We’d like to thank all members who actively engaged with our call for motions and resolutions submissions as part of our 2024 AGM process. Your feedback and suggestions are hugely valuable, and we appreciate the wide range of views we receive, and the time and effort dedicated to taking part in this process.
We recognise the importance of clarity and transparency in our processes. Therefore, we’re keen to share a high-level overview of the themes we received this year and, where possible, an update on the actions we’re taking in response.
This year we received 52 motions, two of these motions have progressed to the support stage. We also received six resolutions. No resolutions have progressed to the support stage on this occasion.
Key themes from member submissions
Replacement of the Chair
One of the themes we saw through this process was replacing the Chair of our Board of Governors. We couldn’t accept motions on this topic because they didn’t follow the correct process outlined in sections 37 and 38 of the BACP Articles of Association, titled: Removal of a Governor by a General Meeting.
However, we take on board the concerns raised. It’s also important to note that the Board makes all decisions as a collective, including those regarding the future of the profession. These decisions are aligned with our five-year strategy and are considered to be in the best interest of BACP - its members, staff, and stakeholders. Although the Chair leads the Board the decisions are made by the entire Board. We’d also like to reassure members that the Board has full confidence in the Chair’s leadership of BACP.
The Board is committed to improving ongoing membership engagement and to take members views into account. This includes dialogue about the identity of the profession, our purpose and our role in supporting our members to improve the quality and accessibility of counselling and psychotherapy. These discussions will form a key part of implementing our five-year strategy and we're optimistic about the positive impact we can have for our members, your clients and the wider profession.
Finally, sometimes the Board must consider reports or matters that are confidential or legally privileged. In these cases the Board are limited on what they can share with the membership. However, the Board will, wherever appropriate, provide a summary of the relevant issues and a list of actions that have been, or will be, undertaken.
SCoPEd framework
Another key theme was the SCoPEd framework. We’d like to reassure you that we take all member feedback seriously. We're here to listen, and we wish to work with our members to implement the SCoPEd framework in the best possible way.
We recognise the SCoPEd framework divides membership opinion. Because of this, we know it's important to offer multiple opportunities for members to offer feedback and engage with its development and implementation. To date, we've held several Q&A events, including a SCoPEd transition period session in September 2023, a SCoPEd partner event in 2022, a dedicated Listening Workshop in 2021, panel sessions, and a Q&A submitted by external organisations. Additionally, we’ve conducted framework consultations, surveys and focus groups, all providing platforms for members to raise concerns and ask questions.
As an organisation we’re committed to listening to and engaging with our members. We plan to hold another event regarding the opening of accreditation routes in the future, so please look out for an announcement on this.
You can read more about SCoPEd on the BACP website.
Senior accreditation
We also received submissions providing feedback on the status of senior accredited members in relation to the SCoPEd framework. We couldn’t advance these suggestions because we’re committed to adopting the SCoPEd framework and are currently in the process of implementing it.
As our previous senior accreditation category doesn’t align with column C standards and competences, we needed to make changes to the criteria so that it can map to column C of the framework. We recognise and understand the impact of this to members who hold existing senior accredited status under the previous scheme. Therefore, to try and help make this transition as straightforward as possible, we’ve developed a transition accreditation mechanism to allow those members who meet the revised senior accredited eligibility criteria to apply now, free of charge, if they wish to.
It’s never been our intention to make any existing senior accredited member feel as though they are being temporarily demoted. We understand the feelings and frustrations this may have caused. We have strived to be conscientious about fairness in making these decisions. We want to reassure all members that we take all feedback seriously. We’re here to listen and work with you to implement the SCoPEd framework in the best possible way.
Other themes
We also received motion and resolution submissions on a range of subjects including accreditation, policy and membership. The submissions covered a variety of themes and although the Board couldn’t progress them all to the support stage, we’re grateful for the feedback we receive through this annual process. It helps us to review our processes and understand how our members feel about various issues.
Next steps and how you can get involved
The submissions that have been accepted by the Board have now progressed to the support stage. You can show your support for these motions from Monday 15 July until Friday 16 August. You’ll have received an email from MiVoice with all the details about how you can get involved. Please remember to check your email junk and spam folders in case your invite has gone there.
Your email will give you a link to the support site where you can view the complete submissions as well as the Board's response to each one. If you want the motion to proceed to voting at the AGM, simply register your support on the online support site. You can access the site and show your support any time from now until 5pm on Friday 16 August.
Continuing our engagement with you
Thank you once again for your active participation and support in this year’s AGM processes. Please keep sharing your insights and feedback with us. You can email your views to listening@bacp.co.uk. We look forward to further discussions at our upcoming AGM.
