New Zealand Psychologists Board

Presentation to the NZPsS Conference Queenstown

23 August 2011

Board member update

Now just eight members: six psychologists and two lay members.

Normally appointed by the Minister of Health for a three-year term, with possible reappointments. [Maximum of nine (six?) consecutive years]

Two vacancies under consideration by the Minister. Likely just one appointment.

Current Board members

Dr Ian Miller (Chair) Wellington

Dr Monique Faleafa (Deputy Chair) Auckland

Mrs Beverley Burns Hamilton

Mrs Beverley Clark (Lay member) Wanaka

Ms Ann Connell Wellington

Dr David Stephens (Lay member) Hamilton

(Plus two vacancies)

Current structure

Minister of Health

BOARD

Audit, Finance and Risk Committee

SecretariatAccreditation Committee

Part 2 Committee Parts 3 and 4 Committee

Chief Executive/Registrar

3 Board members3 External members3 Secretariat members

2 Expert Advisors3 Secretariat members

3 Board members3 Secretariat members

Admin Assistant Deputy Registrar - RegistrationOffice Manager Psychology AdvisorProfessional Standards Coordinator

3 Board members

Major activities (Governance)

At the Board level, our emphasis is on linking with stakeholders and ‘owners’.

Includes quarterly meetings with the “Psychology Profession Advisory Forum”: NZCCP, NZPsS, and Heads of Schools.

Translation of the Code of Ethics.

Major activities

At each Board meeting, we make a strategic effort to meet with a different stakeholder group.

Recent emphasis has been on workforce issues (HWNZ) and I/O Psychologists (NZPsS Institute of I/O Psychology).

Major activities

The Board continue to develop and publish best practice guidelines:

Supervision Guidelines. Guidelines on Unprofessional Behaviour

and its Management in the Workplace. What to do when you have Concerns

about another Psychologist. Keeping Records of Psychological

Services.

Major activities

Other best practice guidelines are currently being developed:

Guidelines on Psychology Services Delivered via the Internet.

The Use of Psychometrics.

Quality Improvement

The Board is audited annually by an agent of the Office of the Auditor General.

The unqualified Audit Report issued in August 2011 indicates that the Board continues to be in very good shape from an internal control perspective.

The Board’s Annual Report to the Minister is mailed to all current registrants and is on the Board’s website.

Pathways to vocational scopes

In November 2010 the Board reaffirmed that eligibility for a vocational scope is determined by holding the prescribed qualifications (or equivalent).

The possibility of university-based bridging programmes is being explored, but at this point seems unlikely.

Reduced ‘Disciplinary Levy’

The Board were very pleased to be able to substantially reduce (from $456 to $305) the Disciplinary Levy for 2011/2012 as a direct result of less discipline related activity in 2010/2011.

A further reduction is quite likely next year, if discipline activity levels remain low.

Other activities

Informing and improving our practice as a regulatory authority:

Meetings with the Psychology Board of Australia.

Monitoring Australia’s regulatory reforms.

Participation in the 4th International Congress on Licensure, Certification, and Credentialing of Psychologists (Sydney)

Other activities

Meetings with North American and European regulators (ASPPB, CLEAR).

Meetings and undertaking joint projects with other HPCA Boards (HRANZ).

HWNZ proposals

HWNZ recently proposed that:

1. All HPCA Regulatory Authorities (RAs) be fully amalgamated; or

2. All RA secretariats be amalgamated; and

3. All Boards be reduced to ~7 members.

HWNZ proposals

The Board believe that: the profession has a very real interest in

defining and protecting its (self) regulation at predictable and minimised cost.

we ought to preserve professional identification and standards.  

the Ministry cannot hope to emulate the excellent work currently being done.

HWNZ proposals

The Ministry has also signalled that:

They want to work with Boards to improve workforce information/data collection. (This may require a change in legislation to allow the Board to collect more information about psychologists).

HWNZ proposals

The Ministry have since softened their stance, and the HRANZ authorities are now developing plans for improving efficiencies, sharing services where possible, and otherwise reducing costs.

This must not, however, undermine our primary purpose – protecting the public.

Work is also underway on proposals to deliver a robust workforce dataset.

The Board’s Secretariat

Registration growth

New Registrants

08/09 09/10 10/11

Trainee Psychologists 12 2 2

Intern Psychologists 88 117 104

Psychologists 41 36 31

Clinical Psychologists 48 25 41

Counselling Psychologists - - 2

Educational Psychologists 22 10 6

Total 210 190 186

APC growth

APC Holders at 31 March

2009 2010 2011

Psychologist 777 797 810

Clinical Psychologist 1097 1126 1172

Counselling Psychologist - ? 9

Educational Psychologist 168 179 184

Intern Psychologist 128 180 (199)

Trainee Psychologist 6 11 5

Total 2176 2293 (2379)

Major activities (Operational)

New website.

CCP improvements.

New Annual Report template.

Preparing submissions to HWNZ.

Major activities

Accreditation

Ten courses of study and one training scheme have been assessed, with seven more in process.

The Board has so far accredited all that have been assessed, but for varying periods and some with conditions.

Major activities

Continuing Competence Programme

You should have completed your third annual review.

Audits were recently completed (20%+, but Christchurch practitioners excluded).

The Psychology Advisor or the Registrar are happy to provide advice/coaching.

Check our website for detailed information.

Other activities

Family Court Practice Note review Revisions made in collaboration with

Principal Family Court Judge Peter Boshier.

The Board is satisfied that our shared approach is fair, reasonable, and lawful.

Complaints overview (10/11)

28 new complaints were received.

49 distinct complaints managed.

5 practitioners with two complaints.

Of the 21 complaints considered, 1 was sent to a PCC, 1 to a Competence Review, and 19 were ‘NFA’.

0 HPDT hearings0 HPDT hearings.

Complaints in 2010/2011

Setting Number of complaints

% of new cases

Private Practice 5 18

Family Court 10 36

ACC 5 18

DHB 0 0

Dept of Corrections 3 11

CYFS 1 4

Other 4 14

Lessons learned in 10/11

19 of 28 complaints related to an assessment or report completed for an employer or another organisation.

Although only 1 was sent to a PCC, practitioners should be very careful and clear when completing third-party reports.

Increasing concern re practising beyond limits of competence.

Fitness update

We are still getting very few referrals.

Don’t hesitate! Call and discuss any concerns you may have. See guideline.

The process is supportive and minimally intrusive.

Feedback from practitioners has been largely positive.

Questions?

Thanks for coming!

(and Go the All Blacks!)