Generic Professional Competence
Candidates must demonstrate:
1. That they have sufficient professional experience to practise as an autonomous practitioner;
2. That they are able to make informed professional judgments on complex issues, often in the absence of complete data, in accordance with current codes of professional legal and ethical conduct.
3. That they can communicate their ideas and conclusions clearly and effectively to the appropriate audience.
4. That they are able to exercise personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations in professional practice.
5. That they can continue their development in both health psychology and related areas at an advanced level.
6. That they are able to understand organisational and systemic issues of relevance to the practice of applied psychologists.
Evidence to be submitted:
1. A reflexive report of 3,000 words (maximum) in the Record of Completion, summarizing personal and professional development as a health psychologist. Candidates should reflect on the extent to which their experience has allowed them to acquire specified competence in each component and to have their supervisor approve these comments.
2. A report of 1,000 words (maximum) summarising the involvement of service users and/or carers in your training.
You are required to work with service users and/or carers to inform your programme of studies. This enables you to gain direct experience of working with service users and/or carers who are relevant and appropriate to your particular topic of interest. For example, a trainee conducting research and practice in the area of asthma would work with a person diagnosed with or a carer of someone diagnosed with asthma. You, in discussion with your supervisory team, can decide precisely how service users are to be involved. For example, a trainee and service user might meet regularly to discuss and help plan the design and delivery of an intervention so that service users’ perspectives are addressed. You will also need to think through and address any training or support needs that your service users might have. INVOVE provides a wealth of guidance and ideas about how to involve service users in your work. Please consult their website for further information: http://www.invo.org.uk/
1.1 Professional autonomy & accountability
Attainment of competence in this unit involves demonstration of the ability to:
- 1.1a Practise within the legal ethical boundaries.
- 1.1b Practise as an autonomous professional.
- 1.1c Demonstrate the need to engage in continuing professional development.
1.1a To be able to practise within the legal and ethical boundaries of the profession, the competent health psychologist will:
1. Understand and work within current legislation and ethical codes applicable to the work of health psychologists, including the BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct and the HCPC’s Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.
2. Implement appropriate systems for record keeping, and for regular audit and review of practise.
3. Ensure records and data for research and practice remain anonymous, confidential and secure unless otherwise agreed.
4. Define clearly the qualifications and capabilities of oneself and others working with and for health psychologists.
5. Practice in a non-discriminatory manner.
6. Understand the power imbalance between practitioners and clients and how this can be minimised.
7. Understand the need to act in the best interests of service users at all times.
8. Understand what is required of them by the Health and Care Professions Council.
9. Understand the need to respect, and so far as possible uphold, the rights, dignity, values and autonomy of every service user, including their role in the diagnostic and therapeutic process and in maintaining health and wellbeing.
10. Understand the complex ethical and legal issues of any form of dual relationship and the impact these may have on clients.
1.1b To be able to practise as an autonomous professional, exercising one’s own professional judgement, the competent health psychologist will be able to:
1. Know the limits of their practice, when to seek advice or refer to another professional.
2. Critically evaluate the impact of their work on a regular basis.
3. Appropriately use supervision and feedback about one’s practice and professional development needs.
4. Identify and assess personal and work related challenges to one’s physical and emotional well-being and fitness to practice.
5. Develop strategies to cope with challenges, including seeking and using appropriate supervision, management and professional support.
1.1c To demonstrate the need to engage in continuing professional development, the competent health psychologist will be able to:
1. Identify and evaluate new and emerging evidence relating to best practice in health psychology.
2. Ensure familiarity with relevant existing and emerging policy documents.
3. Actively seek and act appropriately on feedback from clients, stakeholders, managers and supervisors on practice.
4. Identify, seek and pursue opportunities to enhance and advance professional performance.
5. Keep an updated log of CPD activity and learning outcomes.
1.2 Professional Skills
Attainment of competence in this unit involves demonstration of the ability to:
- 1.2a Communicate effectively.
- 1.2b Provide appropriate advice and guidance on concepts and evidence derived from health psychology.
- 1.2c Build alliances and engage in collaborative working effectively.
- 1.2d Lead groups or teams effectively.
- 1.2e Understand organisational and systemic issues of relevance to the practice of applied psychologists.
1.2a To communicate effectively, the competent health psychologist will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an awareness of how non-verbal and verbal communication can be affected by culture, age, ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs and socio-economic status.
2. Understand the need to provide service users (or those acting on their behalf) with the information necessary for them to make informed decisions and to give informed consent.
3. Use appropriate skills (to establish rapport, empathy, engage in active listening skills, use of various type of questioning skills) to initiate, develop and end professional relationships with service users.
4. Use interpersonal skills to engage in collaborative working relationships with other professionals, and to encourage the active participation of service users in interventions.
1.2b To provide appropriate advice and guidance based on concepts and evidence derived from health psychology, the competent health psychologist will be able to:
1. Recognise, and where appropriate, offer up to date, relevant advice on psychological issues.
2. Assess the purpose, utility and likely impact of the advice and guidance.
3. Explain the nature and purpose of specific psychological techniques to service users and relevant professionals.
4. Summarise, tailor and present complex ideas in an appropriate form in formal and informal settings with a sensitivity to context.
5. Provide appropriate psychological advice to aid policy decision making.
6. Obtain necessary permissions for the use of confidential and copyrighted information.
7. Evaluate the impact of psychological advice.
1.2c To build alliances and engage in collaborative working effectively, the competent health psychologist will be able to:
1. Build and sustain professional relationships collaboratively as a member of a team.
2. Contribute effectively to work undertaken as part of a multi-disciplinary team by highlighting evidence and theory derived from health psychology.
3. Demonstrate the need to engage service users and stakeholders in planning and evaluating service.
4. Engage in effective supervisory relationships for their professional practice.
1.2d To lead groups or teams effectively, the competent health psychologist will be able to:
1. Identify and utilise leadership styles appropriate to a particular context.
2. Allocate work to individuals and groups within the specific boundaries of their competence and identify training needs as appropriate.
3. Use negotiation, influencing, facilitation and managements skills successfully within a multi-agency / disciplinary group or team.
4. Respond appropriately to influence of group dynamics, the professional and personal agendas of individual members and pressures relevant to the organisational context of the group or team.
5. Apply principles of change management and organisational development to the work of groups or teams.
6. Receive and act upon feedback on leadership competence from stakeholders and team members.
1.2e In demonstrating their understanding of organisational and systemic issues, the competent health psychologist will:
1. Understand the organisational context for their practice.
2. Understand the structures and functions of service providers applicable to the work of their profession.
3. Recognise the role of other professionals and stakeholders of relevance to their work, including the role of service users, carers, and/or community groups.
4. Be able to adapt their practice to different organisational contexts for service delivery, as appropriate.
5. Be able to bring psychological influence to bear; for example, through consultancy, training, and working effectively in multidisciplinary and/or cross-professional teams.