There are real
concessions here from the
Department of Health, for
the first time. This
represents genuine
progress, and is a tribute
to the brilliant
campaigning work that has
been done around the
country. There is no
question that the shift
from the Department of
Health is due to
considerable pressure from
below.
Looking at the detail of
these policies, I actually
don't feel we should be in
a hurry to sign them off.
Many of the changes that
were requested have not
been accepted, and a few
quite worrying changes have
crept in.
There continue to be
significant issues even for
very experienced generalist
therapists, who will have a
great deal of difficulty
getting beyond Band 6.
The Principal profile
has moved to Band 8 (as we
argued), but has done so
not by having enhanced
clinical responsibilities,
but through the allocation
of clearly managerial
duties. The danger here is
that people we regard as
Principals will be pushed
down into the Highly
Specialist profile, and
that only managers will
slot into this profile.
The Consultant profile
continues to under-estimate
the skills of this
extremely expert group of
staff. There are particular
issues around the levels
for Communication Skills
and for Knowledge, Training
and Experience.
There have been real
gains recently in the draft
profiles for Clinical
Psychologists, and a
detailed comparison of
what's on offer is likely
to be worthwhile.
I would be very
interested in receiving
comments on these
profiles.
Gill George
Secretary, London SLT
Advisory Committee
24th November 2003