Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to ensure that only appropriately accredited psychologists are able to (a) diagnose and (b) treat illnesses and psychological disorders.

The British Psychological Society accredits undergraduate and postgraduate psychology programmes. Accreditation is an important hallmark of quality that is extensively acknowledged by employers in the field, and an essential stepping-stone for students who are looking to progress to become a Chartered Psychologist after graduation.

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which is independent of the Government, is the statutory regulator of practitioner psychologists in the United Kingdom, meaning that only those who are registered with the HCPC and meet its standards can practise as practitioner psychologists.

In addition, the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care holds a list of accredited voluntary registers, which they have independently assessed against nine standards. In relation to psychological professions, accredited registers include: the British Psychoanalytic Council (a professional association of the psychoanalytic psychotherapy profession)’ s Register of practitioners; and the British Psychological Society’s Wider Psychological Workforce register of Wellbeing Practitioners and Associate Psychologists.

Employers in the health system are responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained to the required standards to deliver appropriate treatment for patients.