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On 23 January 2025, the BACP Board met at BACP House, Lutterworth, for our first board meeting of the year and, importantly, the first of our new-style meetings. This marks an evolution in how we work, reflecting our ongoing commitment to ensuring the Board operates effectively in governing BACP and, most critically, places our members at the heart of all decisions.Ìý

We're adjusting the meeting structure, to support the Board’s focus on decision making and forward planning. We recognise how well BACP is run on a day-to-day basis by the CEO and his teams, and so with this confidence the Board can really look to the future of the association and profession.ÌýÌý

This decision has enabled us to reduce the length of the meetings significantly and reflects the commitment we made at the AGM in November. This may seem like a small step, but an important one for us as a Board, and we will continue to review how we work to best support our members.Ìý

Key updates and outcomes

PSA reaccreditation

I'm pleased to report that BACP has successfully achieved reaccreditation by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). This is a testament to the continued focus of our staff on upholding professional standards and the vital role we play in ensuring best practices in counselling and psychotherapy. °Â±ð’l±ô be sharing a fuller update with members as soon as ·É±ð’r±ð able to.Ìý

Financial prudence and investment

Our strong financial position continues to provide a stable foundation for our work. The Board is preparing to receive proposals from the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) regarding strategic investments to enhance support for our members, particularly through improvements to our website. This underscores our dedication to making BACP an accessible and dynamic organisation for our members.Ìý

Budget planning for the 2025 to 2026 financial year is also underway. It remains the Board’s responsibility to rigorously scrutinise the assumptions and financial models presented, ensuring that every decision aligns with both sound governance and the best interests of our members.Ìý

Ethical Framework review

One of the key discussions of the day centred on updates to the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. The SLT provided an update on the review process, which is currently transitioning into its next phase of development having undertaken extensive and diverse member consultation. This feedback is invaluable to ensuring that the Ethical Framework can be adopted into the counselling room.Ìý

The Ethical Framework is the bedrock of practice of our members, and so the Board is looking forward to us completing the development, consultation and refinement, and being able to put it in the hands of our members.Ìý

Strengthening Board and Committee structures

Aligned with the Board’s new way of operating, the SLT and CEO are also working with our sub-committees to modernise and strengthen their role. This will include supporting the Board with plans to recruit new members to committees and new Trustees, ensuring we're best equipped to make well-informed decisions that reflect members’ needs. Details of these recruitment opportunities will be shared with you once finalised.Ìý

Looking ahead

This meeting was an energising start to 2025 and reflected the importance of constantly evolving our ways of working to better serve our members and the counselling profession. From ensuring financial stability to shaping ethical principles that guide our practice, everything we do is rooted in these goals.Ìý

Finally, thank you to all our members who engage with us and help influence the work of the organisation. Your input is invaluable, and we look forward to sharing further developments in the coming months.Ìý

Natalie Bailey
Chair, BACP Board