Meeting Dates: 4 and 22 January 2024

Present: Phil James (CEO), *Ben Kay (Director for Digital and Transformation), Lisa Morrison Coulthard (Director of Policy, Standards and Research), John McLeod (Open Letter signatory), Andrew Reeves (Open Letter signatory) [*attended first meeting only]

These meetings were initiated by the CEO of BACP in response to an Open Letter to BACP Trustees and Staff outlining serious concerns around the governance of the Association, submitted on 29th October 2023. The delay in organising the meetings was due to a new CEO  taking up post, in place of the previous interim CEO. 

Key points:

  • JMcL and AR clarified that they had no authority to negotiate with BACP – their role was to report back to other Open Letter signatories and the 1600 colleagues who had indicated support for the letter, through www.therapistconcerns.co.uk, regarding the BACP response.
  • JMcL and AR emphasised the range and depth of professional knowledge, experience and commitment of those who supported the Open Letter. 
  • It was agreed that the meetings would be conducted in a spirit of open and transparent dialogue. What was discussed would be treated as confidential, but an agreed set of notes (this document) would be disseminated.
  • Participants shared information about their professional backgrounds and hopes/concerns regarding the future of BACP.
  • There was agreement that these meeting represented the start of a process of dialogue to attend to concerns and to plan how to take the process forward with the membership as a whole.
  • BACP recognised the importance of change and working more openly and transparently with the membership.
  • In relation to member disquiet around possible misconduct within BACP, the CEO reported that an independent consultancy agency with relevant experience had been commissioned to undertake an investigation – this had been previously announced to members. The investigation is currently underway and will report shortly. An action plan based on the recommendations from the report will be developed, and BACP will share information from this action plan with staff and members. .
  • There was considerable discussion around clarifying key distinctions between governance and operational matters within BACP, and the need to review, clarify and enhance roles and support structures around these distinct but interconnected aspects of the work of the Association.
  • JMcL and AR explained that, in their view, the loss of a significant number of Board members and senior staff had the consequence that decisions were being made without an appreciation of the history of BACP and the profession as a whole.
  • JMcL and AR shared their concerns about governance process and consultation around three crucial areas: SCoPEd, the recent five-year strategic plan, and potential future statutory regulation. 
  • A range of possibilities were discussed around how the Board might be supported in respect of its deliberations around key policy and strategy issues, for example by the establishment of some kind of advisory group.   
  • JMcL and AR insisted that involvement of elected members of the Board was essential in any in any future dialogue with either the Open Letter signatories or the wider membership. The CEO reported that the Chair and Board were in principle willing to participate in this way.

Agreed next steps: 

It was agreed that both the Open Letter representatives, and senior BACP managers, who had participated in these meetings, would go back to their relevant constituencies, to evaluate and gauge support for:

  • BACP to announce a period of member consultation and dialogue, aimed at taking stock of where the organisation is at present, the challenges and opportunities it currently faces, and its priorities for the future. This initiative would be linked to a taking stock in some current areas of development. This process would be conducted in an open and transparent manner, in which members would not only be heard, but would be able to track how their concerns and suggestions had contributed to whatever outcomes were agreed. The consultation would encompass consideration of the all aspects of how BACP is responsive to and representative of its members’ perspectives.
  • That a further, extended meeting be arranged, as soon as possible, between a wider set of supporters of the Open Letter, and BACP (President, Chair, CEO, elected Board members, and senior leadership) to co-construct an effective way to engage members in consultation and dialogue.