Chair’s Report

ACC RAP Meeting, Friday 30th January 2015

5.30pm – 7.30 pm, Church on the Way, Bradford

Present:-

Fiona Sherburn (Chair)

Phil Vaux (RAP lay member):

Tony Ruddle (ACC Chief Executive)

Amanda Georgiou (Director of Counselling)

Dawn Sherry (Register administrator)

Apologies:-

Charan Sarai (RAP lay member)

Tony opened the meeting in prayer and Fiona welcomed everyone.

Apologies from Charan were noted.

The minutes of the 5th September meeting (full RAP) and 31st October meeting (Lay members only) were agreed with the following amendment noted from the 31st October notes:-

-RAP lay members only meetings will meet in April/May and October 2015,

-A full RAP meeting will be held in January and July 2015.

Tony and Amanda provided an update on the PSA process, including how ACC had responded to the issues that had arisen following the PSA’s call for information. It was acknowledged that this had been a challenging time for the organisation, but the issues had been dealt with integrity and respectful manner. Tony said that ACC had signed NHS England’s memorandum of understanding concerning Conversion Therapy along with NCS, BACP, BPS, Relate and Pink Therapy.

Tony provided a preview of the website – which goes live on 10th February. Everyone thought that the new website looked very professional and inviting to use.

Amanda confirmed that over 100 people had indicated that they wished to go on ACC’s register.

The meeting discussed ACC’s Risk Register. Both Phil and Fiona expressed concern over the number of Red risks. Both would have expected the register to have a small number of red risks that are discussed and monitored at the quarterly Board meetings. In light of the discussion on the active management of risks it was agreed that Tony Ruddle would speak to the PSA to clarify their expectations about the rating and management of risks.

The meeting then received an update on the handling of live complaints and discussion followed on how to deal with members who are suspended from the register of another Counselling organisation as part of a disciplinary sanction.

After some discussion it was agreed that ACC members who are suspended from ACC’s register or the register of another Counselling organisation as part of a disciplinary sanction should not be allowed to register or have membership with ACC until and if the suspension is lifted.

Tony and Dawn gave an update on the 2015 conference. Both thought that it had been an excellent conference with very positive feedback from the delegates. In particular the ‘ask ACC’ panel had been very well received.

The meeting then discussed an issue relating to a counselling upgrade by a member who although an experienced counsellor is working in a specialist field. After considering the issue it was agreed to approve this and similar requests for an upgrade making it clear that it related to the specialist area of counselling only and that if the counsellor wanted to move into more generalist counselling in the future they would be expected to undertake appropriate training and CPD before applying for an upgrade as a generalist counsellor.

Phil and Fiona closed the meeting by thanking Tony, Amanda and Dawn for all their hard work over the last three to four months and for dealing so professionally with some very challenging issues.

The date of the next RAP meeting – which is for lay members only – will be held on 1st May 2015 at 5 pm Church on the Way.