From the Chair Natalie Bailey, Chair, BACP Board of Governors
‘The trajectory of the counselling professions is constantly being directed by political influences’
governments to in fl uence policy makers, highlighting the underutilisation of counselling and psychotherapy. It lobbies for job opportunities with NHS England, and engages with government departments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, advocating for our members. Last autumn’s budget statement saw £600 million allocated to psychological therapies, and the team has been collaborating with policy makers to in fl uence e ff ective implementation in the NHS and in pilot programmes in other areas. Members have a valuable part to play in the political landscape. Several AGMs have seen calls from members through motions and resolutions to push for VAT exemption on counselling and psychotherapy, and we’re continuing to lobby for this. In February we held a roundtable discussion with BACP Vice President Luciana Berger, which a number of BACP members attended to provide insights on their experiences. In addition, a member consultation that focused on BACP members in England garnered fruitful responses from more than 1,400 members. Thank you to all who took part to support the team’s work on emerging manifestos with all political parties. Policies regarding healthcare funding and mental health parity a ff ect the availability of resources for psychological treatment and support. By advocating for policies that prioritise mental wellness and address the root causes of psychological distress, the work of BACP’s Policy and Public A ff airs team continues to establish the way for a more promising future for members, and for those who might want a career in the public, private and third sector. Members can visit the BACP website to see more on our Policy team’s work, and look out for updates in the BACP e-newsletter on how politics is in fl uencing our profession. ■
Why might a counsellor be interested in politics? I would often ponder this question during my counselling and psychotherapy training. Some may argue that counselling is not a political act, yet the trajectory of the counselling professions is constantly being directed by political in fl uences. I’m cognisant that political decisions ricochet for years to come, and with 2024 being a general election year I’m also alert to how political changes could impact our profession. Looking back at my time on a BACP accredited postgraduate diploma programme in 2009, the political landscape was uncertain, with an imminent election in the UK and murmurs of impending regulation of the counselling profession. Concern and confusion were prevalent among my cohort but we anticipated direct registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) on course completion. We were also aware that practitioners who may have pursued alternative and lengthier routes to achieve their quali fi cation several years earlier, and had more years’ experience, were expressing unease at this. Sound familiar? Some of what I’m saying might even re fl ect the current experiences of some BACP members. I imagine few would have predicted the outcome of the general election in 2010 and what a hung parliament and coalition Government would bring. The result meant that conversations in parliament around regulation were halted. The Government’s decision to close down a number of non- departmental bodies a ff ected any prospect my cohort had of joining the HCPC register, which meant we lost the potential to access a variety of employment opportunities. This illustrated how political decisions can a ff ect personal livelihoods and how legislation directly
impacts the accessibility, a ff ordability and quality of mental health services. My motivation to join the BACP Board of Governors was to contribute to discussions with policy makers around access to services and paid employment for counsellors and psychotherapists. Over the years I have worked closely with the BACP Policy and Public A ff airs team. Its work champions the skills, competence and contribution of BACP members to employers, commissioners, politicians and policy makers across the UK, and it builds support for the sector through stakeholder engagement and public policy campaigns. The team works tirelessly to make the case for the appropriate provision of counselling and psychotherapy across society, and ultimately for increased opportunities for paid employment for our members. The impact of the Policy team’s work extends far beyond the margins of any single election cycle. It works with devolved
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