Competence Matters

The Board’s Continuing Competence Programme

The Board has a Continuing Competence Programme (CCP) as part of its obligations under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.

All practising psychologists are required to participate in CCP and must declare that they have done so when renewing their Practising Certificate each year.

The full CCP programme can be downloaded here.

Two optional templates to provide guidance about what the Board expects to be recorded in a practitioners’ log book can be found in the Forms & Guides section.

Practitioners are not required to use either of these templates if they prefer to record their CCP activities in some other format as long as they are recording all required information.

Audit

Each year the Board will audit a portion (normally about 10%) of PC applicants for compliance with the CCP’s requirements. When selected for an audit of their CCP participation, a psychologist will receive a letter advising what information is required and a declaration form from the Board at the time they apply for a PC.

On completion of the audit, the psychologist will be provided with a summary of the audit results along with any feedback and suggestions to enhance future CCP participation.

Questions or Concerns?

If you require have questions or require further assistance, please contact us.

Core Competencies for Psychologists

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act requires that the Board set standards of ethical conduct and clinical and cultural competence. The Board’s Core Competencies for the Practice of Psychology in New Zealand have been developed to assist the Board to protect the public.

Parts 1, 3 and 4 of the Core Competencies document the minimum requirements for competent practice at an entry level.  All psychologists practising in the “Psychologist” scope must be able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge and skills listed under the applicable scope. Each of these competencies is underpinned by the Board’s Cultural Competencies which should be read in conjunction with the other parts .

All psychologists must be able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge and skills listed under the ‘Psychologist’ scope.

A psychologist who practises in a vocational scope must also be able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge and skills listed under that vocational scope.

These competencies may be used in the assessment of initial qualifications for registration and scopes of practice, as standards in competency reviews and competence programmes, and/or in the Board’s processes for accrediting tertiary educational institutions. They should also serve as a guide to members of the profession.

The Core Competencies stand alongside the Code of Ethics for Psychologists Working in Aotearoa/New Zealand [2002] and any best practice guidelines adopted or endorsed by the Board.

Cultural Competencies

The Board’s Standards of Cultural Competence apply to all psychologists in New Zealand. The guidelines have been developed to reflect the skill, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for effective cultural practice.  It is expected that all psychologists, regardless of their area of practice, will incorporate these guidelines into their practise.

The New Zealand Psychological Society has compiled a very useful set of resources (NZPsS Bicultural Resources page) to help practitioners develop and maintain cultural competence.

LeVa also offers some very useful resources (Engaging Pasifika) on their website that can help practitioners develop their competence in working with Pacific Peoples.