November 9, 2020
Dear Registrants,
This email contains updates on:
- PHO Orders Issued
- Consultation Request on Website Document
- Keeping in Touch
- and AGM summary
Clarity about the Provincial Health Officer’s Orders Issued on November 7, 2020
Dr. Bonnie Henry issued orders on November 7, 2020 specific to Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions. Specifically, Dr. Henry ordered that there are to be:
“No social gatherings of any size with anyone other than your immediate household. For example:
- Do not invite friends or extended family to your household
- Do not gather outdoors
- Do not gather at restaurants”
The delivery of care in the homes of patients and clients, or in private sector practices, DOES NOT constitute a “social gathering”. Registrants who provide care to patients and clients in these settings are expected to continue as they did prior to the issuance of this new order.
It is timely to remind all registrants to regularly review and ensure compliance with WorkSafeBC and the BCCDC guidelines on masks and other measures to prevent the spread of CoVid-19, and to exercise professional judgement and discretion in the use of PPE and social distancing in private practice or other settings for which no other specific guidelines apply.
Patient Relations Committee Consultation on Website Document
The Health Professions Act requires all health professions regulators to maintain a patient relations program to prevent “professional misconduct of a sexual nature”. As a part of that effort, the CPBC Patient Relations Committee has prepared a document for publication on the CPBC website which updates content previously included in a CPBC brochure, including updates to address Code of Conduct revisions. While profession specific, this material is similar in regulatory intent to that published on the websites of other health professions regulators.
Psychologists as a profession receive exceptional training in the nature of dual relationships and maintaining boundaries. Understanding and maintaining appropriate interpersonal boundaries is a fundamental component of psychological practice, as is ongoing self-care of the professional. The CPBC professional code, which is available on the website, is very explicit in establishing requirements for psychologists to maintain appropriate boundaries, including sections 1.2, 4.18, 5.14 and 5.28. The CPBC has a policy of zero tolerance of registrants having sex with clients.
The Patient Relations Committee is requesting input from registrants regarding the draft material prior to placement on the website. The material can be found posted as a draft on the Registrant Portal at: https://www.collegeofpsychologists.bc.ca/registrant/docs/Professional_Boundaries_in_Health-Care_Relationships.pdf . Registrants can provide feedback prior to December 1st on the concepts and expectations outlined in the material by email to: feedback@collegeofpsychologists.bc.ca .
Keeping in Touch
CPBC email updates and the COVID-19 updates webpage are offered to registrants as a means of keeping informed on a timely basis regarding the practice of psychology during the pandemic.
We want to thank registrants for their thoughtful communications with the College via the feedback@collegeofpsychologists.bc.ca email, and appreciate your ongoing engagement on the many issues which are important to the regulation of the profession.
AGM Summary
A total of 240 registrants attended the live AGM. The Board and staff appreciated the active participation of those in attendance and a special thank you for the thoughtful questions. The kind comments about the hard work of the College Board, Committees and staff is also much appreciated and I thank you on behalf of the College.
The availability of the AGM online will be announced once it is posted.
Wishing you all good health and ongoing attention to self-care (reminder that Self-Care Part 2 is coming up this Thursday at 5 pm!).
Best regards,
Andrea M. Kowaz, Ph.D., R.Psych.
Registrar