There are real
concessions here from the Department of Health, for the first time. This
represents genuine progress, and is a tribute to the brilliant campaigning
work that has been done around the country. There is no question that the
shift from the Department of Health is due to considerable pressure from below.
Looking at the
detail of these policies, I actually don't feel we should be in a hurry to
sign them off. Many of the changes that were requested have not been
accepted, and a few quite worrying changes have crept in.
There continue to
be significant issues even for very experienced generalist therapists, who
will have a great deal of difficulty getting beyond Band 6.
The Principal
profile has moved to Band 8 (as we argued), but has done so not by having
enhanced clinical responsibilities, but through the allocation of clearly
managerial duties. The danger here is that people we regard as Principals
will be pushed down into the Highly Specialist profile, and that only
managers will slot into this profile.
The Consultant
profile continues to under-estimate the skills of this extremely expert
group of staff. There are particular issues around the levels for
Communication Skills and for Knowledge, Training and Experience.
There have been
real gains recently in the draft profiles for Clinical Psychologists, and a
detailed comparison of what's on offer is likely to be worthwhile.
I would be very
interested in receiving comments on these profiles.
Gill
George
Secretary, London SLT Advisory Committee
email: gill@...
24th November 2003
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