1. Quality of psychological care
Outlines for a new policy plan

2. Introduction Flemish Association of Clinical Psychologist
2500 professionals, academics & students
Professional and scientific Association of Clinical Psychology
Part of the Belgian Federation of Psychologists
Part of the European Federation of Psychologist’ Associatons
Belgian Competent Authority: Commission of Psychologist

3. Policy plans Previous policy plan: recognition as a health profession
Serious transformation as an association
Development of different cels

4. Board of administration
Internal structure
Board of administration
Cell: profession
Cell: Training
Cell: member administration
Cell: communication
Cell: regional circles

5. New policy plan:
Main focus on quality of psychological care
Why?

6. Why focus on quality of psychological care?
Mistrust of the general public
”Scientific framework of clinical psychology?”
How good are psychologists?
Working with public funds

7. Mistrust general public

8. Scientific framework of clinical psychology?

9. Psychology as a science

10. Psychology as a science
Subject of research:
Human behaviour is very complex
Difficult to reveal
Classical approach of positive science not always sufficient

11. How good are psychologists?
Psychological care: very effective, often preferred over medication
However, what about delivery of psychological care?
80 % believe that they are better (Walfish, et al. 2012)
Nobody thinks they are in the lowest 50 % (Walfish, et al. 2012)
However… psychologist drift

12. Psychologist drift

13. Working with public funds
2016: clinical psychologist newly regulated health profession
Purpose: to improve access to psychological care
Currently: only 5 % consult a psychologist!
Can we claim public funding?

14. How to improve quality of psychological care?
Transparency
Competency
Control
Support
Management

15. Transparency
Generate a public debate about clinical psychology as a science
Disseminating evidence and tackling “myths”
”Pitch black list” of pseudo – scientific methods
Obligating members to use and publish their portfolio’s (training, experience) for patients
Collaboration patient organisations

16. Competency A diploma does not guarantee life-long competency
Developed a competency profile for clinical psychology (HGR, 2015)
Recognition as a clinical psychologist
Pressure on university training programs
Accreditation program to maintain license to practice

17. Control
Internal control of own members in the use of “Pitch black methods”
Quality label for training, manuals, …
Competent authority for clinical psychologists
Inspection of portfolio’s
Public control

18. Support Special training programs to avoid “psychologist drift”
Attractive offer in permanent training “meeting the psychologists needs”
Developing ICT to publish portfolio’s
Facilitating administration
Developing regional circles to meet accreditation needs
“If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys”

19. Board of administration
Management
Board of administration
Cell: profession
Cell: Training
Cell: member administration
Cell: communication
Cell: regional circles
Cell Quality

20. Cell quality Oversight: administration and external experts
Managing quality labels
Accreditation commission
Advisory organ for the board on all matters in “quality”

21. Why?
Advocating for professional interests can only have succes if you take yourself seriously.