the psychologists board presentation
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TRANSCRIPT
New Zealand Psychologists Board
Presentation to the NZPsS Conference Queenstown
23 August 2011
Board member update
Now just eight members: six psychologists and two lay members.
Normally appointed by the Minister of Health for a three-year term, with possible reappointments. [Maximum of nine (six?) consecutive years]
Two vacancies under consideration by the Minister. Likely just one appointment.
Current Board members
Dr Ian Miller (Chair) Wellington
Dr Monique Faleafa (Deputy Chair) Auckland
Mrs Beverley Burns Hamilton
Mrs Beverley Clark (Lay member) Wanaka
Ms Ann Connell Wellington
Dr David Stephens (Lay member) Hamilton
(Plus two vacancies)
Current structure
Minister of Health
BOARD
Audit, Finance and Risk Committee
SecretariatAccreditation Committee
Part 2 Committee Parts 3 and 4 Committee
Chief Executive/Registrar
3 Board members3 External members3 Secretariat members
2 Expert Advisors3 Secretariat members
3 Board members3 Secretariat members
Admin Assistant Deputy Registrar - RegistrationOffice Manager Psychology AdvisorProfessional Standards Coordinator
3 Board members
Major activities (Governance)
At the Board level, our emphasis is on linking with stakeholders and ‘owners’.
Includes quarterly meetings with the “Psychology Profession Advisory Forum”: NZCCP, NZPsS, and Heads of Schools.
Translation of the Code of Ethics.
Major activities
At each Board meeting, we make a strategic effort to meet with a different stakeholder group.
Recent emphasis has been on workforce issues (HWNZ) and I/O Psychologists (NZPsS Institute of I/O Psychology).
Major activities
The Board continue to develop and publish best practice guidelines:
Supervision Guidelines. Guidelines on Unprofessional Behaviour
and its Management in the Workplace. What to do when you have Concerns
about another Psychologist. Keeping Records of Psychological
Services.
Major activities
Other best practice guidelines are currently being developed:
Guidelines on Psychology Services Delivered via the Internet.
The Use of Psychometrics.
Quality Improvement
The Board is audited annually by an agent of the Office of the Auditor General.
The unqualified Audit Report issued in August 2011 indicates that the Board continues to be in very good shape from an internal control perspective.
The Board’s Annual Report to the Minister is mailed to all current registrants and is on the Board’s website.
Pathways to vocational scopes
In November 2010 the Board reaffirmed that eligibility for a vocational scope is determined by holding the prescribed qualifications (or equivalent).
The possibility of university-based bridging programmes is being explored, but at this point seems unlikely.
Reduced ‘Disciplinary Levy’
The Board were very pleased to be able to substantially reduce (from $456 to $305) the Disciplinary Levy for 2011/2012 as a direct result of less discipline related activity in 2010/2011.
A further reduction is quite likely next year, if discipline activity levels remain low.
Other activities
Informing and improving our practice as a regulatory authority:
Meetings with the Psychology Board of Australia.
Monitoring Australia’s regulatory reforms.
Participation in the 4th International Congress on Licensure, Certification, and Credentialing of Psychologists (Sydney)
Other activities
Meetings with North American and European regulators (ASPPB, CLEAR).
Meetings and undertaking joint projects with other HPCA Boards (HRANZ).
HWNZ proposals
HWNZ recently proposed that:
1. All HPCA Regulatory Authorities (RAs) be fully amalgamated; or
2. All RA secretariats be amalgamated; and
3. All Boards be reduced to ~7 members.
HWNZ proposals
The Board believe that: the profession has a very real interest in
defining and protecting its (self) regulation at predictable and minimised cost.
we ought to preserve professional identification and standards.
the Ministry cannot hope to emulate the excellent work currently being done.
HWNZ proposals
The Ministry has also signalled that:
They want to work with Boards to improve workforce information/data collection. (This may require a change in legislation to allow the Board to collect more information about psychologists).
HWNZ proposals
The Ministry have since softened their stance, and the HRANZ authorities are now developing plans for improving efficiencies, sharing services where possible, and otherwise reducing costs.
This must not, however, undermine our primary purpose – protecting the public.
Work is also underway on proposals to deliver a robust workforce dataset.
The Board’s Secretariat
Registration growth
New Registrants
08/09 09/10 10/11
Trainee Psychologists 12 2 2
Intern Psychologists 88 117 104
Psychologists 41 36 31
Clinical Psychologists 48 25 41
Counselling Psychologists - - 2
Educational Psychologists 22 10 6
Total 210 190 186
APC growth
APC Holders at 31 March
2009 2010 2011
Psychologist 777 797 810
Clinical Psychologist 1097 1126 1172
Counselling Psychologist - ? 9
Educational Psychologist 168 179 184
Intern Psychologist 128 180 (199)
Trainee Psychologist 6 11 5
Total 2176 2293 (2379)
Major activities (Operational)
New website.
CCP improvements.
New Annual Report template.
Preparing submissions to HWNZ.
Major activities
Accreditation
Ten courses of study and one training scheme have been assessed, with seven more in process.
The Board has so far accredited all that have been assessed, but for varying periods and some with conditions.
Major activities
Continuing Competence Programme
You should have completed your third annual review.
Audits were recently completed (20%+, but Christchurch practitioners excluded).
The Psychology Advisor or the Registrar are happy to provide advice/coaching.
Check our website for detailed information.
Other activities
Family Court Practice Note review Revisions made in collaboration with
Principal Family Court Judge Peter Boshier.
The Board is satisfied that our shared approach is fair, reasonable, and lawful.
Complaints overview (10/11)
28 new complaints were received.
49 distinct complaints managed.
5 practitioners with two complaints.
Of the 21 complaints considered, 1 was sent to a PCC, 1 to a Competence Review, and 19 were ‘NFA’.
0 HPDT hearings0 HPDT hearings.
Complaints in 2010/2011
Setting Number of complaints
% of new cases
Private Practice 5 18
Family Court 10 36
ACC 5 18
DHB 0 0
Dept of Corrections 3 11
CYFS 1 4
Other 4 14
Lessons learned in 10/11
19 of 28 complaints related to an assessment or report completed for an employer or another organisation.
Although only 1 was sent to a PCC, practitioners should be very careful and clear when completing third-party reports.
Increasing concern re practising beyond limits of competence.
Fitness update
We are still getting very few referrals.
Don’t hesitate! Call and discuss any concerns you may have. See guideline.
The process is supportive and minimally intrusive.
Feedback from practitioners has been largely positive.
Questions?
Thanks for coming!
(and Go the All Blacks!)