The annual review and financial statements focuses on our work between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022 and how that fits in with the goals in our strategy. You can read the highlights below or download the full review.
From our Chair
As I write the welcome to this annual review, I’ve reflected on another year of change, growth and how we continue to adapt to an evolving external landscape.
The sheer level of activity carried out in the past 12 months by our staff and members has been phenomenal. We can see the positive impact of this work in many areas and I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the achievements listed.
Much of this work was carried out amid the challenges of COVID-19, remote working and what felt like constantly changing restrictions.
While we are yet to appreciate the full effect of the pandemic on our lives, we recognise that it has prompted changes to how some of us work, thus creating a new normal – including a sustained increase in those delivering and accessing therapy online.
We’ve planned our return to face-to-face events after a two-year absence, and there’s been a recognition of some positives of virtual events. Some of these aspects have been incorporated into how we plan and deliver conferences and workshops from now on.
We must also recognise the long-term effect that the pandemic has had on our clients’ mental health and wellbeing.
A members’ survey that we carried out in June 2021 found that 51% of respondents think we'll continue to see the impact of COVID-19 on people’s mental health for up to five years.
This is just one of the many reasons it is important for us to keep a strong focus on our charitable objectives, and remain true to our purpose.
The actions arising from our new equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy, which was developed this year with the help of a group of our members, are an important element for our future.
We have committed to evidencing tangible actions – such as a toolkit to help improve training and a pilot grants scheme.
I’m continuously pleased with the robust and detailed work carried out in our delegated committees and with other governance activities.
Our Association continues to lead and influence the profession, as well as supporting our members, and we are delivering or have delivered against the goals and objectives in this, the final year of our strategy.
I’m looking forward to us carrying through the impact and productivity with a new strategy over the next 12 months, and beyond.
Natalie Bailey
Chair of the Association
"Our Association continues to lead and influence the profession, as well as supporting our members, and we are delivering or have delivered against the goals and objectives in this, the final year of our strategy."
Highlights
1. We will listen to, learn from and work with our members to inform the work of the Association
Key achievements from this year:
EDI strategy
We developed our equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, with the support of a member-led EDI task and finish group.
Listening workshops
Professional standards, accreditation and training were a few of the broad range of subjects discussed as part of our listening workshop series. The sessions aimed to give members an opportunity to ask questions and share their views on topics relating to our work.
Race roundtables
Our President David Weaver held several virtual roundtable discussions to give members and stakeholders a chance to express their views on key issues affecting the professions. Their comments have helped in the development of our EDI strategy and its associated activities.
Readers’ views
We adapted the look and content of the journals’ webpages, following the results of a reader survey.
"I wanted to be involved with something that could truly benefit BACP members, communities, and those wanting to get into the profession. I have contributed towards a strategy which takes into account what matters to me, the voice of our members, communities, and future therapists along with backable actions to support lasting change and improvements."
Nick Rennie, a member of our EDI strategy task and finish group
2. We will equip our members to be able to work in a fast-changing world, to be able to influence and contribute to the wellbeing of society
Key achievements from this year:
Jobs board
We saw a 96% increase in the number of jobs advertised on the BACP jobs board, compared to the previous year. A new online booking system has made it easier for advertisers to post jobs on the site.
Ethics support
Our ethics team recorded a 20% increase in member enquiries this year, and we recruited a new ethics officer to help meet this demand. Member feedback on the service has been consistently high.
Podcasts
Divisional journal editors began recording podcasts based on content within their latest editions. This has increased the variety of online content for our members so they can consume information in a different format.
Grant scheme
We launched a £30,000 pilot grant scheme to fund two of our organisational members to deliver a project that aims to improve access to therapy for people from marginalised and racialised
community backgrounds.
"I brought the topic Queering therapy spaces and working with gender diverse clients to BACP's attention as there are very few practitioners in BACP who are both trans and qualified practitioners developing queer specific therapy practice. I think the enormous amount of positive feedback demonstrates the need for more of these kinds of events and the importance of increased visibility for trans practitioners."
Chris Grant, presenter of Queering therapy spaces and working with gender diverse clients event
3. We will be the professional home of choice for members and communities of practice, providing relevant services and opportunities to learn, develop and inspire each other
Key achievements from this year:
Learning centre
The Learning centre was launched to all members and now has more than 18,000 users. It’s home to CPD resources for members, including 300 hours of content. They can also plan and record their learning.
Building a community
We've developed a Communities of practice platform that will give members an online space to connect and share professional knowledge.
Accessing the profession
We’ve worked with a consultant to explore how to increase representation at all levels of the profession of people from Black and ethnic minority heritage. This work has started to look
at understanding and reducing barriers to entry and progression and to identify and work with key ally organisations.
Private practice toolkit
The toolkit now includes 11 new resources to support members working in private practice. Subjects include growing your practice, contracts, tax and data protection.
“The BACP directory telesurgery service was really helpful to me. I had a friendly and informative session which gave me insight into how the register works, and I made changes to my profile based on advice given. This has definitely led to more enquiries.”
Vanessa Hurst, BACP member who advertises through our directory
4. We will further develop confidence in and credibility of the profession by developing and upholding professional and ethical standards, informed by an evidence base
Key achievements from this year:
SCoPEd
Working with five Professional Standards Authority-accredited bodies, we published the January 2022 version of the SCoPEd framework. We’ve also increased communication and engagement
with members on SCoPEd.
Online therapy competence development
We published an online and phone therapy (OPT) user guide and training curriculum to follow on from the 2021 publication of an updated OPT competence framework.
Good practice resources
We produced six new Good Practice in Action resources and reviewed and updated 33 others. Our new e-learning resource Exploring suicidal risk with clients was published in December 2021.
Supervision competences
We developed and published a supervision training curriculum to offer training providers a framework for delivering counselling and psychotherapy supervision training.
“I have presented in person at a number of BACP research conferences and have found them to be an effective way, not only to disseminate my research, but to network with other presenters and delegates. During the pandemic, the BACP 2021 online research conference offered me a welcome opportunity to do this again.”
Dr Anna Constantine, BACP accredited and COSRT registered therapist and clinical supervisor
5. We will campaign for the appropriate provision of counselling and psychotherapy for all members of society and for opportunities for paid employment of our members. We will champion the skills, competence and contribution of our members to the public, employers, commissioners and policy-makers.
Key achievements from this year:
Making the headlines
We’ve seen an 83% increase in the reach of media coverage mentioning BACP since we started working with PR agency 23red in February 2020. This included widespread coverage of our
Mindometer survey, which highlighted the impact of COVID-19 on counselling.
NICE consultation
We submitted our response to the consultation on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) draft guideline for treatment of adults with depression.
Parliamentary debate
MPs highlighted the need for the Government to invest in qualified, paid counsellors in schools in England during a debate in Parliament. We briefed MPs ahead of the session, and our data and key points about school counselling were mentioned in the debate.
Therapy investment calls
We called on the Government and policy makers in London to invest in counselling and psychotherapy, during a virtual roundtable event attended by the Minister and Shadow Ministers for Mental Health.
“To be a public voice for BACP is an exciting privilege. Appearing in digital and print media, plus radio, representing BACP and counsellors’ vital work supports my passionate belief that we must continue normalising therapy and making professional counselling accessible. Being part of BACP’s Christmas media campaign and being interviewed by many radio stations were hugely proud moments.”
Dee Johnson, BACP media spokesperson
6. We will optimise the organisation of BACP to ensure it is flexible, responsive and capable of resourcing the vision and goals
Key achievements from this year:
Telephone upgrade
We completed the roll out of an online telephone system for all staff. It has increased the number of lines available to our customer services team and meant they are better able to meet the demands of a growing membership.
Environmentally friendly
We changed our plastic membership cards to sustainable paper-based cards. These can be recycled from home along with other card waste, or composted.
Diversity and inclusion training
Staff took part in thought-provoking and interactive training on diversity and inclusion. This included gaining an understanding of unconscious bias, identifying assumptions and learning more about language and terminology.