Expert Reference Group member for Competence Framework Development: Relationship counselling
Work for BACP

The views and experiences of external stakeholders are critical to competence framework development. We're looking for volunteers to join the ERG for this project. 

ERG members share their knowledge, skills and experience to help construct a framework and associated documents that in their view best describe the competences necessary for counselling and psychotherapy practitioners to deliver good quality specialist therapy and positive client outcomes. Competence framework development is managed by the BACP Core Group, which comprises staff from Professional Standards, a Senior Research Fellow and an External Consultant with research and subject matter knowledge. The ERG works in collaboration with the Core Group. ERG members are named and their contribution acknowledged in the final framework user guide which is published on the BACP website.

Ideal candidates have specific skills, abilities and expertise in the field of relationship counselling, and may include:

• practitioners and supervisors of good repute within the specialism
• researchers and authors who have published books or articles on relationship counselling and related issues
• tutors or lecturers with experience teaching relationship counselling

BACP competence frameworks

BACP competence frameworks present a structured set of evidence-based competences that enable practitioners, supervisors, employers and commissioners to understand the relevant skills, knowledge and professional attributes that counsellors and psychotherapists need to work safely and effectively in post-qualification specialist practice with specific presenting problem areas, therapeutic modalities or client populations. You can find existing BACP competence frameworks on the BACP competences and curricula web page.

Time commitment

There will be approximately seven ERG meetings held across the two years of the project. ERG meetings for the relationship counselling competence framework will generally be held on Thursdays.

Most ERG meetings take place online via Microsoft Teams and may last two hours. Occasionally, this may be longer, depending on the needs of the project. It's possible that one ERG meeting during this project may be held in person for half day at BACP House in Lutterworth (or another location to be confirmed to best suit the group). Expenses for these meetings may be claimed in line with BACP’s volunteer expenses policy. Invitations, joining links, agenda and other relevant documents will be sent on email in advance. BACP will strive to give ERG members a minimum of four weeks’ notice for all meetings and document reviews, to allow ERG members time to respond.

At various stages of the process and particularly before each meeting, ERG members will be required to review and comment on various documents. On each occasion this work is likely to require a commitment of approximately two hours.

It may be necessary to conduct some Teams calls between scheduled meeting dates. If so, these meetings may be one to two hours.

Skills and abilities

Please explain how you meet the following criteria in your cover letter, you should have:  

• experience of specialist practice, tutoring or research knowledge, skills and experience in relationship counselling
• a solid understanding of practice and education landscapes in which the framework will be used
• knowledge of related competence frameworks and standards, training pathways and delivery contexts, and professional body requirements
• knowledge of relevant legislation or policy in relationship counselling
• commitment to professional standards development in counsellor training and CPD
• competent IT skills and excellent attention to detail
• time to read documents closely and provide detailed, constructive and (where necessary) critical feedback on content and the format of the resources
• time to attend ERG meetings, and the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully in group settings
• a commitment to collaborative working, with the ability to look beyond personal or organisational interests
• adherence to the seven Nolan principles of public office: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership

Activities and expectations to carry out the role

You'll need to:

• support the framework consultation process by suggesting other stakeholders or experts
• read and comment on the draft research protocol. Discuss and help define the project’s scope, including definitions used to describe the framework and key search terms to guide the research. Contribute to overarching methodological decisions
• recommend refinements to literature search parameters. Advise on hand searches in select journals and textbooks
• engage in work between meetings including reading and commenting on project reports, examining findings from the scoping review and thematic analysis, reviewing and refining framework drafts, including noting any gaps or inconsistencies
• return requested feedback in advance of scheduled meetings
• attend meetings (or send written contributions in lieu of attendance) as agreed
• review and agree finalised versions of the competence framework and associated documents including the user guide