UKCP Standards of
Education and Training (2012)
The Minimum Core Criteria
Psychotherapy with Adults
© UKCP May 2012
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UKCP Standards of
Education and Training (2012)
The Minimum Core Criteria
Psychotherapy with Adults
Introduction
UKCP has agreed principles on which to base its Training Standards and policies to regulate them across all psychotherapy modalities. These principles and policies concern the Council’s Education, Training and Practice Committee, the Colleges’ Training Standards Committees and Accreditation Committees and the individual Training Organisations which devise and run psychotherapy training courses leading to registration with the Council.
Basic Training Standards were established in 1993 and published as Training
Requirements of UKCP. A Regulatory Framework to integrate the Training Standards with Training Outcomes was agreed in 2001 and published as UKCP Training Standards: Policy and Principles.
This document sets out:
· The Guiding Principles on which all psychotherapy training should be based;
· The Regulatory Framework which will ensure that standards and outcomes of training are enforced;
· The responsibilities of the various bodies involved;
· The basic Training Requirements.
NB There is a further document detailing the specific UKCP Training Requirements for working with children UKCP Standards of Education and Training: Psychotherapy with Children
Guiding Principles
The following Guiding Principles have been agreed:
· Trainings should recognise the existence of different psychotherapies, based on different theories, and should promote respectful understanding of differences and similarities between theories.
· Training should be theoretically informed and practice based.
· Training should be related to clinical work in occupational settings.
· Trainings should provide transparency and accountability in their assessment processes.
· Trainings should operate within an ethical, equal opportunities and diversity framework.
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A. The Regulatory Framework
i. The UKCP Education, Training and Practice Committee (ETPC) which has an appointed Chair and elected representatives from all the Colleges, is responsible for ensuring that the Council’s basic Training Requirements, including Training Outcomes, are implemented. In order to ensure quality of outcome across the range of modalities and courses the ETC monitors and approves the Criteria for Training or Training Requirements established by each College, ensuring that these conform to the agreed generic standards.
ii. The ETPC has regular representation and input from the Diversities, Equality and Social Responsibility Forum Committee (DESRF) and from the Faculty for the Psychological Health of Children (FPHC) and other boards and committees as needed to inform and assure the work of the ETPC. The ETPC will advise Colleges and Training Organisations on any changes in requirements and assist them in the implementation of their approval and review procedures.
iii. UKCP College Education and Training Committees are responsible for the production of agreed college Specific Training Requirements and Training Outcomes. These must conform to the Generic Requirements but must also develop specific requirements, particularly as regards Training Outcomes, that concern the specific modality of psychotherapy that will be practised.
iv. The Colleges ET Committees or Accreditation Committees are responsible for the approval of all new courses that are set up by Member Organisations and any that are provided by organisations applying to join the College. They must monitor and review all courses that have been approved and which lead to individuals’ registration as psychotherapists with Council via their College.
v. In approving and reviewing courses College ETPC and Accreditation Committees must ensure that they adhere to both the Generic and the College Specific Training Standards.
vi. Colleges in conjunction with UKCP centrally must have agreed Procedures for visiting and reviewing organisations and their Training Courses.
vii. Training Organisations are responsible for the delivery of Training Courses that comply with UKCP Generic and College Specific Training Requirements.
viii. They are responsible for the production of clear and detailed descriptions of their courses in terms of modes of delivery, course structure, modes of assessment, training outcomes and appeals procedures. They must prepare adequate documentation for the Standards of Education and Training or Accreditation Committees’ assessors and reviewers and co-operate with the College and UKCP wider procedures.
ix. All UKCP organisational members that assess individual candidates as suitable to be placed on the register must have relevant, evidenced criteria, procedures and practices that ensure that the applicant has met the level or an equivalent level of standards of education and training as set out in this document and the relevant SET documents of their College.
x. All UKCP OMs must be able to evidence that they have the mechanisms in place to ensure the fulfilment of the relevant criteria for the type of organisation (accrediting, training and accrediting and training) set out in this document.
xi. Organisations that re-accredit are expected to have policies and procedures that and comply with the policies and procedures set out by the ETPC relevant to re-accreditation and to the general policies and procedures applicable to all UKCP organisational members.
xii. All formal documentation from any UKCP Organisational Member should state clearly that they are an organisational member of the UKCP and should carry the UKCP logo on the front cover of their handbooks and/or prospectus.
xiii. All UKCP Colleges should use the UKCP copyright symbol on their formal education and training standards documentation and should carry the UKCP logo on the front cover of all such documents.
Basic Training Requirements: these apply to all psychotherapy modalities.
1. Entry Requirements
1.1. Entry is at a postgraduate level of competence.
a) The training for Psychotherapists requires that each applicant will have achieved one of the following as a minimum entry requirement prior to training:
b) Relevant professional qualification or equivalent
c) 1st degree or equivalent
d) Accreditation of Prior Learning
1.2. Candidates must have personal qualities that make them suitable for the profession of psychotherapy
1.3. Candidates should have relevant experience of working with people in a responsible role
1.4. Evidence of a good command of written and spoken English; (disability and equalities exceptions / adaptations to requirement will always apply).
1.5. Criminal Conviction checks are sought and confirmed where relevant. This will be in line with the current practice of UKCP Registration in relation to registrants.
1.6. UKCP Training organisations should have, publish and apply clear criteria relating to health. These criteria must be consistent with current UK Diversity and Equalities policy and relevant legislation. They should be congruent with UKCP standards for health for registration.
1.7. UKCP Training organisations should have a published policy covering Diversity and Equalities.
1.8. Organisations must also have published procedures to ensure that applicants, students, trainees and staff are not discriminated against.
1.9. Training Organisations must ensure that they have appropriate processes for gathering relevant diversity and equalities data in relation to applicants, students, trainees and staff. Organisations should be able to evidence how this data is used.
1.10. There must be a face to face selection process, usually in person.
2. The Minimum Curriculum
2.1. Theory and practice
2.1.1. The study of the theory and practice of psychotherapy from assessment to ending. This should include:
a) A model of the person and mind.
b) A model of gendered and culturally influenced human development
c) A model of human change and ways in which change can be facilitated.
d) A set of clinical concepts to relate theory to practice.
e) An extensive literature which includes a critique of the model.
f) Awareness of safeguarding issues in relation to clients and those likely to be impacted by their actions. (UKCP can provide further guidance and support in this area if required).
2.2. Research
2.2.1. Research acquisition includes a critical understanding of the relevance of studies and research findings in human development, psychopathology, sexuality, ethics and social science.
2.2.2. Understanding of basic research techniques and their application to the investigation and evaluation of psychotherapeutic interventions from assessment to ending of treatment includes.
2.2.3. Specifically addressing research into practice and requiring that Trainings provide sufficient opportunities for their students and trainees to develop the following capacities so that at the point of registration the potential registrant has:
1. A basic understanding of different approaches to research to psychotherapy practice
2. A capacity to critically understand a research report in relevant clinical and professional journals
3. A capacity to evaluate the significance of research findings with respect to practice, and their practice
4. A working knowledge of research findings in relation to assessment for therapeutic intervention, and a capacity to critique these
5. A working knowledge of research findings regarding psychotherapy process and their implications for practice.
2.3. Supervised practice of psychotherapy:
2.3.1. The supervised practice of psychotherapy is central to all UKCP accredited training programmes. While for some organisations and individuals there is scope for (or a requirement to) gain experience of working in a practice placement, this requirement is normally achieved through individual practice as a trainee psychotherapist supported by an appropriately trained, experienced and qualified training supervisor. This may occur either through appropriately supported and supervised independent practice or in a practice placement or through a combination of these approved by the relevant College Organisational Members.
2.3.2. Where students and trainees are achieving their supervised practice through working in an organisational setting it is the responsibility of the training organisations to establish there is an appropriate number of qualified and experienced staff within that setting.
2.3.3. Where practice placements form part of a UKCP training the setting for the placement must provide:
i. A safe environment
ii. Safe and effective practice
iii. Where students and trainees on UKCP accredited training programmes are participating in practice placements Training Organisations are responsible for ensuring that placements demonstrate the capacity to deliver learning, teaching and supervision designed to encourage safe and effective practice, independent learning and a high standard of appropriate professional conduct.
2.3.4. All trainings should operate within an equality and diversity framework. Trainings should include:
a. a broad understanding of some of the key systemic hurdles affecting those, but not exclusively those, covered by the Equality Act 2010.
b. the contemporary and significant discriminatory discourses throughout trainings
c. raising awareness of conscious and unconscious bias
d. equipping students and trainees to work with clients across the diversity spectrum
e. equipping students and trainees to engage with their own fears and prejudices, and those of their clients, re difference.
f. arrangements to ensure that the students and trainees can identify and manage appropriately their personal involvement in and contribution to the processes of the psychotherapies that they practice.
2.3.5. The total number of hours of supervised clinical practice as a trainee psychotherapist required by trainings shall be clearly specified and be consistent with the requirements of the relevant College / Organisational Member
2.3.6. Supervision using digital media (eg telephone, internet, skype) is only acceptable after a direct, face-to-face supervisory relationship has been established.
2.3.7. Trainings must provide clear guidance on what proportion of clinical practice can / must be gained in practice placements and what may / must be gained through supervised practice as an individual trainee psychotherapist.
2.3.8. The levels established for 2.3.4.a and 2.3.4.b must support the achievement of the learning outcomes.
2.3.9. The Training Organisations must provide and operate an effective system for approving and monitoring all placements and supervisors for individual clinical practice.
2.3.10. Such systems should include clear criteria for approving placements and supervisors.
2.3.11. Systems should specify the minimum level of clinical supervision required for both placement based clinical practice and clinical practice undertaken independently as a supervised trainee psychotherapist.
2.3.12. Students and trainees, supervisors and practice placement providers must be fully prepared for placements, which will include having relevant information about and demonstrating an understanding of the following:
a) the learning outcomes to be achieved;
b) the timings and duration of any placement / supervised clinical practice and what records of placement / practice are to be maintained;
c) expectations for professional conduct and related processes for addressing concerns or complaints that arise in relation to the students’ and trainees’ fitness to practice;
d) the assessment procedures including the implications of, and any action to be taken in the case of failure;
e) and includes communication and lines of reporting.
2.3.13. Unless other arrangements are specifically agreed with the relevant College / Organisational Member, practice placement providers and supervisors of the clinical practice of students and trainees:
a) must have relevant qualifications and experience;
b) must have an appropriate, relevant and current professional registration;
c) must undertake appropriate practice placement provider / supervision training.
2.3.14. UKCP accredited training courses must be congruent with the values, principles, knowledge base and underpinning philosophical approach / approaches laid out by the relevant UKCP / College / Organisational Member and should be consistent with the aims of the curriculum guidance provided by UKCP’s Education, Training and Practice Committee.
2.3.15. Training organisations should ensure that any learning or teaching methods associated with practice placements / supervised clinical practice, respect the rights and needs of patients or clients, students, trainees and colleagues.
2.3.16. Training providers should ensure that supervisors of students’ and trainees’ practice or the providers of practice placements have appropriate equalities and diversity policies that include clear anti-discriminatory practice statements and guidance. It must be clear how these are monitored and put into action.
2.3.17. An introduction to the range of psychotherapies and counselling so that students and trainees may have an awareness of alternative treatments.
2.3.18. Training Organisations should ensure that students and trainees are introduced to appropriate models of assessment, which must include learning about how to recognise more significant mental health symptoms and difficulties, and when to refer on.
2.3.19. The development of ability to recognise when the practitioner should seek other professional advice.