Manchester Stake Holders - re-match

On June 22nd, I was at the Manchester Metropolitan University talking to a group of counsellors and psychotherapists about the history and context of state regulation under the HPC. They was much interest in the history and context of State Regulation and Audit Culture, and exasperation about the lack of genuine engagement of those involved in rolling out the legislative plan with those who were worried about the implications. At the end of the meeting, the group decided to re-stage the "Manchester Stakeholders Meeting" and invite the HPC to come along to it in the hope of actually getting the message across. (See earlier blogs about the HPC Meeting held on 31 March 09).

Here is a letter from Ian Parker to the HPC Chair, Anna van der Gaag. It invites her, her Council, her PLG and those of her staff to come along for a real conversation about the issues involved.



Ian Parker BA PhD AFBPsS CPsychol FRSA Professor of Psychology

13 July 2009 OPEN LETTER

Anna Van der Gaag
Chair, Health Professions Council, UK
Park House, 184 Kennington Park Road,
London, SE11 4BU

Dear Anna van der Gaag,

I have been discussing with a number of colleagues in the field of counselling and psychotherapy the HPC Stakeholder meeting you held in Manchester earlier this year. As you know, many of those who were able to attend the meeting were disappointed by the presentations, and are concerned that the follow-up to the discussion that took place has not been arranged by the HPC. A letter was circulated to those who attended from Jonathan Coe, one of the speakers, but apart from that there has been no opportunity to take forward the discussion and to involve more counsellors, psychotherapists and clients.

We have taken it upon ourselves to organise an event to reflect on these issues, and this will take place on Saturday 3 October 2.00-5.00 at the Friends Meeting House, 5 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS. So now we would like to invite you, the members of the PLG, and any of the members of the New Council that would like to get a more accurate picture of the debate that is taking place in the profession about the proposed regulation, together with Michael Guthrie, Kelly Johnson, Charlotte Urwin and any other of your staff as you think necessary to attend as our guests. Please do let us know who will be coming, so we can be sure to reserve some seats for you all.

We will be happy to involve you in the discussions that afternoon, and intend the meeting to serve as a model for consultation around state regulation of counselling and psychotherapy.

Yours sincerely



Ian Parker
Manchester Alliance (Alliance for Counselling and Psychotherapy against State Regulation: www.allianceforcandp.org