client’s family members nor other

members of the public or in contravention of the laws of the land.

7 Ensure that client notes and records be kept secure and confidential and that the uses of

computer records remain within the terms of the Data Protection Act.

8 Obtain written permission from the client (or if appropriate, the client’s parent/s or legal

guardian/s) before either recording client sessions or discussing undisguised cases with any person

whatsoever. (“Recording” in this context means any method other than the usual taking of written

National Council of

Psychotherapists PO Box 541. Keighley. BD21 9DS

0800 170 1250

www.thencp.org

[email protected]

http://www.thencp.org/


case notes. “Undisguised” in this context means cases in which material has not been sufficiently

altered in order to offer reasonable anonymity to all relevant parties).

9 Take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the client and any person who may be

accompanying them whilst attending their premises and during the session of therapy or coaching.

10 Ensure that their workplace and all facilities offered to both clients and their companions will

be in every respect suitable and appropriate for the service provided.

11 Refrain from using their position of trust and confidence to:

a) Exploit the client emotionally, sexually, financially or in any other way whatsoever. Should

either a sexual or financial relationship (i.e. other than the payment of session fees or the purchase

of books, tapes or other relevant products) develop between either therapist and client or members

of their respective immediate families, the therapist must immediately cease to accept fees,

terminate treatment consistent with Clause 12 below and refer the client to another suitable therapist

at the very earliest opportunity. (Clarification on dilemmas experienced by members in respect of

the foregoing may be offered by the NCP on request).

b) Touch the client in any way that may be open to misinterpretation. (Before employing tactile

hypnotic induction or deepening techniques, both an explanation should be given and permission

received from the client or parent/guardian).

12 Terminate treatment at the earliest moment consistent with the good care of the client.

13 Not permit considerations of religion, nationality, gender, marital status, age, disability, politics

or social standing to adversely influence client treatment.

14 Disclose full details of all relevant memberships, training, experience, qualifications and

appropriate avenues of complaint to clients, upon request.

15 Use no claim or title connected with the National Council or any associated Registers other

than that they are members of the National Council of Psychotherapists or associated Registers with

appropriate designated letters. (N.B. Members of the Senior Management Team of the Council shall

be further entitled to state the position held by them.)

16 Make no claim that they hold specific qualifications unless such claim can be fully

substantiated. (In the absence of appropriate medical qualifications, no Registered Member may

utilise the title “Doctor” in a manner that may mislead any member of the public to believe that they

are medically qualified and any use of this title must be clearly defined by a suitable qualifying

statement.)


17 Explain fully to clients in advance of any treatment, the fee levels, precise terms of payment

and any charges that might be imposed for non-attendance or cancelled appointments. (Whilst not

obligatory, written material is preferable to verbal statements as this is less likely to give grounds

for misunderstanding should any dispute between client and therapist subsequently develop).

18 Present all services and products in an unambiguous manner (to include any limitations and

realistic outcomes of treatment and ensure that the client retains complete control over the decision

to purchase such services or products.

19 Conduct themselves at all times in accordance with their professional status and in such a way

as neither undermines public confidence in the process or profession of psychotherapy. To refrain

from derogatory statements, implications and/or innuendos that disparage the standing,

qualifications or character of colleagues, or that bring the NCP and/or other professional bodies in

the field into disrepute in their public statements, whether written or verbal.

20

a) Inform the NCP, in writing, of any complaint (of which they are aware) made against them;

b) Inform the NCP in writing, of any disciplinary action taken against them by any professional

body;

c) Inform the NCP, in writing, of any criminal offence of which they have been convicted.

21 Inform the NCP, in writing, of any alteration in circumstance, which would affect either their

position or ability as practitioners.

22 Notify the NCP, in writing, of any change in practice name, contact address, telephone number

or e-mail address, at the earliest convenient moment.

23 Ensure that all advertising shall comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice, accord with

the British Advertising Standards Authority and make available all such literature to the NCP on

request.

24 Where applicable, make available all relevant information requested as a result of investigation

by any appointed Complaints and Disciplinary Officer without hindrance (whether implied or actual)

or unreasonable delay and comply fully with all requirements inherent within any Complaints and

Disciplinary Procedure to which they subscribe.

25 Obtain the consent of an appropriate adult (i.e. parent or legal guardian) before conducting

treatment with clients who are either under the age of majority or are classified as having special

needs. (Wherever possible, an appropriate adult should be present during such sessions).

26 Accept that this is not a static document and that it may be altered from time to time, in

accordance with the need to ensure ongoing professionalism within the fields of psychotherapy,

hypnotherapy, coaching, counselling and Critical Incident Debriefing.


RESEARCH ETHICS

For all practical purposes, a “research subject” should be considered synonymous with a “client” and

consequently, all relevant Clauses within the NCP “Code of Ethics” remain applicable. Of extra

importance is the need on the part of the “researcher” to:

27 Accept that all participation by “subjects” must be on a completely voluntary basis and that no

“pressure” of any type should be exerted in order to secure participation.

28 Ensure that proper consent has been obtained prior to the commencement of any research

project. This is especially so in the case of “minors” or persons with special needs.

(N.B. This does not apply where general research of a purely statistical nature is carried out).

29 Maintain complete openness and honesty with regard to both the purpose and nature of the

research being conducted.

30 Consider any potential adverse consequences to the “subject” as a result of any intended

research project.

31 Provide, where relevant, for the ongoing care of participants with regard to any adverse effects

that might arise as a consequence of and within a reasonable time period after, their

involvement within any research project.

The psychological well being of the individual subject is always more important than the

research itself.


COMPLAINTS & DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE

The National Council of Psychotherapists is committed to providing high quality and

responsive services at all times, both to its members and to the general public.

However, we recognise that sometimes people may not be satisfied using the services

offered by the NCP, or by its members. We have therefore set up this complaints procedure

to enable people to tell NCP clearly when and why they are not satisfied with our services

or those of our members.

The NCP maintains links with a large number of other professional psychotherapy and

hypnotherapy organisations and contact details for many others. Where a complaint against

a therapist on the NCP register is made, then notification of such complaint will also be

brought to the attention of any other organisation of which that therapist is a member. In

most cases it is a requirement of professional membership that an organisation be informed

immediately that a member has received a complaint or becomes aware that a complaint is

being brought against them.

Any NCP registered therapist found to have been dismissed from membership of any other

professional therapy or self-development related organisation on the basis of professional

misconduct might summarily be dismissed from NCP registration on those grounds alone in

the interests of public protection.

The NCP will not carry out any investigation into a complaint that is already the subject of

an investigation by another organisation. The NCP will hold such complaint on file until such

other complaint process has been completed.

What is a complaint?

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction either written or spoken. This may concern

either how the NCP has carried out its work or a complaint about how you have been treated

by a therapist registered with the NCP. Complaints against individual members of the

National Council must be either from the client or an advocate on behalf of the client, the

client having first submitted to the Chairman a letter appointing the advocate.

National Council of

Psychotherapists PO Box 541. Keighley. BD21 9DS

0800 170 1250

www.thencp.org

[email protected]

http://www.thencp.org/

mailto:[email protected]


How to make a complaint - Advice for members of the public:

1. If you are unhappy with a service, or the level of service provided by the NCP, you

may wish to raise it first with the member concerned to try to resolve the matter as

quickly as possible. At all times we will try to resolve any problems as quickly and as

informally as possible.

2. If you are unhappy with a service, or the level of service, of any accredited

organisation within the NCP, then you must first raise this matter with that

organisation and follow the procedures set out by that organisation. Only when this

process has been completed will the NCP begin an investigation.

3. If you prefer, or if you wish to take the matter further, you may make a complaint

either by letter, telephone or email directly to the NCP marked “confidential”. Please

give full details of the issues you wish to raise. If you make your complaint by

telephone, you will later be asked to put it in writing.

Please ask if you need any help in making your complaint and we will try to provide it. We

also welcome the involvement of a friend or other person to support you in making your

complaint.

The NCP is committed to dealing with any complaint fully and in a fair and impartial manner.

We will also try at all times to make the procedure for dealing with your complaint as stress

free as possible for you.

All complaints are dealt with in confidence, although the NCP does use the evidence

gathered from any complaint to help improve its services. Records are kept of all complaints

and how they are handled, and this is reviewed on an annual basis by members of the

advisory board.

How will your complaint be investigated?

In most cases, your complaint will be referred to the Complaints Officer. In all cases, your complaint

will not be investigated by anyone involved in the substance of your complaint.

Receipt of your complaint will be acknowledged within ten working days.

1. You will be given the name and telephone number of the person investigating your complaint

Informed how long we expect to take to look into your complaint and when you can expect

a reply. This will vary from case to case.

2. A written report of your complaint will be prepared by the Complaints Officer outlining

the investigations and any conclusions and recommendations.


3. These are then passed back to the NCP Secretary for action. This action (dependent

on the circumstances of each case) may be decided solely by the Complaints Officer

or in consultation with a member or members of the Senior Management Team.

These actions may include:

• No further action

• An admonishment

• An order to retrain (will be specified)

• Dismissal from the NCP

6. You will be advised of any action that NCP has taken as a result of the complaint. We

will apologise for any difficulties you have experienced in the matter.

How to appeal if you are not satisfied:

1. If you are not satisfied with our response to your complaint, you can ask to have all

of the evidence reviewed by a member or members of the Senior Management

Team who

Has/have had no previous involvement with the complaint.

2. They will be asked to prepare a report on their findings, namely:

Are they satisfied that “on the basis of the evidence available to the

Complaints Officer”, was the decision reached by the complaints officer

reasonable?

3. An appeal against a decision must be made within 21 calendar days of the

complainant being informed. It is very important to adhere to this timetable,

as no appeal will be considered by the NCP after this period has lapsed.

We will try to be as flexible as possible in dealing with your complaint to make the situation

less stressful for you. In particular, we will endeavor to keep you as fully informed as possible

throughout the course of the complaint.

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