Progress report on new psychology scope of practice
After the court declared the 2011 Amendment Regulations defining the scope of practice of psychologists invalid, it also granted a 24-month suspension to allow the minister of health, the Health Professions Council of South Africa and the Professional Board for Psychology (PBP) an opportunity to promulgate the regulations defining the scope of practice properly.
The PBP is actively working to meet the deadline stipulated by the High Court. A lot of work has been done by the PBP to redefine the regulations defining the scope of practice.
In 2012, the PBP constituted a Scope Task Team which finalised its duties at the end of 2016. Its mandate was to:
- define the framework for the changes to the scope of practice;
- research best practices (in line with international standards);
- define the need and motivation for the changes to the scope of practice;
- the scope of the profession and the scope of practice to be contextualised;
- conduct a national survey on current practices;
- study current and previous input and use of terminology in the documentation (intermediary, psycho-legal and forensic psychology); and
- ensure that it addresses the national needs of the country in terms of HR resources, the NHI and other legislative frameworks.
The PBP constituted a promulgation of regulation working group in March 2017, consisting of PBP members and non-PBP members who would prepare the submission of the scope of practice to the minister of health. The Working Group has already commenced with its duties, which are to:
- review the judgement of the High Court case;
- review the regulations defining the scope of the profession and the scope of practice in consultation with stakeholders; and
- finalise regulations defining the scope of practice for promulgation.
Stakeholder engagements will take place in the month of May, June and July 2017.
Professionals will be invited to submit in writing their inputs regarding the scope of practice for consideration. Professional associations/ interest groups will be provided an opportunity to address PBP members face-to-face.
