BABCP Screening/Hearing/Health/Appeals Panel Member

BABCP Screening / Hearing / Health / Appeals Panel Member

Role Purpose

The BABCP is committed to maintaining the highest professional standards in Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies. Our independent panels play a crucial role in evaluating potential professional misconduct cases and voluntary self-disclosures across all membership categories.

We’re looking for dedicated professionals to join our Screening, Hearing, Health, or Appeals Panels to help uphold ethical practice and protect the public.

If you’re passionate about maintaining integrity in the field, consider becoming a Panel Member. Your contribution is vital to safeguarding standards and supporting ethical excellence.

The BABCP requires Panel Members to take part in a variety of independent panels to evaluate claims of potential misconduct or voluntary self-disclosure of wrongdoing involving all categories of BABCP members. The panel members may be required to sit on either the Screening, Hearing, Health or Appeals Panels.

Members of the panel are essential to the BABCP’s efforts to protect the public and uphold the highest standards of practice within the Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies.

Members of the panel need be able to demonstrate the highest levels of integrity and the capacity to reach deliberative conclusions with consideration for others. They must be able to evaluate evidence with an open mind, whilst working co-operatively with others. Members will also need the ability to challenge and to be flexible and adaptive in their reasoning. They will need the capacity and attention to detail to sift through considerable documentation to be able to delineate the facts of the matter at hand. They will need an awareness of existing BABCP Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics. They will require outstanding communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate with other members of the Panel, other Lay members and registrant members. The decision-making processes of the Panel Members could have significant ramifications for individual affected members complained against.

Panels are likely to meet using Microsoft Teams, but it is possible that hearings will take place either remotely or in person if necessary. The location of face-to-face meetings could vary across the country but please note that reasonable expenses are paid subject to BABCP’s expenses policy.

Remuneration

All Panel members will be appointed on a contract for service basis, initially for a three-year period. Fees are paid at varying rates for different types of panel hearing, with an hourly rate of £35. A maximum fee of £230 is paid for a full day hearing, and £115 per half day.

The BABCP is working to reduce the number of complaints received, so the number of days required will vary according to case numbers and panel availability. Consequently, no minimum number of days can be guaranteed.

Responsibilities

• To undertake all induction training, and any other training as required by BABCP.
• To actively participate in a range of disciplinary panels such as our Screening, Hearing, Health and Appeals Panel and to be effective, concise, equitable and consistent in all decisions made.
• To make sure that prior to the meeting or hearing, all of the evidence is thoroughly reviewed and carefully evaluated in preparation for any Panel Hearing.
• To ensure no discussion takes place regarding the substance of the complaint or disclosure prior to the Panel Hearing.
• To ensure there is absolute transparency in dealing with any disciplinary issues and ensuring that there is a full and frank disclosure of any actual or perceived conflict of interest in advance of the Hearing Panel meetings.
• To maintain the highest of confidentiality and discretion in all matters discussed.
• To ensure that all contributions to Panel Hearings are conducted in a sensitive and professional manner.
• To ensure all actions and comments are fully consistent with the principles of natural justice and in accordance with the relevant policies and procedures.
• To make clear and fair decisions and record those decisions in a report which can be understood by the parties and the public.
• To be able to provide a clear rationale for any decision made.
• To demonstrate equity, fairness and consistency in the application of BABCP’s procedures.