Counselling and Psychotherapy Research (CPR) is BACP’s research journal, accessible to over 75,000 BACP members and, through the journal’s publisher, Wiley, to an increasing international readership. It's an innovative international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to linking research with practice. Pluralist in theoretical and methodological orientation, the journal recognises the value of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods strategies of inquiry and aims to promote high-quality, ethical research that informs and develops counselling and psychotherapy practice. The journal aims to ensure that research remains relevant to practice, and for practice to continue to inform research development.

CPR’s current editor is standing down later this year. Additionally, submissions to the journal have grown rapidly in recent years meaning that we are now seeking to support CPR’s continued growth by investing in reconfiguring and expanding the editorial team that ensures its smooth running.

Further information about the journal can be found here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/17461405

Role Description

The successful applicant will:

  • hold over-arching responsibility and provide operational leadership for the smooth running of the journal, working closely with Associate Editors to ensure efficient, timely and high quality task completion and responsiveness to authors, reviewers, Editorial Board members and other stakeholders. Liaise with the BACP Head of Research regularly to review journal performance, resource and developments
  • assess submissions to the journal at desk review and make decisions about whether to proceed to peer review; using an online editorial management system to have journal submissions peer reviewed by appropriately qualified and experienced persons, working closely with Associate Editors to facilitate this; providing additional reviews and feedback on manuscripts as needed; assessing author revisions of manuscripts; making decisions to accept or reject manuscripts ensuring transparent and timely communication with authors throughout the entire process 
  • work with the Wiley Editorial Office on the day-to-day operations of the journal in an efficient manner and to provide accepted material to the Publisher in accordance with the Author Guidelines and the Production Schedule; with support from the Publisher, continual monitoring and tracking of article progress through peer review, identifying delays and blocks, ensuring that difficulties are prioritised and addressed in close consultation with BACP and the Publisher. Agreeing appropriate targets for turnaround times and reporting on performance in bi-monthly meetings with the BACP Head of Research and at Editorial Board meetings
  • maintain high standards in the peer-review process and ensure that the journal adheres to best practice guidance with respect to research integrity and publishing ethics in accordance with COPE (Committee on Publishing Ethics) guidelines
  • work with BACP, the Editorial board and the publisher to maintain a strategy for the development of the journal, to maintain and increase the status and visibility and ensure that the journal fulfils its aims and serves the readers in its field, seeking to build on its quality, relevance, reach and impact within the UK and internationally; actively solicit and recruit members to the editorial board as appropriate
  • prepare editorial reports, agenda items and other relevant papers and participate in Editorial board meetings (currently quarterly); preparing agenda and discussion items for quarterly operational and progress meetings with the BACP research team staff and publisher. All meetings held virtually
  • act as an ambassador for the journal, enhancing its position in the field, including its relation to competing journals and promoting the journal wherever possible through professional contacts and at conferences
  • work with the BACP research team and Editorial board, keeping abreast of developments within research and within counselling and psychotherapy more broadly, ensuring that the journal remains relevant to researchers and readers, driving discussion and debate as well as influencing policy

Selection criteria

The successful applicant will have:

  • strong leadership skills, with managerial experience and be able to lead a small editorial team
  • a PhD in counselling or psychotherapy or a closely related area; active in the field with a good record of publications
  • excellent knowledge and experience of research within this field and an in-depth understanding of both the UK and international contexts of counselling and psychotherapy
  • a proactive mindset and be able to take the initiative, with excellent problem-solving skills, be able to respond to rapid change and developments in the publishing landscape and their impact on authors, submissions and the reviewing process
  • excellent time management, with the ability to prioritise tasks and work to deadlines within tight time constraints; be highly organised and motivated; able to work flexibly, undertaking contracted hours over a minimum of three but ideally four or more days
  • demonstrable commitment to addressing equity, diversity and inclusion, and to working actively with this in relation to the journal’s strategy and operation
  • a flexible and collaborative working style, able to work as part of an editorial team alongside the journal’s Associate Editors as well as in partnership with the publishing team, BACP colleagues and the Editorial Board
  • experience in editorial decision making with astute editorial judgment in the evaluation of research submissions for publication is an advantage; alternatively, experience of reviewing manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals or experience of reviewing and assessing research dissertations and theses in academic contexts are essential
  • high professional and ethical standards and a commitment to ensuring the journal maintains scholarly rigor and high standards of research and publication integrity
  • excellent written and spoken communication and excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrating the ability to communicate clearly and sensitively with authors, reviewers and other stakeholders.
  • a vision for the journal and the capacity to think creatively about building on the journal’s success

Time commitment

Eight hours per week, worked flexibly.

Remuneration

This is a self-employed contract role. The rate of pay is £250 per week. If you require any other information about the role before applying please contact Head of Research Clare Symons at clare.symons@bacp.co.uk