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| NATIONAL DELEGATE
Angel Chater
Registered Health Psychologist and
Sport and Exercise Psychologist (HPC)
University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
LU1 3JU (UK)
tel.: +44 1582 489 217
e-mail: angel.chater@beds.ac.uk
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Psychology in the UK is headed by the British Psychological Society (BPS) which serves the Royal Charter and represents the interests of psychologists in all fields. The Health Professions Council (HPC) is the regulator of applied psychologists in the UK.
The British Psychological Society established a Health Psychology section in 1986 in recognition of the growing body of research and practice in this field, followed by the establishment of the Special Group in Health Psychology in 1987 and finally the Division of Health Psychology (DHP) in 1997.
The DHP is run by a voted members` committee who are very committed to the Division` s objectives. The Divisional Membership rose to more than 1500 members in March 2010.
The UK hosted three EHPS Conferences, in Oxford (1990), St. Andrews (2001) and Bath (2008).
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National associations
The British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology (DHP) aims as agreed at the inaugural DHP Annual General Meeting in 2000 the Division serves three general aims:
1. To study scientifically the psychological processes of health, illness and health care.
2. To apply psychology to: a) the promotion and maintenance of health. b) the analysis and improvement of the health care system and health policy formation. c) the enhancement of wellbeing in those affected by illness or disability.
3. To develop professional skills in research, consultancy and teaching/training.
Activities
Events: The Division of Health Psychology hosts an Annual Divisional Conference, attracting more than 200 delegates http://www.bps.org.uk/dhp/dhp-conference/dhp-conference_home.cfm. The DHP hosts 4 Continuing Professional Developments Events each year, which are very popular with both the qualified and the in-training members http://www.bps.org.uk/dhp/cpd/cpd-events.cfm.
Publications: The British Psychological Society, in conjunction with DHP editors, publishes the peer reviewed journal “The British Journal of Health Psychology”. The journal` s scope includes all areas of Health Psychology across the life span, ranging from experimental and clinical research on aetiology and the management of acute and chronic illness, responses to ill-health, screening and medical procedures, to research on health behaviour and psychological aspects of prevention. Health Psychology Update is the official publication of the Division which serves as a forum for discussion of issues related to the scientific analysis of psychological processes of health, illness and health care and the development of professional skills in research, practice, consultancy and teaching/training http://www.bps.org.uk/dhp/health-psych-update/health-psych-update_home.cfm.
Publicity: The DHP Publicity and Liaison subcommittee works towards increasing the profile of health psychology and promoting it to the public. The DHP currently has a range of promotional leaflets targeting a variety of audiences: http://www.bps.org.uk/dhp/php/php_home.cfm.
Postgraduates: The Division supports postgraduate members with a research internship scheme and travel bursaries to conferences and postgraduate events. The DHP postgraduate committee works closely with the British Research and Training in Health Psychology (BREATHE) group with joint events and initiatives.
Link to webpage: http://www.bps.org.uk/dhp |
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Education, training & professionalisation
Education and training needed to become a Health Psychologist in the UK is overseen by the British Psychological Society, whilst the licence to practise is regulated by the designated professional organisation, the Health Professions Council (HPC). The title “Health Psychologist” is one of seven core designated titles protected by the law which came into effect in July 2009 http://www.hpc-uk.org/apply/psychologists/faqs/.
In order to achieved chartered status with the BPS, trainees must be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS, and undertake a BPS accreditedMaster’s (MSc) degree in Health Psychology (Stage 1) followed by 2 years of supervised experience (professional practice and competence) with a BPS-accredited supervisor (Stage 2) http://www.bps.org.uk/careers/society_qual/health.cfm. Stage 2 training covers five core competencies: Generic Professional Behaviour Change Interventions Research Consultancy Teaching and Training The BPS and Training Committee of the DHP oversee the accreditation of Stage 1 Health Psychology courses. The Health Professions Council accredits Stage 2 training.
Practicing Health Psychologists in the UK need to register with the HPC (Health Professions Council) and must be trained to doctoral level through an accredited route. |
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Research
In the UK, health psychologists work in a variety of settings including academia, healthcare and the private sector and practice a range of activities including teaching students, patients and health-care professionals, conducting research and clinical or behavioural interventions, informing health promotion and public health policy and providing consultancy services. The range of competencies involved in a health psychologist’s training (see section above) are hence mirrored in the activities that could potentially be undertaken once the training is complete.
Joining the Division of Health Psychology: There are currently three grades of Divisional membership.
Full Membership → applicable for candidates who are qualified in Health Psychology and eligible for Chartered Status on the basis of their training.
In Training Membership → applicable for candidates who are enrolled on a Society accredited postgraduate training course or are undergoing a period of supervised practice which will count towards Full Membership of the Division.
General Membership → applicable for any member of the Society who is not eligible for Full or In Training membership of the Division.
*British Psychological Society Membership is required for Division of Health Psychology Membership |
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Report 2010/2011
BPS DIVISION OF HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY ANNUAL REPORT 2010-2011
The Division of Health Psychology (DHP) of the British Psychological Society (BPS) has had a busy 12 months, in this special year where we celebrate 25 years of Health Psychology in the UK, led by the incredibly hard-working Alison Wearden. Our membership is growing with 1601 members in 2010 and 1676 members in 2011.
A few initiatives are as follows, the first few having a clear focus on behaviour change:
• We led a response to the House of Lords Inquiry on Behaviour Change: This report was facilitated by the former EHPS representative Martin Hagger and responded to the issues around the use of behaviour change approaches.
• Behaviour Change Working Group: This recently formed cross-divisional group, led by Alison Wearden, Susan Michie and Charles Abraham, who are key players in behaviour change research in the UK to date, aims to develop the means by which the BPS can provide timely and authoritive responses to policy initiatives in the area.
• David French represented the DHP in a delegation which met with the Cabinet Office’s Behavioural Insight Team in February.
We thank our members with the expertise in behaviour change for moving this agenda forward.
With the aims to support our practitioner members, the DHP have also been actively engaged in a cross-divisional initiative planning a one-day ‘Psychology in the NHS conference’ which is hoped to run in November of this year. Alison Wearden and the CPD sub-committee led by Sarah Peters have also facilitated a review of the CPD needs of the membership and this will be considered and taken forward next year.
In terms of engaging with the public we have had the following initiatives:
• Publicity and Liaison (led by myself) have created a ‘What is Health Psychology’ powerpoint presentation which has been uploaded on the website and sent to course leaders.
• We have updated our leaflets that are aimed at those working in the Applied Settings, General Public and those who may be employing Health Psychologists in Applied Settings (all available on the DHP website). We are now in the process of developing a leaflet that will be targeted at GPs and commissioners.
• Rona Moss-Morris represented the DHP in a talk at the ‘Psychology for All’ event which was open to the general public and was a huge success.
• Elizabeth Jenkinson and myself published an article in Psychology Review for A-level students entitled, “Health Psychology: Working in Health” to try to encourage a younger generation of students to consider health psychology.
• We have created a Health psychology interest group members area on the DHP website for local groups to communicate more easily.
• Further, we have developed and doubled our Twitter account and following, currently led by Elizabeth Jenkinson.
• Following on from the ideas of the Deputy Chair, Di Harcourt, we have created & advertised a public engagement grant with the specific remit of aiming to encourage the engagement in health psychology, this year awarded to Karen Rodham (a final report to be published in the HPU).
• We have further published a special edition for Qualifications in Health Psychology in the HPU and special thanks goes to Mark Forshaw, Neil Coulson and Kerri McPherson for their work on this.
To celebrate the 25 years of Health Psychology in the UK, Alison Wearden, Maggie Donovan-Hall and myself have also co-ordinated a special edition of The Psychologist – which will be out in December and will include a main paper (celebrating the last 25yrs written by Marie Johnston and John Weinman), ten articles written by members of the DHP addressing their fascinating findings, a new voice with a newly qualified health psychologist and a one to one with Roger Ingham.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the contributors for this special edition and their contribution to P&L activities.
We have also continued to expand the benefits of Division membership including representation (policies and consultations and specialist knowledge, led by Koula Asimakopoulou and subcommittee work), dissemination of information (HPU led by Kerri McPherson, annual conference led by Lucy Hackshaw, DHP email list, website, seasonal newsletter co-ordinated by Kathy Perryman), and the maintenance of high professional standards (stage 2 review, funding postgraduate subcommittee events, organised by Eric Barratt).
The work of the DHP support officer was reviewed and this remained a strong asset to the DHP providing valuable support for the Chair and other subcommittees. This year we welcomed and thank Katherine Perryman as our 2010-2011 support officer, who has been working incredibly hard throughout the year. For the forthcoming year, we welcome Margaret Husted.
As the year comes to a close, Alison Wearden (Chair 2010-2011) and Neil Coulson (Chair 2011-2012) welcome newly elected and co-opted committee members: Tony Cassidy (Chair Elect), Jo Hart (Honorary Secretary), Debbie Smith (National Conference Chair), Erica Cook (Chair of the Postgraduate Subcommittee) and Petriece Turnbull (Ordinary member).
We thank Di Harcourt (Deputy Chair), Eric Barratt (Chair of Postgraduate Subcommittee), Lucy Hackshaw (National Conference Organiser) and Kerri McPherson (HPU Editor) as outgoing committee members for their service to the DHP. In closing, I will also be standing down as Publicity and Liaison Subcommittee Chair and would like to express my personal gratitude to the DHP committee members for their support over the past year and look forward to continued success in the next year under the leadership of Neil Coulson. |
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