Who are the participants? Who are the members of IPN?
Any individual person who takes part in IPN is a participant. The unit of membership of IPN is the group (rather than the individual participant). Member groups are groups of at least four practitioners who: 
  • Meet regularly to share, support and challenge each others’ practice. They have reached a point where they are willing to stand by each others’ practice
  • Have agreed, shared with the Network and published their Ethical Statement on the website
  • Have links to two other IPN Groups.
 Forming groups are working towards this position.

 

How does IPN differ from other methods of accountability?
In addition to ‘qualifications’, IPN provides a way of holding accountability to clients (and other employers) that is based on continuing face-to-face relationship with peers, along with appropriate personal and professional disclosure. IPN enables, and welcomes different practitioner styles to co-exist in the same group.

 

What exactly does ‘standing by’ mean?
IPN participants are expected to explore personal and professional issues with, and invite challenge from, their group or at Gatherings or both, to ensure adequate and appropriate standards and boundaries are being maintained in their practice. This includes being alive to any rupture in the relationship with their clients and taking action if a problem arises. If for any reason an individual’s practice or a group’s process is not experienced by peers as competent and fit for the purpose claimed, an individual’s participation in the group or a group’s participation in the network could cease to be possible.

 

Why does IPN give so much emphasis to ‘standing by’ ?
An essential aspect of the IPN ‘standing by’ process is that the ongoing face-to-face support and challenge provides a form of continual quality assurance that minimizes the likelihood of disputes, mistakes or complaints.

 

Does IPN participation replace CPD or supervision?
No, though current or recurring supervision issues would be likely to be part of the ‘standing by’ and ongoing group process. IPN is not an educational/training institution, nor are IPN groups therapy groups, although plenty that is therapeutic and educational may happen in IPN group meetings.

 

Would joining IPN mean I have to give up my membership of UKCP or BACP?
No, participation in IPN doesn’t rule out such membership; it is your choice how you respond to employers or other demands for accountability.

 

What qualifications does IPN participation or membership bring me?
The emphasis in IPN is less on qualifications and more on your capacity as a practitioner to fulfil what you claim to offer clients on an ongoing basis. IPN is not currently offering any kind of accreditation.

 

IPN sounds like a lot of work, why should I take it on?
Yes, IPN can be a lot of work. However we have found that both our practice and our accountability to clients are most responsibly sustained through IPN’s ongoing face-to-face relationships with other practitioners, with whom we are mutually committed to support and challenge.

 

Where did IPN come from?
Two conferences in the early 1990’s sponsored by the Norwich Collective provided a forum for concerns about the professionalization of the psychological therapies. Shortly afterwards, Em Edmondson proposed the core ideas for an independent practitioners group, and from 1995 onwards, her scheme was taken forward by Nick Totton and others.

 

Can anyone, even a person without qualifications, join IPN?
Anyone can become a participant, but a person without training and experience in their respective field might struggle to find a Forming or Member Group to join that would stand by them and their work, unless they could show considerable capacity for the personal and group reflection that IPN is rooted in.

 

Could I be ‘struck off’ from IPN?
There is no register as such to be struck off as IPN operates without a formal hierarchy. In the extreme event, say of a conviction for an offence against a client, you would be unlikely to find a Forming or Member Group that would want to include you, or that would stand by you and your work.

 

How can I get a feel for IPN and how it works?

This can happen in a number of ways:
  • You can request a conversation about this through either the Enquiry Line phone number 03333 213004 or emailing via support@ipnetwork.org.uk
  • You can join in on one of the two hour Newcomer Zoom Meetings which take place every 3 or 4 months
  • We aim to hold at least one face-to-face National Gathering per year, and anyone is welcome to attend. They are currently financed by IPN funds so are free to attend.
  • You are also welcome to come to join in with any other face-to-face meetings which are held. Typically these tend to be more localised and organised on a more ad-hoc basis.
  • See the Events Page to check for upcoming events and National Gatherings.

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How are IPN activities recorded?
We are currently trialling the use of the community platform Hylo which allows us to communicate across the Network including recording IPN activities and administrative and governance information and decisions. This platform also allows for the sharing of other contributions by participanats, e.g. information, ideas, thoughts and feelings, personal stories, suggestions etc.
IPN has a collection of agreements on matters of principle, organisation and administration. These have accumulated over a considerable period of time. See the Resources page to find out more.

 

Is there any other forum for connecting, discussing and informing?
Again, Hylo is the platform we are currently using for these activities. It is currently set up as an unmoderated private Hylo which only IPN participants have access to. Information on coming events, personal requests and views and discussions of issues all sit together on this platform. Once you have joined IPN, (see the Contacts page) you will be sent a separate link to sign up to the IPN Hylo page.

 

See also Client Questions and Answers page: Client Q & A

Contact IPN