PROFESSIONAL BOARD FOR PSYCHOLOGY Round Table Discussion PsySSA CONGRESS 15 SEPTEMBER 2006 PROF E M

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PROFESSIONAL BOARD FOR PSYCHOLOGYRound Table
DiscussionPsySSA CONGRESS 15 SEPTEMBER
2006PROF E M Q MOKHUANE
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VISIONThe Professional Board envisaged a South
Africa where the profession of psychology is
quality driven, relevant and accessible to all,
in order to contribute to the healing,
development and wellbeing of the Nation.

• MISSION
• The Board strives to provide protection for the
  public and guidance of the profession, through
  formulating and regulating standards for
  professional education, training and practice.
• This the Board achieves through transparency,
  integrity and consultation, while being cognisant
  of both our unique South African context and the
  international perspective.

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MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERSThe Board meets with
stakeholders in the different provinces in order
to address and clarify issues pertaining to the
profession of psychology and to hear how the work
of the Board was perceived by its stakeholders.
Meetings were held in Port Elizabeth and
Polokwane. The next meeting is scheduled for 20
September 2006 in Mpumalanga.

• QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD
• Questions regarding the business of the Board or
  for clarification will be taken after the
  presentation.

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• MANDATE OF THE HPCSA AND THE BOARDS CONTROL OVER
  TRAINING
• The Board in terms of section 16 of the Health
  Professions Act, 1974 (Act 56 of 1974) has the
  mandate to set education and training standards
  for psychology for registration purposes.
• The Professional Board for Psychology is one of
  12 Professional Boards, which functions under the
  auspices of the Health Professions Council of
  South Africa (HPCSA). The HPCSA is a statutory
  body established by Government in terms of the
  Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act 56 of 1974).
  The Professional Boards are autonomous to a great
  extent. Any decision of a Board to a matter
  falling entirely within its mandate shall not be
  subject to ratification by the HPCSA, and the
  HPCSA shall, for this purpose determine whether a
  matter falls entirely within the ambit of a
  Professional Board. The HPCSA does not receive
  any subsidies from Government and is funded
  entirely by the health care professions it
  represents.

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• The primary mandate of the HPCSA and the
  Professional Boards is to a. protect the
  public and to guide the professionb. keep
  registers for the different professionsc. assist
  in the promotion of health of the population of
  South Africad. advise the Minister on any
  matter that relates to any profession falling
  within the ambit of the Boarde. maintains and
  enhances the dignity of the professions and the
  integrity of the persons practising the
  professions. In this regard the Board has
  developed a Code of Professional Conduct for the
  Professions of Psychology.

REGISTRATION In terms of section 17 of the
Health Professions Act, registration with the
HPCSA is a prerequisite for practising. The
scope of the profession of psychology is defined
in section 37 of the Act. It is a criminal
offence if unregistered persons are involved in
any of the acts specified in section 37 of the
Act.
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• ANNUAL FEES
• As an autonomous body the HPCSA receives no
  grants or subsidies from government or any other
  source.  It is totally funded by the fees it
  receives from registered persons representing the
  professions under its jurisdiction.  Each
  Professional Board, however, administers its own
  budget in a transparent manner from the funds
  allocated by the HPCSA, based on fees paid by
  various professions to Council.  Such fees are
  not necessarily uniform but depended on the
  actual cost of running the Board on the levy
  paid by the Professional Boards to Council
  towards a stabilisation fund from which Council
  could allocate money in contingency
  circumstances, and on the cost of the running of
  the HPCSA.
• The annual fees paid by health care professionals
  are used to cover the costs of
• a. administering the Professional Board under the
  jurisdiction of Council as well as the HPCSA and
  its structures
• b. administering the professions registered with
  the HPCSA in terms of registration, maintaining
  of standards of education and training, as well
  as the maintaining of fair standards of
  professional practice.

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• Voluntary erasure, in terms of Section 19(1) (c),
  is possible if a person does not intend
  practicing his/her profession in South Africa for
  a given period. Applications for voluntary
  erasure must reach the HPCSA before 31 March of
  the year preceding the registration year. (For
  example applications for 2007 have to reach the
  HPCSA before 31 March 2007).
• Annual fees are payable on 1 April. It is the
  responsibility of every registered practitioner
  to ensure that his/her annual fee is paid by 1
  April of each year.
• Registered health practitioners who have not paid
  their annual fees by 1 April of a particular
  year, will be erased from the register by 1
  August of the same year in terms of section
  19(1)(d) of the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act
  56 of 1974). A person may not practice his/her
  profession in South Africa until such time as
  his/her name has been restored to the register.
• Practitioners whose names are erased from the
  register will be required to pay a penalty fee.

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• The restoration fee payable by a practitioner on
  application for the restoration of his/her name
  to the relevant register is as follows
• a. Within a period of six months after the
  erasure date, shall be equivalent to two times
  the applicable annual fee, plus the outstanding
  fees.
• b. After a period of six months, but within 12
  months of the erasure date, shall be equivalent
  to four times the applicable annual fee, plus
  the outstanding fees.
• c. After a period of more than 12 months after
  the erasure date, shall be equivalent to five
  times the applicable annual fee, plus the
  outstanding annual fees.
• It should however, be noted that the HPCSA may
  impose additional conditions that persons whose
  names have been off the register have to comply
  with, e.g. if a practitioner's name has been off
  the register for more than 2 years the person may
  be requested to pass the National Examination of
  the Board prior to the restoration of his/her
  name to the register.

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• REQUIREMENTS FOR RESTORATION OF NAMES
• The Board recommended the following requirements
  for restoration of names to Council-
• 1. RESTORATION OF NAMES AFTER ERASURE IN TERMS OF
  SECTIONS 19(1)(c) (at own request) AND 19(1)(d)
  (failure to pay annual fee) OF THE HEALTH
  PROFESSIONS ACT, 1974 (ACT 56 OF 1974)
• a. Restoration within a period not exceeding
  three years
• Restoration without any conditions other than
  submission of the prescribed application form
  and payment of the relevant fees
• b. Restoration after a period of three years or
  more
• i. Applicants who did not practice their
  profession during the period of erasure had to
  comply with one of the following conditions
• Successful completion of a stipulated period
  of supervised practice approved by the Board
  or
• Compliance with an assessment which
  confirmed that the practitioner was fit and
  able to practice the profession.

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• ii. Applicants who were registered with a
  recognised foreign regulatory body during the
  period of erasure were required to submit to
  the Board the following information prior to
  the restoration of their names
• Proof of such registration and compliance
  with CPD requirements of the foreign
  regulatory body.
• A Certificate of Status issued by the foreign
  regulatory authority.
• The Senior Manager CPD, Registrations and
  Records be authorised to approve the applications
  for restoration of names of applicants on receipt
  of proof that they obtained at least 67 of the
  required CEUs during that period and provided
  they complied with all the other requirements for
  restoration a report on such restorations had to
  be submitted to the Board. In order to ensure
  compliance with CPD, practitioners could be
  required to submit proof of further CEUs
  obtained within 3 months of date of restoration.

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• 2. RESTORATION OF NAMES AFTER ERASURE IN TERMS
  OF SECTION 42 (disciplinary inquiry) OF THE
  HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT, 1974 (ACT 56 OF 1974)
• Applications for restoration of names had to be
  submitted to the Board for consideration and
  applicants had to satisfy the test for
  restoration of their names, i.e. evidence of
  having completely reformed/rehabilitated
  themselves. The matter will be considered by
  Council in November 2006.
• The Board resolved that interim, persons whose
  names have been removed from the register for
  more than 3 years will be required to pass the
  National Examination of the Board.

NO CASH ON PREMISES POLICY   In its endeavour
to ensure safety for its clients and employees,
The Health Professions Council of South Africa
(HPCSA), has resolved to implement no cash on
premises policy with effect from 1 August
2006.  Discussions have been held with ABSA bank
regarding the most effective way of ensuring that
walk in clients who are requested to pay at the
bank would be still be able to receive their
practicing cards on the same day.
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• Walk in clients will be asked to pay at the bank
  and payments will be immediately verifiable on
  Councils online cash focus system and practicing
  cards can be printed without delay.
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• Practitioners are reminded that payments by
  personal cheques are risky as such cheques may
  not be honoured by the bank until after seven
  working days.
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• A business process will be put in place so
  practicing cards for those paying by cheques be
  withheld for seven days before being printed and
  dispatched. Those who send in cash by post for
  annual or registration fees will have their cash
  returned to them for non compliance with policy.
•  
• In respect of all cheque payments, a similar
  business process will be developed to ensure
  practicing cards for those practitioners be
  withheld for seven working days before being
  printed and dispatched.
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• The HPCSAs banking details are as follows
• Account name -  HPCSA
• Bank -                        ABSA
• Branch -               ARCADIA
• Branch code -              33 49 45
• Account number -         405 00 33 481 annual
  fees
• Account number -        061 00 00 169 other
  applications
• Reference Number-  your registration number.

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• Payments can also be done by Credit Card.
  Authorisation to process a credit card entry must
  be sent by fax and duly signed by the
  practitioner concerned.
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• The following must be supplied
• 1. Registration number
• 2. Credit card number
• 3. Expiry date of credit card
• 4. On the back of the credit card, there is a
  three digit number, the CVV number, which must
  also be included.
• 5. Amount payable
• 6. Reason why you would like to pay7. Telephone
  number 012 33893868.Fax to [phone]
  Attention Anne-Marie Roux

ETHICAL RULES The new ethical rules of conduct
for practitioners registered with the HPCSA were
promulgated on 4 August 2006 (regulation no.
R.717)
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• ESTABLISHMENT OF PRACTICES AND CLOSE CORPORATIONS
  
• Practitioners who are registered with the HPCSA
  conduct their practices in the following manner
• Solus practice
• Partnership
• Incorporated company (exempted in terms of
  section 54A of the Act)
• Association
• A practice may not be conducted in any other form
  such as a close corporation or trust with
  so-called lay persons.
• Close corporations could be utilised by
  registered practioners to render
  non-patient/client related services, e.g. renting
  of rooms, leasing of vehicles and office
  equipment, payment of staff salaries and
  maintenance of buildings.
• Documents regarding the establishment of
  practices and close corporations are on Councils
  website. The Policy on Undesirable Business
  Practices is also available on the website.

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• RETENTION OF CLIENT/PATIENT RECORDS
• Client records have to be retained by
  practitioners for at least 5 years and they
  should plan in advance in order to facilitate the
  appropriate transfer and to protect the
  confidentiality of records and data in the event
  of their unavailability through factors such as
  death, incapacity or withdrawal from practice
  furthermore, practitioners have to comply with
  the Boards Ethical Code of Professional Conduct
  in that regard at all times.
• Where there are statutory obligations which
  prescribe that client records had to be retained
  for a period longer than 5 years, practitioners
  had to comply with those obligations, eg.
  requirements by state hospitals, etc.

ISSUING OF SICK CERTIFICATES BY PSYCHOLOGISTS It
is permissible for psychologists to issue sick
certificates for services rendered to a
client/patient in respect of his/her
psychological functioning and well-being,
including admission to and discharge from
hospitals. However, this does not apply to
Research Psychologists, since it is not
permissible for Research Psychologists to
directly render clinical psychological services
such as diagnosis and therapy.
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• PROPOSED NEW PRACTICE FRAMEWORK FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS
• In order to make psychological services available
  to all South Africans, the Board identified the
  need to revise the current education and training
  requirements for the profession of psychology.
• The Board revised the practice framework taking
  into consideration the feedback from
  stakeholders, national imperatives as set out in
  all relevant National Policy directives.
• KEY COMPONENTS OF THE FRAMEWORK
• Provide ease of entry to appropriate levels of
  education and training for all prospective
  learners in a manner which facilitates
  progression definitions
• Access S2 SAQA Act to facilitate access to
  and mobility and progression within education,
  training and career paths
• As part of the Strategic Priorities of the
  National Health System 2004-2009, the National
  Health Council has decided, inter alia, on
  Strengthening of Human Resources as a key
  strategic area of focus
• NDOH Strategic Plan 2006/07 Program 4
  Production of mid-level health workers

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• NEXT STEPS
• Education Committee develop education and
  training guidelines, competency outcomes and
  scopes of practice for the different
  registration categories in the new practice
  framework.
• Board adopt model and approve education and
  training guidelines, competency outcomes and
  scopes of practice as proposed.
• Consultation with educational institutions.
• Approval of model by HPCSA and Minister of
  Health and consultation with all other relevant
  government departments, e.g. Dept of Education,
  Labour, etc.
• The Board will consider the matter relating to
  the revised practice framework on 22 September
  2006.

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• POLICY ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF PSYCHOMETRIC
  TESTS (F208) AND LIST OF TESTS CLASSIFIED AS
  BEING PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS (F207) AND
  CLASSIFICATION AND REVIEW CERTIFICATE
• In terms of section 37 of the Heath Professions
  Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) the exercising of
  control over prescribed questionnaires or tests
  or prescribed tests or prescribed techniques,
  apparatus or instruments for the determination of
  intellectual abilities, aptitude, personality
  make-up, personality functioning,
  psychophysiological functioning or
  psychopathology and the development of
  questionnaires, tests, techniques, apparatus or
  instruments for the determination of intellectual
  abilities, aptitude, personality make-up,
  personality functioning, psychophysiological
  functioning or psychopathology, fall within the
  jurisdiction of the Professional Board for
  Psychology
• The Psychometrics Committee of the Board has been
  mandated by the Board to re-evaluate the tests on
  the Board's current List of Tests Classified as
  Being Psychological Tests, since some of the
  tests may be outdated and some has never been
  evaluated and classified by the Board
• A select group of stakeholders has been requested
  to comment on the intention of the Board to
  re-evaluate and possibly re-classify the tests on
  the current list. The Psychometrics Committee
  considered the matter and recommendations in this
  regard will be considered by the Board on 22
  September 2006.
• The Board has developed draft guidelines for
  Internet Assessments. Feedback was received from
  stakeholders and will be considered by the Board
  on 22 September 2006.

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• NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS,
  REGISTERED COUNSELLORS AND PSYCHOMETRISTS
• The examination is designed to assess the
  application of knowledge rather than the ability
  to regurgitate theories or material learned. it
  is for this reason then when a question asks for
  a discussion candidates are expected to respond
  in paragraph format providing a discussion in
  respect of the question. Merely listing
  information does not respond to the question.
  Furthermore, candidates are expected to
  demonstrate competency to apply knowledge through
  the ability to discriminate between the most
  relevant and appropriate solution(s) from the
  general and or irrelevant..
• The board is concerned about the fact that
  examination candidates have difficulty in
  integrating theory and practice and apply their
  knowledge to specific case studies in the
  examination.
• The examination guidelines and sample examination
  paper and answers are available on the HPCSA
  website www.hpcsa.co.za / professional boards /
  psychology /examinations.
• It is important that candidates take note of the
  following requirements -
• i. the closing dates for application to write the
  examination, since no late applications will be
  accepted
• ii. applications for the examination will not be
  processed without proof of payment of the
  examination fees.

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• CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)
• The Board currently does not accredit CPD
  programmes and/or providers and the monitoring of
  CPD compliance by practitioners has been
  temporarily suspended. However, practitioners
  should be alerted to the fact that continuing
  education is both an ethical and professional
  responsibility of practitioners and the temporary
  suspension of the monitoring of CPD compliance
  does not absolve them from this responsibility.
• CPD will be implemented in 2007 and the Board is
  in the process of finalising the CPD guidelines
  for the psychology profession.
• The generic CPD guidelines of the HPCSA are
  available on the website (www.hpcsa.co.za / CPD/
  second paragraph.

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• INTERNSHIP SUPERVISION
• The Board is concerned about the quality and
  adequacy of on-site internship supervision and
  specially pertaining to individualised internship
  programmes.
• The collaborating Departments of Psychology at
  universities have a responsibility to oversee and
  monitor internship training and should ensure
  quality supervision. Universities have a
  responsibility to advise the Board regarding any
  problems relating to the supervision of
  internships.
• Interns also have a responsibility to advise the
  collaborating university and the Board regarding
  supervision problems.
• The Board intends to inspect the internship
  training sites in 2007.
• Interns should take cognisance of the fact that
  the 12 month's internship is fulltime (i.e. at
  least 40 hours per week) and interns who are
  employed by the organisation where an internship
  is undertaken must be accommodated by the
  organisation as an intern. In the circumstances,
  no applications for extension of internships will
  be considered in cases where interns, due to work
  commitments, are not in a position to complete
  the internship activities within the 12 month's
  period.
• The Board in July 2006 RESOLVED that the
  applications for extension of internships due to
  unsatisfactory performance be changed from the
  eighth month of the internship to the tenth month
  of the internship.

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• TIMEFRAME FOR REGISTRATION AS A PSYCHOLOGIST
• An internship MUST commence within two years of
  completing the first year of a directed Masters
  degree. In exceptional circumstances the Board
  may permit a longer lapse of time, provided the
  university concerned supports the application in
  writing, and the Board finds a fully motivated
  application acceptable.
• A maximum period of one year after completion of
  an internship will be allowed for completion of
  the dissertation
• An extension of 4 months will be granted from
  date of expiry of the two year timeframe, subject
  to receipt of a letter from the university,
  confirming that the dissertation has been handed
  in for final examination.

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• Interns who-
• i. are not in a position to register within 2
  years and 4 months from date of registration as
  an intern have to complete a further approved
  and uninterrupted internship of 3 months
  duration
• ii. exceeded the timeframe for registration by 3
  to 4 years, have to complete a further approved
  and uninterrupted internship of 6 months
  duration
• iii. Exceeded the timeframe for registration with
  5 years have to complete a further approved
  internship of 12 months duration.
• All students who register for an accredited
  Masters programme in psychology for the first
  time in 2007 will be required to successfully
  complete the Masters degree (i.e. course and
  dissertation) prior to commencement with an
  internship.
• Universities should take cognisance that it is
  not permissible for lecturers who are not
  registered practitioners to be involved in the
  supervision of psychology students and interns.

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• TRAINING OF PSYCHOMETRISTS
• The Psychometrics Committee of the Board is
  concerned about the quality of supervision of
  psychometrists during the 6 month's practicum.
  Psychometrists had to get exposure to aptitude
  tests, intelligence tests, interest
  questionnaires and personality tests, excluding
  certain personality measures (e.g., TAT, CAT,
  Rorschach) specialist neuropsychological
  measures and measures that were used for the
  diagnosis of psychopathology (e.g., MMPI-2).
• Psychometrists are registered in the category
  "independent practice/private practice" and have
  to be competent in the administration of tests,
  interpretation of tests results, report writing
  and feedback on test results to the clients.
  However, with the B.Psych or equivalent
  programmes universities are now responsible for
  placement and oversight of the practicum and
  universities are urged to ensure that students
  receive quality supervision during the
  practicums.
• The Board in September 2005 RESOLVED that
  psychometrists be required to do fulltime
  practicum of a 6 month duration, or alternatively
  a part time practicum of a 6 month duration to be
  completed within a period of 12 months.

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• PART-TIME PRACTICUM FOR REGISTERED COUNSELLORS
• RESOLVED that registered counsellors be permitted
  to do part-time practicums, provided that the 6
  months practicum was completed within a period
  of 12 months.
• REGISTRATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PSYCHOLOGISTS
• In order for a person to commence with community
  service, the person has to register with the
  HPCSA as a psychologist in the category "Public
  Service/Community Service" Currently community
  service has been implemented for clinical
  psychologists only.
• Students must register as psychologists in the
  category "Public Service/Community Service" prior
  to commencement with the 12 months community
  service.
• Community service falls under the jurisdiction of
  the Department of Health. The Board requests
  that community service also be implemented for
  the other registration categories however, it
  will appear that there are no funds and posts
  available at this stage.

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• ROLE OF LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IN HEALTH SERVICES
• The Board is of the view that language and
  culture have a serious impact on the rendering of
  psychological services and the recipients of such
  services and RESOLVED that the evaluation/re-evalu
  ation of education programmes should measure how
  academic programmes in psychology addressed the
  issues pertaining to language and culture.
• ETHICAL TARIFF GUIDELINES FOR PSYCHOLOGY
• The Ethical Tariff Guidelines for Psychology are
  available on the HPCSA website
• www.hpcsa.co.za/tariffs/psychology. The Tariff
  Committee will determine the ethical tariff
  guidelines for 2007 and submit it to Council in
  November 2006 for approval.

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• THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
• DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?