What are BPC Member Institutions?
The BPC has a unique and important relationship with our Member Institutions, they are our core members and they’re crucial to maintaining standards across the profession.
To understand, in full, their function and relationship with us, continue reading the FAQ below:
Frequently asked questions
The BPC does not have direct registration and so BPC Member Institutions (MIs) are the members of the BPC. They are the institutions which maintain standards across the profession and act as gatekeepers to the BPC Register of psychotherapists. MIs range in size from large, internationally known organisations to small groups. They are all involved with training and most offer full trainings themselves, whilst others offer portfolio trainings which enable individuals to reach the standard required for registration with the BPC.
To be eligible to become an MI, an organisation must have been in existence for a period of not less than five years and be legally incorporated in some form, for example a registered charity or company. The stated aims of the organisation must be compatible with those of the BPC, and the MI must be familiar and in agreement with the BPC’s articles of association
Each MI has three constituent parts: a psychotherapy training, a postgraduate body, and a management body. All should have operational independence from each other.
A full list and description of our MIs are available on our website.
Psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and psychodynamic counselling trainings comply with BPC criteria and must be accredited by the BPC. They are then usually reaccredited every five years, though more frequently if issues are identified during the reaccreditation. Each training has an external examiner who writes an annual report for the Registration Committee. Teaching of diversity (ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, and faith) is embedded into the curriculum and each MI has policies to promote and ensure equal opportunities for access to trainings or post-graduate opportunities. Documents relating to our training standards are published in the training section of our website.
The postgraduate body is responsible for the postgraduate life of the organisation. It is a home for the graduates of the trainings and members by equivalence. The postgraduate body often includes the Ethics, Professional Standards and Safeguarding committees. The postgraduate body is also responsible for provision of continuing professional development opportunities, often by means of seminars, lectures, and scientific meetings.
The postgraduate body has responsibility for holding the list of their members, clinical trustees, and insurance details.
The management part of the MI should be a properly constituted body in compliance with charity and/or company law, with the legal responsibility to protect the interests of the MI.
The Benefits of being a BPC Member Institution
Interested in becoming a Member Institution with us? We believe that there’s many benefits:
- Being an MI means that the public can trust that its professional standards have been rigorously accredited.
- The BPC ensures that all Registrants continue to be fit to practise, we attend to all Fitness to practice complaints or concerns which are raised. We also ensure that appropriate CPD is undertaken.
- The organisation’s appropriately qualified members join our online Register. We work closely with our MIs to maintain the integrity and accuracy of our Register.
- Membership gives an organisation a much greater voice on issues which relate to our profession. For example, representing the interests of psychotherapy in the NHS, and in the ongoing collaborative work on Scope of Practice and Education (SCoPEd) with partner therapy and counselling groups.
- We produce online advice for MIs and their members on a wide range of subjects.
- We support our registrants with online advice and resources relevant to the various stages of a psychoanalytic career.
- We provide an online jobs and opportunities board and online events calendar, prioritising MI initiatives.
- We platform MI initiatives via our monthly eNewsletter and at our PPNow psychoanalytic conference.
- MIs and Registrants have priority access to BPC events such as our PPNow conferences and our programme of workshops on such subjects as safeguarding, confidentiality and supporting young people identifying as trans.
- Each MI can nominate up to three people to sit on the BPC Council, the advisory group to the BPC Board of Trustees.
- The MI may appoint a member to attend our Ethics and Heads of Training Committees. These provide excellent opportunities to share good practice from other MIs and discuss issues of concern.
- We maintain good communication and dialogue with our MIs through regular meetings between our expert staff.
- We consult with our MIs regarding significant changes in professional regulation and to the relationship between the MI and BPC.
The Responsibilities of being a BPC Member Institution
With the benefits, come responsibilities between the BPC, the MIs and the Registrants. Scroll through the slideshow below to explore these:
