The Association of Child Psychologists in Private Practice has been established by two founder members, Denise Thornton and Terri Hall with the intention of drawing together committed practitioners who have a vision for the future of Child Psychology. We believe that Child Psychologists working in private practice need a forum for discussion, the opportunity to speak with a collective voice and the chance to help shape the future of our profession. This Association seeks to act as an open and objective information channel for the public and engender transparent professional practice.
Invited members involved in the establishment of the Association included Ruth Birnbaum, Jonathan Reed Jennifer Stockley and Peter Rankin. The inaugural conference of AChiPPP was in October 2006. Members who attended had the benefit of hearing Theo Paphitis, among other noted speakers, give his thoughts on setting up in private practice. Since that first conference membership has steadily grown.
Several Training Days have followed. These have included training days on Education Law covering preparation of reports and Tribunal attendance and two on Family Law. The Family Law days like the Education Law days covered all aspects that require the involvement of the expert witness including report writing and practising courtroom skills. In response to requests from members one of the Training Days was held in Sheffield as an alternative to London. Another Training Day was in the field of neuropsychology focusing particularly on executive functioning in children.
Professional Affairs Days, like the Training Days, have been very well received by participants. These days offer an opportunity for members to raise topics and concerns of immediate interest to them.
At the local level, members are now organising local support groups with opportunities for peer contact and supervision. As stated above one of the original aims that Denise and Terri had in setting up AChiPPP was to offer child psychologists in private practice access to peer support and opportunities for CPD specifically geared to the needs of child psychologists in private practice. It's great to see that this is now happening. Members can use the website to find out the contact details for other psychologists local to them. Simply type in own postcode and a list of AChiPPP psychologists local to that post code will then be shown.
You can also make direct email contact or come through the main AChiPPP email address or use the telephone contacts shown on the home page. Sam Ellis deals with AChiPPP's admin support. She is available via the enquiry form and on the mobile 07563955808 or by email achippp@gmail.com.
Please bring your ideas, views and experiences to share with others via email or direct contact. If you have a meeting let other members know by giving details to Sam 07563955808 who can circulate them or do so directly by the AChiPPP list serv .
With the move to registration by the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) many members have been querying what the situation will be regarding payment of VAT. Broadly speaking if registered with the HPC and undertaking work with clients that could be classed as therapy then no VAT is payable. When undertaking other types of work such as legal assessments and reports for court then VAT is payable once the threshold has been reached.
Many AChiPPP members, like other psychologists, are likely to be currently wrestling with the titles they will be allowed to use following HCPC registration. Some of you may be following the information given on the BPS website and the debates in the Independent Practitioners listserve. There is still some conflicting information around, although the kernel seems to be that all psychologists registered with the HCPC can call themselves either a Registered Psychologist or a Practitioner Psychologist. The term Chartered Psychologist will remain, but adjectival titles are more of a query. While Chartered Psychologist will be an acceptable title, Chartered Educational Psychologist or Chartered Clinical Psychologist will not be.