Professional
“As Educational Psychologists, we want to work within a context where our business and day to day working practices match our professional standards and ethics”.
EPs are regulated by the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC). Registration means that an EPs practice is informed by standards of proficiency, conduct, performance and ethics. The title “Educational Psychologist” is protected by law (HCPC, 2008). Our members are registered as “Chartered” (C.Psychol) and/or “Associate Fellows” (AFBPsS) of the British Psychological Society (BPS). This means that they represent the “highest standard of psychological knowledge and expertise” and adhere to the BPS Member Conduct Rules and Code of Ethics and Conduct (BPS, 2009). All our EPs are members of the Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP) and adhere to their Code of Conduct (AEP, 2012).
As part of eligibility to become a Link Psychology Co-operative member, we check potential member’s credentials. All members have regular joint “supervision” sessions and 12 days per year of “continuing professional development”. All members have an enhanced-level “Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)” certificate and are registered with the DBS update service. Members have regular Safeguarding/Child Protection – Level 1 training, in order to work in schools and other settings.
Professional values our members sign up to:
- The welfare, safety and well-being of the child/young person (YP) is a primary concern.
- The child/YP should be enabled to thrive and achieve their best educational outcomes.
- The best outcomes are achieved through co-operation, collaboration and empowerment.
- We strive to maximise inclusion and equity for the children and YP we work with.
- Our work is based on evidence-informed practice.
- We strive to maintain and implement a clear ethical stance in all our work, informed by professional guidance.
- Our work is focused on enabling greater clarity and progress and is informed by contextual assessment.
- A child/YP should be viewed within their whole developmental context, within which, their family have a central place.
- We conscientiously update and maintain our training, knowledge and skills in order to best serve the child/YP.
- Our work should be on varying systemic and organisational levels in order to enable staff to support children/YP.
Business
Link Psychology Co-operative is a “Cooperative consortium”, which is a business owned and run by the people who work within it. It is run for the mutual benefit of its members. We adhere to the 7 Co-operative Principles.
Voluntary and Open Membership Open to all eligible people able to use the services of the Co-op and who are willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, religious or disability discrimination.
Democratic Member Control Democratically controlled by members, who actively participate in policy development and decision-making. Elected representatives are accountable to the membership and members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote).
Member Economic Participation Equitable contribution and democratic control regarding capital and finances. Members allocate surpluses in the following ways: developing the co-operative, setting up reserves to protect the co-op’s future; benefiting members in proportion to their contribution; and supporting other activities approved by the membership, such as activities for charitable purposes or training.
Autonomy and Independence Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organisations, including government, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and to maintain their co-operative autonomy.
Education, Training and Information Co-operatives provide support and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of the co-operative. They inform the general public, including young people and opinion leaders about the nature and benefits of co-operation.
Co-operation among Co-operatives Co-operatives work actively to strengthen the Co-operative movement at a local, national and international level, particularly around developing links with other Co-operatives, such as schools and other organisations.
Concern for Community Co-operatives work to provide sustainable development to the community via supporting and strengthening relationships with schools and other organisations in the region and working to provide services such as subsidised training opportunities and “pro-bono” activities, where decided upon by the membership.
