The Deputy will be aware that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) which is administered by NEPS.
I can inform the Deputy that NEPS maintains the SCPA panel of eligible practitioners under the scheme on the basis that applicants have satisfied it: that they are graduate members of an appropriate professional body (e.g. the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) or the British Psychological Society (BPS)) and that they have at least two years supervised experience of administering and interpreting psychological tests for children that they are registered or chartered or certified by an appropriate professional body and receiving on-going supervision or that they are receiving on-going supervision that could confer registered status within three years with PSI that they adhere to the PSI Code of Ethics and to the ‘Policy on the use of Psychometric Tests in Ireland' (adapted by PSI in November 2007) that they have obtained Garda clearance.
A complaints procedure exists under the scheme within which issues or difficulties arising from the operation of the SCPA, which cannot be resolved between school and/or parents and the psychologist, are subject to examination and determination by NEPS. This procedure has been formalised within the past year.
I can confirm that complaints were raised by two parents in relation to the psychologist referred to by the Deputy but within the limits of the detail supplied NEPS was satisfied that there were no grounds for further action in either instance. The individual fulfils all the above requirements for involvement in the panel and remains on the current panel. In addition I have recently referred another matter for consideration to the State Examinations Commissions in regard to this psychologist although not in direct connection with the SCPA. My Department has had no involvement in any complaints by other professionals in regard to this panellist.
Should the Deputy have any pertinent information to bring to the matter I would ask that he submit it to my Department for examination. Of course, officials from my Department's NEPS service are available to meet with and discuss the concerns of any parent or school authority in relation to the scheme.
I set out below for the Deputy's information a copy of the SCPA Guidelines for Psychologists — 2009 which, along with other relevant information on the Scheme is available on my Department's website.
While as Minister I am of course concerned in relation to all aspects of quality of service throughout the education system, I should add that neither my Department nor NEPS is a disciplinary body for psychologists. Such matters fall within the province of the particular psychologist's professional body and formal complaints in regard to professional conduct should properly be referred by the complainant to that body (e.g. Psychological Society of Ireland).
SCHEME FOR THE COMMISSIONING OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS (SCPA)
Guidelines for SCPA Psychologists — 2009
Purpose of the Scheme
The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding for schools to commission individual psychological assessments for children from psychologists working in a private capacity, pending the expansion of the service provided by the Department of Education and Science (DES)/National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) to all schools. NEPS is a section of the DES.
The scheme is not a substitute for a full educational psychological service of the sort provided by NEPS. It is an interim measure intended to meet current urgent needs for psychological assessment of children and young people. The DES will review the operation of the scheme on an ongoing basis.
Terms and Conditions of the Scheme
Schools are responsible for commissioning psychologists to carry out assessments under the scheme. Schools may only commission psychologists who are on the SCPA panel.
The number of assessments that a school can commission under the scheme is determined by the number of pupils enrolled in that school.
The number of assessments that may be conducted by a psychologist under the scheme cannot exceed 180 in any school year.
An individual psychological assessment, in its entirety, must be wholly and exclusively carried out by a psychologist whose name appears on the SCPA panel.
Payment for assessments carried out under the scheme must be made from SCPA funds and from such funds alone. Psychologists who accept commissions under the scheme may not seek or accept payment from any other source in respect of such commissions and will be required to certify that they have not done so as a condition of receiving payment. Seeking or accepting payment from any other source in respect of an assessment under the scheme will constitute grounds for removal from the SCPA panel.
Schools and psychologists are required to adhere to the recommended procedures, as laid down by the DES/NEPS.
SCPA psychologists must work within their areas of competence, keep abreast of relevant developments and comply with DES policy at all times.
Selection of Psychologists for Participation in the Scheme
The SCPA panel of psychologists is compiled by NEPS. This list is regularly updated and is available in the NEPS section of the DES website — www.education.ie. A web link is provided below:
2009 Panel of Psychologists
Psychologists on the SCPA panel are private practitioners who have satisfied NEPS:
that they are graduate members of an appropriate professional body (e.g. the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) or the British Psychological Society (BPS)) and that they have at least two years supervised experience of administering and interpreting psychological tests for children
that they are registered or chartered or certified by an appropriate professional body and receiving on-going supervision
or
that they are receiving on-going supervision that could confer registered status within three years with PSI
that they adhere to the PSI Code of Ethics and to the ‘Policy on the use of Psychometric Tests in Ireland' (adapted by PSI in November 2007)
that they have obtained Garda clearance
that they have obtained a Tax Clearance Certificate from the Revenue Commissioners
Membership of the panel only implies the eligibility of the psychologist to conduct assessments under the scheme and (provided the requisite terms and conditions are satisfied) to receive payment for such assessments.
The 2008 panel will expire on 31st December, 2008. Persons who are admitted to the 2009 panel are eligible to conduct assessments under the scheme from 1st January, 2009 until 30th June, 2009 subject to the terms and conditions laid down in the SCPA Guidelines for 2009. Psychologists are obliged both to familiarise themselves with and to adhere to these terms and conditions.
As the 2009 panel will expire on 30th June, 2009 psychologists on that panel wishing to be admitted to the 2009/2010 scheme will be required to complete a Renewal of Membership Form in June, 2009. Others wishing to be placed on the 2009/2010 panel will be required to follow the standard procedure for admission to the scheme.
Psychologists may be suspended or removed from the panel at any time if it is determined that their work or practice falls short of the standards required under the scheme.
Procedures to be Followed by Psychologists in Implementing the Scheme
Psychologists who carry out assessments under the scheme should:
1. Work within their areas of competence at all times.
2. Conduct assessments with reasonable care and diligence.
3. Familiarise themselves and comply with circulars and documents relevant to special educational needs which are produced, from time to time, by the DES/NEPS and by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). (These are available on the DES website – www.education.ie and on the NCSE website – www.ncse.ie).
4. Supply their own appropriate, up-to-date test materials and meet their other expenses out of the fee for the assessment.
5. Have some form of identification (e.g. driving licence, passport) in their possession when conducting assessments under the scheme.
6. Personally carry out every component of any assessment for which they are individually commissioned and remunerated, including all associated tasks and activities.
7. Ensure, before meeting a child, that they have a copy of the Consent Form (Form 1) and of the Referral Form (Form 2) completed by the school.
8. Review previous reports and relevant school records.
9. Conduct the assessment on the school premises. (In exceptional circumstances, a request may be made to the local NEPS Regional Director to carry out an assessment off the school premises).
10. Administer individual tests of cognitive potential and of attainments and appropriate behavioural check-lists as necessary. Engage in classroom or playground observation as required.
11. Meet with the child's parents/guardians and teachers to provide verbal feedback on the assessment outcome, explaining findings and their implications.
12. Provide, within one calendar month, a psychological report with recommendations for the parents/guardians and the school, bearing in mind that the style, content and format of the report should be appropriate for the recipients and in line with NEPS requirements in this area.
Guidelines on report writing will be provided. These may be amended from time to time in the context of regular reviews of the scheme.
NEPS intends to review a sample of all reports received from school principals (with Form 3) as it has a responsibility to ensure that assessments meet acceptable standards and that public funds are being appropriately discharged.
13. Inform NEPS when no longer accepting commissions under the scheme so that arrangements can be made for notifying schools.
Fees for Psychological Assessments Conducted under the Scheme
There is no charge to parents/guardians or to schools for assessments carried out under the scheme.
A fee, subject to withholding tax, of €330 per assessment to include all expenses (including travel and subsistence) incurred by the psychologist, will be paid by NEPS. This will result in a net fee of €264. The psychologist will be responsible for the payment of any additional tax due.
Psychologists seeking extra payment for SCPA assessments from parents/guardians or from schools may be removed from the panel.
Where it is determined that a psychologist has accepted an additional payment, from a parent/guardian or from a school, for work carried out under the scheme the DES/NEPS reserves the right to withhold the standard fee from that psychologist.
Procedure for Payment under the Scheme
The payment process will be initiated upon receipt, by NEPS, of a Certificate of Completion of Assessment Form (Form 3) in respect of the individual assessment.
Form 3 must be fully completed and signed by the school principal and psychologist and the original (not a copy) submitted to NEPS, by the principal, within three calendar months of the date of assessment. This form will certify:
that the assessment has been completed
that the psychological report has been received by the parents/guardians and by the school principal
that a copy of the psychological report is being sent, with Form 3, to NEPS
that the school principal and psychologist have complied with the terms and conditions of the scheme
Payment may be withheld or refused until the DES/NEPS is satisfied that the terms and conditions of the scheme have been complied with. Without prejudice to the generality of the above, payment may be withheld or refused:
where the assessment has not been properly conducted
where the assessment has been wholly or partly completed by a psychologist who is not on the panel
where the psychologist has not furnished a report in the proper format
where the psychologist has sought or accepted payment from a source other than the scheme
When satisfied that the terms and conditions of the scheme have been fully complied with NEPS will arrange for payment to be made directly to the psychologist.
Grounds for Removal from Panel
Psychologists may be removed from the panel on the following grounds:
failing to conduct an assessment with reasonable care and diligence
engaging in conduct which falls short of that which would be expected from a professional psychologist
seeking or accepting payment from a source other than the scheme in respect of an assessment conducted under the scheme
failing to personally conduct the assessment in its entirety
providing false or misleading information in submitting a report or on Form 3
providing false or misleading information in an application to be placed on the panel
bring convicted of a serious criminal offence
An allegation of serious misconduct against a psychologist on the SCPA panel may result in suspension from the panel pending investigation of the allegation and the outcome of any such investigation.
Further Information
Queries should be submitted to NEPS in writing, either by fax 01-2833181, e-mail scpa@neps.gov.ie or by conventional mail to: SCPA, National Educational Psychological Service, 3rd Floor, Trident House, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Every effort will be made to respond to queries as soon as possible.
Complaints should be dealt with at point of service. Where informal efforts to resolve difficulties have failed, complainants may invoke a formal Complaints Procedure, details of which are available on request.
Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA)
General Disclaimers
Terms and conditions of the scheme are subject to ongoing review. They may be changed or updated at any time and without notice by the Minister for Education and Science.
The SCPA panel is not a register of psychologists. Membership of the panel is not to be confused with eligibility for statutory registration of psychologists.
In accepting a psychologist as a member of the panel, the DES is not entering into any contractual arrangement with the psychologist. SCPA psychologists are not employees of the DES/NEPS.
Membership of the SCPA panel confers no particular rights on psychologists and does not provide any guarantee of being commissioned to administer psychological tests in schools.
In any given year, unless otherwise stated, membership of the SCPA panel is generally valid from date of appointment until the end of that school year only.
The DES/NEPS reserves the right to remove a psychologist from the panel at any time.
The scheme may be discontinued at any time by the Minister for Education and Science.
The DES/NEPS is not a disciplinary body for psychologists. Such matters are more properly the remit of the particular psychologist's professional body.
