The Registration and Professional Standards Committee (RPSC)

Introduction

The HGI, as a professional association, ensures that its members follow a strict code of ethics and set of standards in relation to the work they do. These serve to provide practitioners with clear working guidelines and to assure clients of integrity of practice.

We also need to ensure that, wherever clients are unhappy with the standard of service received, they have recourse to a fair and independent procedure for assessing their complaint and, where the complaint is upheld, all necessary action is taken to minimise the likelihood of any recurrence.

The Registration and Professional Standards Committee (RPSC) performs this function for the HGI. In this regard, it acts independently of the HGI and its board of directors, in the interests of the public.

The remit of the RPSC is to:

• Ensure that the standards of professional practice, conduct and ethics, professional supervision and continuing professional development set by the board of the HGI are met
• Obtain and take account of the views of the public when reviewing the means of maintaining standards
• Identify, monitor and take steps to mitigate any and all of the risks presented to the public by virtue of the counselling and therapeutic process
• Liaise with government, and other organisations when appropriate, in the public interest, on regulatory issues, and ensure that standards and procedures reflect regulatory requirements, where necessary
• Consider complaints in line with the HGI complaints procedures
• Convene panels to decide on complaints and impose sanctions or remove practitioners from the HGI Professional Register, if necessary
• Ensure that an independent appeals process is available
• Offer advice to HGI members on ethical questions and disseminate learning from complaints or questions referred to it
• Seek advice from appropriate sources on particular issues where necessary
• Promote the development and dissemination of the HGI Code of Ethics and Conduct
• Make decisions on applications for membership of the HGI at trainee or registrant level
• Liaise and communicate with the HGI Board on all relevant matters.

Other matters falling within the RPSC’s remit are resolution of disputes between HGI members and answering queries or complaints from a variety of sources, including the public and other professional bodies, concerning aspects of HG practice and policy. Such advice is informed by developments in wider healthcare and public policy regarding duties of care, etc.

Constitution of the RPSC

RPSC members are appointed by the HGI Board on the basis of relevant knowledge, expertise, experience and personal qualities. When vacancies arise through the retirement or resignation of existing RPSC members, turnover is managed in such a way as to ensure continuity of expertise and experience.

At any one time the RPSC will consist of a panel of individuals appointed for five years (renewable at the Board’s discretion), who are available, if necessary, to hear complaints. Two co-chairs are elected to serve for three years, with appointments subject to review. The co-chairs’ duties include meeting weekly to handle day-to-day requirements of the committee, finalising the decisions of the RPSC on all matters within their remit and conveying them to the HGI Board.

At the present time the RPSC members are:

• Kim Hood (co-chair), an HG therapist with many years experience in practice management, HR and recruitment, and complaints investigations.
• Annette Henry (co-chair), an HG wellbeing consultant and mediator, former barrister and KC with specialist knowledge of MH law within the criminal justice system.
• Andy Tarrant, RPSC co-ordinator.
• Owen Davis, HG therapist in private practice and educational psychologist.
• Avril Bailey, HG therapist in private practice.
• Richard Cavaliero, HG therapist in private practice who also works in rural community and arts organisations serving a diverse range of disadvantaged populations.
• Anne Marie Curran, HG therapist in private practice, with experience in the corporate world of engineering, product licensing, consumer marketing and the beauty industry.
• Elaine Curtin, HG therapist in private practice, with experience in the commercial sector.
• Gilli Gladman (lay member), a retired wellbeing coach and personal development trainer, who has worked in community projects and has run successful enterprises in the tourism sector.
• Amanda Hargreaves, HG therapist in private practice and HGI accredited supervisor, formerly a state-registered nurse and health visitor.

Reporting of RPSC activities

The RPSC produces an annual report detailing, anonymously, all complaints and queries dealt with during the preceding year. It is presented to the HGI Board and at the HGI annual general meeting. It is available to members on request.

Annual Meeting of the RPSC

Wider issues such as constitutional matters, governance, regulation of counselling and psychotherapy, etc. are discussed at an annual meeting of the RPSC.

Appeals Process

Any member of the public or HGI member who is dissatisfied with a decision of the RPSC is entitled to appeal to an independent panel of the HGI. For further details, please refer to the HGI complaints procedure

Complaints information

For information on complaints received by the HGI, please click here.

Raising concerns

The RPSC can also deal with informal concerns referred to them: (see Raising concerns).

Acting ethically has always been central to human givens teaching. Practitioners are encouraged to discuss ethical concerns with colleagues, at peer supervision groups and with their supervisors. They may also consult the RPSC, as many already do.