British Psychoanalytic Council – Head of Regulation

Job Title: Head of Regulation

Salary: £60,000 – £70,000 FTE
Hours: 35 hours per week (full time)

Contract: Permanent

Location: Hybrid, at least one day a week in the office (Archway, London N19)
Benefits: 28 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays (for full time), and employer pension contribution.

Closing date: We’ll conduct interviews as suitable candidates apply, and the job may close early if the right person is found

The BPC is a leading professional association and a Professional Standards Authority Voluntary Accredited Register for the psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy profession in the UK. 

With a small team of twelve, based at our offices in North London, and with an annual turnover of c£900k we regulate the profession, adjudicating on complaints and maintaining professional standards. 

We enjoy a reputation for high clinical and professional standards within the counselling and psychotherapy profession and, unlike other similar organisations, we are purely psychoanalytic in our focus. We accredit training programmes operated via our Member Institutions, ensuring that they meet our exacting standards. Individuals who qualify from these accredited trainings are eligible to become Registrants of the BPC and appear on our public Register. Registrants must comply with our code of ethics and Continuing Professional Development requirements. 

Having undergone a period of change and growth over the last few years, we are currently looking for a new Head of Regulation to join our Senior Leadership Team. We implemented a new complaints process in January 2022 and are looking for the right person to lead the BPC’s Fitness to Practise function into the next phase. We are also currently recruiting a permanent Senior Paralegal, who will report into the Head of Regulation, and together these roles will oversee all concerns and complaints raised about BPC Registrants.

This role requires someone with strong experience within a regulatory environment who will be responsible for leading the regulatory function of the organisation, continuing to embed and encourage culture change within the organisation, our Member Institutions and Registrants. We are looking for an experienced regulatory solicitor who is looking for a new challenge of working within a small organisation with a wide reach. They will be prepared to work at a high level within the Senior Leadership Team and also happy to support with administrative tasks, and everything in between.

You will understand the context we work in, including regulatory frameworks, and will be a highly effective, engaging manager and leader who embraces the potential of the BPC as we continue to develop.

Whilst you may have knowledge of psychoanalytic ideas or practice, this is not essential. Most importantly, you will be able to demonstrate a commitment to psychoanalysis, both as a way of thinking about society and as a method of treatment.

For the right candidate, this is an exciting opportunity to be part of an ambitious, friendly organisation where your voice, your ideas and your contribution will have a critical impact on our success. 

To apply, please send a CV and a cover letter to jobs@bpc.org.uk, outlining how you meet each of the essential criteria. 

Person Specification

Essential

• Legal practitioner qualification with at least 5 years PQE;
• Demonstrable strong experience gained within a statutory health regulator(s) or equivalent;
• Experience of working autonomously and managing a demanding caseload;
• Experience or detailed understanding of the management of hearings;
• Ability to manage a wider ranging workload and prioritise conflicting priorities as well as tracking progress on tasks;
• Excellent communication skills and maturity in dealing with colleagues and organisations;
• Experience of working with particularly vulnerable witnesses, complainants and Registrants;
• Experience of developing and improving regulatory processes;
• Ability to contribute to the strategic and operational aspects of the BPC’s activities;
• Ability to work flexibly in a small organisation with limited resources;
• Ability to work at both strategic and hands on levels and everything in between;
• Commitment to BPC’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion;
• Ability and willingness to occasionally work outside normal working hours/days and to occasionally travel to meetings / events around the UK.

Desirable

• Experience of senior management in a similar organisation;
• Experience of or interest in mental health provision, and specifically psychoanalysis or psychodynamic psychotherapy;
• Experience of budget setting and management