Continuing Professional Development Policy (CPD)
Introduction
The Bowlby Centre is committed to the training and development of Attachment-based Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists. The people we see have often been badly hurt in relationships and it is imperative that the people we train and the individuals we register as psychotherapists are as well developed as clinicians, theoreticians and human beings as is possible. We are therefore committed to the idea of Continuing Professional Development for its members and committed to ensuring that it is being undertaken by them. As a registering body, we would like to feel that members are being facilitated or helped by the Organisation towards further learning and development.
UKCP Requirements
It is a requirement of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) that each member organisation has a CPD policy. In the UKCP Ethical Guidelines it states:
“Professional development is more than simply sitting in our consulting room clocking up hours of experience. Development involves the active reflection on experience in a way that allows the individual to specify what has been learned or reconfirmed. CPD is about moving from passive experience to active attempts to learn from that experience. To demonstrate that it has taken place, an individual needs to be able to describe what has happened and specify at least some of what has been learned in a way that another informed individual can understand.”
The UKCP requires that we account for and verify our CPD activities. Member organizations are therefore required to include in their statements how the balance of clinical CPD (via supervision, training etc) and wider professional development (via committee activity etc.) is to be managed.
Please note – for members who are supervising only, no CPD is required, but it is recommended.
THE CENTRE’S CPD MODEL
Required Hours for CPD
The UKCP stipulate 250 hours of CPD in one reaccreditation cycle – which is every 5 years. This works out as an average of 50 hours of CPD per year, and they stipulate a minimum of 30 hours in any one year. The deficit in hours can then be made up in subsequent years. In order that members have a balanced portfolio of CPD activities, the hours should be taken from at least three of the categories in the CPD form.
The Home Group
As an attachment-based organisation, we feel that being connected with a small group of colleagues on a regular basis, where there are opportunities for intimate sharing and reflection, helps to support us in work and emotional wellbeing, since therapists often find that ours can be an isolating profession. It is with this in mind that the model of home groups has been developed. Home Groups can take a variety of forms:
• Students completing their training may wish to form a home group with other members of their cohort, and/or with other Centre members
• Home groups may include therapists who have trained with other psychotherapy organizations
• A home group may be a place for support of colleagues who are facing difficult emotional of physical circumstances. If a therapist is ill, or dying, the group may be a place to consider future plans and caseload management
• A home group is not the same as a peer supervision group
• Meetings will give the Centre members an opportunity to reflect on and evaluate their development as practitioners and theoreticians
• A home group can have between two and six members and will meet regularly during the year – the suggested frequency would be on a once termly basis, i.e. three times a year. This can be in person or on-line.
The Clinical Forum
The clinical forum is an essential part of the Centre’s training and provides the main opportunity for the Bowlby Centre community of registered members, post-taught students and trainees to meet once a month and exchange views on a diverse range of clinical issues.
In accordance with the UKCP expectations of registrants, the Clinical Forum provides a central in-house facility for members to account for and demonstrate their continuing professional development as practitioners and theoreticians.
Supervision
The UKCP states that psychotherapists are required to maintain their ability to work competently by having appropriate ongoing supervision. Please read the UKCP Supervision Policy for more detail about what is required and what is recommended. The supervision requirements for registered members of the CPJA (from the CPJA) is below for guidance. Some form of individual or peer supervision is mandatory for all therapists. If members are not seeing clients, they do not have to be in supervision.
Supervision of Registered Members of CPJA
3.1. For the first three years post registration a supervisory relationship must be in place with a supervisor who is equipped to meet the supervision needs of their practise. It is the joint responsibility of the supervisor and supervisee to determine the appropriate frequency and duration of supervision sessions and the justification of these factors will form part of the registrant’s renewal of membership with their organizational member (if they belong to one) or with the College (if they are a direct registrant) at their five yearly re-accreditation.
3.2. After the first three years of post-qualification practice a member is viewed as being able to determine their own supervisory needs including using the resources of peer supervision or group supervision. The member remains responsible for assessing the adequacy of their supervision arrangements for the needs of their practice and their own professional and personal development. We believe that shared reflection on clinical experience enhances growth and development of the practitioner and makes for better clinical work.
3.3. Registrants must keep records of their supervision that are adequate for the requirements of re-accreditation, any requirements of their Organizational Member (if they have one) and to produce in the case of a complaint against them.
Reporting CPD to the Centre
The annual submission of a CPD report is a mandatory requirement of The Bowlby Centre and UKCP membership. The Centre will require each member to report annually on their CPD. A notification will be sent out asking each member to report the categories of CPD undertaken and the number of hours claimed.
Every member’s report will be read and reviewed annually by the CPD group and may enter dialogue with a member where it is felt that certain areas need further discussion or clarification. If a member has not submitted their CPD report within four months following the request from The Bowlby Centre, i.e. by 1st January of the following year, and an extension has not been granted due to extenuating circumstances for not having produced their report, The Bowlby Centre will inform the UKCP of the non-compliance with Bowlby Centre and UKCP membership requirements. Further action will come directly from the UKCP.
5 YEAR RE-ACCREDITATION WITH THE BOWLBY CENTRE
CPD submissions form a vital part of the 5 yearly UKCP re-accreditation process and on this basis The Bowlby Centre will keep records of submissions to ensure that all CPD is completed for the purposes of reaccreditation.
Re-accreditation Statement for Members
Re-accreditation of psychotherapists will take place every five years as prescribed by the UKCP. The full re-accreditation procedure is detailed below and the CPD Group can help with any questions that you might have about this process. Please contact admin admin@thebowlbycentre.org.uk for further clarification should you need it. The responsibility for reading and agreeing the submission for reaccreditation will lie with the CPD manager. The purposes of re-accreditation are:
- To underpin and promote reflective and informed practice and continuing professional development.
- To underpin and support best practice in a way that is beneficial to both practitioners and service-users.
- To meet UKCP requirements.
Requirements for being re-accredited
- Supervision records. An email from your supervisor with confirmation of sessions attended
- CPD records. These are kept by the centre, so no need for members to send them
- Fully paid-up fees
- Insurance cover. Certificate needs to be sent via email for evidence for the current year
- A reflective piece (1,000 words)
The reflective piece needs to include:
- An understanding of the Diversity and Equality Policy of UKCP. This will include such things as demonstrating an understanding of power, prejudice and the impact of oppression, and the needs of the diverse group of clients with whom they work.
- A description of supervision received over the previous 5 years and an assessment of the impact this has had on you and your work.
- A description of how your practice has developed and been maintained through your continuing professional development.
- An evaluation of your future CPD needs and an indication of how these will be met.
- A statement confirming your adherence to the Codes of Ethics and Practice.
- Details of your professional Will.
- A declaration of any complaints made in the period since last accreditation and details of their outcome or status.
If the application is not successful
If the therapist disputes the outcome, they will be given access to their College Appeals Procedure.
If concerns are raised about the submission of any member, the CPD manager will attempt informal resolution regarding the issue/s. If informal attempts at resolution have not been successful, the therapist will then be invited to a meeting with the Chair of Executive and the CPD manager to discuss what needs to be done to remedy the omissions or problem areas. A timeframe will be agreed, at the end of which the therapist will submit further evidence for the reaccreditation application.
Unsuccessful Reaccreditation Applications
The therapist will not be eligible to remain on the UKCP register without a successful reaccreditation either with the Bowlby Centre or another member organisation.
If they decide not to reaccredit with TBC, they will have to move to UKCP’s non-clinical membership, or retired membership categories.
To rejoin the UKCP register, they will be required to undertake TBC reaccreditation process from scratch, which will involve a modified RAPP process with 2 interviews. If successful they will be referred to the UKCP to be reinstated on the UKCP Register.
Procedure for an independent appeal
If any member is unhappy about their re-accreditation being turned down by the TBC, they have the right to appeal and an independent assessor will be appointed.
Appeals must be made in writing and must clearly state the grounds for appeal.
The decision of the assessor is final.
Criteria for being re-accredited
1. That you have a live and active psychotherapy practice of current clients (minimum of two clients) or a compelling reason why you are not seeing clients.
2. That you meet all the requirements outlined above.
3. That you meet all the normal CPD requirements.
4. That there are no major unresolved or outstanding grievances or complaints made against you by clients or other professionals going on at the time of re-accreditation.
5. All fees must be paid up to date before reaccreditation.
REQUIREMENTS FOR MINIMUM CLINICAL PRACTICE
The Bowlby Centre requires that members do a minimum of 88 clinical hours and a caseload of not less than 2 clients in clinical practice per year. At the discretion of the CPD manager the clinical hours may include giving supervision.
SABBATICALS up to a year in length
The UKCP registrar considers any period during which a therapist remains registered but does not see any clients to be a sabbatical. This includes maternity leave. Normally the registrar would expect therapists intending to discontinue seeing clients for a period of more than 3 months to inform their organization. In the event of illness where a therapist is forced to stop working for a period, this also counts as a sabbatical.
When a therapist is on sabbatical CPD reports will be assessed on an individual basis and due consideration given to the person’s special circumstances. In principle, and where this is possible, therapists are asked to maintain some connection and interest with the profession, for instance with your home group. CPD reports will be submitted in the usual way, with a covering letter to the CPD group outlining the reasons for the sabbatical.
Before taking a sabbatical, you will be required to inform TBC Executive. Following this you need to inform the UKCP in writing. The reason for this is that you are a member of the UKCP as well as TBC and it is a requirement of theirs.
If a sabbatical is needed to be taken at relatively short notice, e.g. through sickness you will need to demonstrate that adequate provisions have been made for any clients whose therapy comes to an unexpected or unplanned ending. If you are on sabbatical for a year or less, you also need to inform TBC and the UKCP on your return.
SABBATICALS of more than one year
If a sabbatical has been more than a year, members will need to have a meeting with a member of the Exec to work out the best ‘back to work plan’ which will offer appropriate support. Each plan can be tailor made to reflect the needs of the member. Some recommendations might include:
• a return to personal psychotherapy
• increased levels of supervision
• follow up meetings with the member of the Exec
• specific CPD activities
It is a requirement of the UKCP that a membership application form has to be submitted to them.
On returning to clinical practice, TBC recommends more regular supervision is undertaken for a period to ensure that the transition back to work is fully supported.
SABBATICALS of more than 5 years
If a person takes off five years or more from working clinically as a psychotherapist, they will be required to undergo a modified RAPP process. The requirements for this are:
• to have 2 meetings with a supervisor prior to starting clinical work
• to obtain a report from the supervisor in support of your readiness to return
• a reflections paper on your readiness to restart clinical practice
• an interview with a member of the CTC or Executive
Reviewed January 2026