ACC Accord Summer 2021 Issue 111

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Counselling News SCoPEd We have had a very productive couple of months working closely with representatives from all the membership bodies which are now part of the expanded project. The work has involved reviewing the framework and producing a list of suggested changes to submit to the expert reference group for their approval. The suggested changes are those that can be brought within the parameters of the project – that is based on evidence drawn from existing competency frameworks and training standards. The next task for the technical group will be to work through the feedback from the public consultation on the last published version of the framework, to see if there is scope for further amendments. There is also a small commission being considered to source further information about the therapeutic relationship and common factors to ensure that the framework will take due account of these essential aspects of counselling theory and practice that may not sufficiently be covered in the existing framework. The expanded project is being governed by the Scoped Oversight Committee (SOC) which has recently appointed an independent chair Paul Buckle, previously the Director of Strategy and Policy at the General Medical Council. Four experts by experience have been invited to join the SOC and they bring a very welcome new client/ patient perspective to the group. The SOC is focusing on articulating the benefits of the framework and these can be better communicated; how any agreed framework might be implemented, and how to meaningfully assess the impact of any finalised framework. SOC will also be looking at the issue of titles, considering whether there can be any accepted and clear distinction between the role of a counsellor and a psychotherapist. Just so our counselling members are aware, ACC have tended not to engage with groups active on social media about SCoPEd. It is good to have discussion and critique, but as is true for other topics on these platforms, the discussion trails can become conduits for misinformation, polarised views and sometimes hurtful comments about individuals. One of the counselling profession's ethics is to treat colleagues fairly and with respect – and whilst we might want to challenge what we see as misunderstandings– we are not convinced that this is the best way of engaging publicly. We are however very happy to discuss this important project with our members, to respond to questions and listen to concerns. Please email office@acc-uk.org if you would like to speak with someone. ACC ONLINE FOUR WINDS CONFERENCE 5-7 NOVEMBER 2021 The preparation for ACC’s first online conference is very much underway. We have received ideas and proposals from both members and non-members who work in counselling, psychotherapy and pastoral care. It has been exciting to meet with them over Zoom and discuss what they may see as the breath of the “four winds”, and the experiences and knowledge they can share with us all. We are confident that the conference will be a time to breathe new life into the care and support that we provide. We will share the full programme and open the booking soon. In the meantime, do put 5-7 November 2021 in your diary and look out for our emails and social media posts for details. 22 accord Summer 2021 www.acc-uk.org • www.pastoralcareuk.org
Counselling CHANGES TO MEMBERSHIP Registration Standard – Change to Guided Learning Hours We have recently discovered that accredited registers comparable to ACC (BACP, NCS and COSCA) have a qualifying training comprising of 300 guided learning hours as the minimum standard for entry onto their registers. This is for a one year full time or two year part time course with an integrative 100 hour placement and also meets other criteria in terms of content and mode of delivery. In comparison, ACC have 420 guided learning hours as a minimum standard. However, we accept into ACC membership, counsellors who are on these other registers – so there is an anomaly. After discussions with the Professional Standards Authority and our Register Advisory Panel (see below), ACC’s Board have agreed that we can bring our register standards in-line with these other registers in relation to guided learning hours. Most members will have at least 420 hours of qualifying training, and the entry point for accreditation will remain as 450 hours. However, we hope to directly welcome some prospective members who have had no option but to join these other membership bodies before they can transfer to ACC. Christian Sponsor – changes to audit and accreditation ACC members are asked to provide a Christian sponsor when they apply for membership and at renewal. As an ecumenical organisation we welcome Christians from Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches. A Christian sponsor is not expected to comment on the strength of a member's faith or their adherence to doctrine. Their role is simply to confirm in good faith that they know the member as a person who describes himself or herself as Christian. The sponsor is normally a minister or church leader, but can be a spiritual director or a colleague. A member recently wrote in and expressed her thoughts and feelings about being asked as part of ACC’s audit for another reference from a Christian sponsor. This email prompted us to reflect further on the role of a Christian sponsor and how appropriate it was for us to ask for a Christian sponsor’s reference in relation to professional practice when we audit and accredit members. ACC have a responsibility to members of the public who are choosing to come to a counsellor on our register to have some means to verify a member's identity as a Christian. Relying on personal integrity and conscience is risky as arguably anyone could join our register if they wanted a competitive price for being on an accredited register and access to a market of Christian clients. However, we also recognise that asking about religious faith is sensitive – especially in a professional context. Faith is a complex and developmental process. Aspects of people’s faith beliefs and expressions can change over time – and these changes come out of questioning and challenge that can unsettle established relationships with other Christians. There may be periods when someone is temporarily not in fellowship with other Christians because they are re-locating, or are not in conventional church fellowships but are nonetheless part of a Christian community; or sadly times when a faith community has compounded feelings of hurt and loss and left individuals feeling isolated and vulnerable. All of these situations can give rise to anxiety when a member is having to select a sponsor to give a reference in a professional context. After internal reflection and discussion with the Register Advisory Panel, ACC’s Board have agreed that a Christian sponsor should continue to be requested from members when they join and renew membership. This is our check for members of the public that a counsellor has made some public declaration of Christian faith identity. However, as the processes of audit and accreditation are focused on professional counselling and psychotherapy practice, references from Christian sponsors are no longer going to be required. Diversity & Inclusion Coalition ACC along with most of the counselling and psychotherapy membership bodies, and other interested and committed organisations such as Place2Be, CPCAB, Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Responsibility, the Muslim Counsellors Network, and the Anna Freud Centre are part of a coalition that is committed to tackling issues of diversity and inclusion in the counselling profession. Some readers may have attended an event in February 2021 that focused on the training of counsellors. An outcome of that event that the coalition is progressing is the commissioning of a ‘tool kit’ of resources to inform training centres, trainers and those who design courses of issues of inclusion and diversity relating to minoritized communities based on ethnicity and/or race. It is hoped that these resources will be freely available in late 2021/early 2022. Register Advisory Panel (RAP) The Register Advisory Panel (RAP) is an independent panel that acts a ‘critical friend’ to ACC about all issues relating to the register of counsellors. RAP members bring with them experience in senior positions of working in other regulated professions and serve for an initial period of three years. We are especially looking for one or more people to join RAP who can represent the client experience or perspective (sometimes known as experts by experience). If you know of anyone who would be well suited to this role, please contact us (office@acc-uk.org). www.acc-uk.org • www.pastoralcareuk.org accord Summer 2021 23
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Page 3 and 4: editorial Editorial by Sue Monckton
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Page 11 and 12: The beginnings of this journey tie
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ACC Accord Summer 2021 Issue 111

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