The Training Committee has had a role in supporting the probationers and supervisors who have been the pioneers of the new Award, which was set up to improve the robustness of the third (probationers’) year of training. It provided for the first time a qualification to mark the completion of this second stage of professional training. The Award has become the standard entry qualification for EPs in Scotland, recognised as equivalent to the three-year doctorate training in the rest of the UK. As teething problems are to be expected in the first run of a new system, we have worked to ensure that the new arrangements are monitored and reviewed, and that any concerns dealt with. Routine tasks for the training committee have included the ongoing process of reaccrediting services to take probationers, observing and commenting on the Strathclyde MSc selection process, attendance at the Membership and Professional Training Board and liaison with ASPEP. The best practice guidelines for trainee placements have been revised. We have been represented on the BPS Quality Assurance review group which has developed plans for a new partnership approach to accrediting university programmes. The Executive Committee responded to a major consultation on National Qualifications in Scotland, a consultation about clinical psychology and child and adolescent mental health services, and a consultation on changes to the secondary legislation and Supporting Children's Learning code of practice in relation to ASL legislation. In response to moves to restructure Society governance, we have been active in speaking up for what Division membership can offer and used this material to argue for maintained support for and representation from the Divisions. The SDEP was involved in planning the Professional Development Programme in which psychologists from across Scotland undertake together some action research related to identified themes and areas of interest. The topics for 2008–9 were ■ ■
Cognitive behavioural approaches in educational settings; Towards more effective and efficient self-evaluation for educational psychology services.
The detailed reports, INSET materials and summaries are available to download. Members of the committee continued to meet with ASPEP and a representative from HMIe as part of the National Reference Group for Educational Psychology Services. The SDEP continued to be represented on the Joint Forum (along with the Association of Principal Educational Psychologists (ASPEP) and the EIS trade union) and also continued to meet twice yearly with ASPEP. The annual conference for educational psychologists in Scotland was planned jointly by the SDEP and the ASPEP and held in Edinburgh. Conference arrangements ran smoothly and efficiently and attendance was good, with stimulating keynote presentations with relevant workshops from practitioners. The first online edition of the publication will shortly appear. The first edition of the SDEP newsletter was distributed at the conference, and it is intended to publish this twice yearly. It will also become available online to members. The move to HPC regulation has brought major changes to our role within the Scottish context. We intend to focus closely on consulting with and representing our members, raising A N N U A L R E V I E W 2009
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