Association of Educational Psychologists

 PRESIDENT (Dec 2013 – Nov 2015)
To be preceded by a 2 year term as Vice-President (December 2011 – November 2013)
 
SEAN O’DONOGHUE
 
Proposed by:                        Lynn Ambler
Seconded by:                       Kate Fallon
 
This is not a time for looking back; the AEP must continue to look forward and be prepared to adapt to change.  Consequently I was thrilled when asked by the General Secretary and by the Chair of the Employment Policies Sub Committee to stand again for the position of Vice President leading to President again in 2013.
 
Since taking over as President and working very closely with Kate Fallon the NEC has united once again and has become stronger, putting members of the Association at the forefront of all our activities, maintaining an appropriate balance between the Association’s involvement in Trade Union and Professional issues.  Over the next four years, if elected, I would like to build on that cohesion and work closely with our next President, John Drewicz, and with all my colleagues on the NEC.
 
The profession faces a number of very real challenges. Models of service delivery are changing.  EPs face redundancy and more of us are choosing or being forced into private practice.  Our terms and conditions are being eroded and our pensions threatened.  I believe that by continuing on the NEC in the role of Vice President I will be in a good position to ensure that our Association moves forward and faces up to the above challenges.  We have achieved a great deal over the last two years and I would like to continue to influence the direction of our profession in the future.
 
 
HONORARY TREASURER
December 2011 – November 2015
 
DAVID WEBSTER
 
Proposed by:        Angela Pratten
Seconded by:       Eric Page
 
As a former President of the Association and long-standing member of the National Executive Committee I believe I have the experience necessary to stand for re-election as Honorary Treasurer.  As I am now working part time I also have the time to enable me to carry out the demands of the role.
 
I am particularly keen to complete the work which has been started to examine all aspects of the Association’s finances and to ensure that we remain on a sustainable financial footing.  The Association has been significantly affected by the effects of the “credit crunch” and other external events.  These have impacted on our finances in three main ways.  In particular we have lost significant income due to the reduction in adverts carried in the Broadsheet for LA posts; incurred much higher legal costs as a result of Health Professions Council cases and suffered the effects of the generally higher levels of inflation in the last couple of years.
 
In order to address these issues I have led a review of all aspects of the Association’s spending with a view to finding savings.  In particular the move to electronic communication with members should lead to significant savings, whilst the change in the arrangements for NEC meetings and the annual and local representative’s courses should also have an impact on our costs.  If re-elected I remain committed to seeking further ways in which to reduce the running costs of the Association and to maximise our income.
 
 
NATIONALLY ELECTED MEMBER             
December 2011 – November 2013
 
ANGELA PRATTEN
 
Proposed by:                        Eric Page
Seconded by:                       David Webster
 
I have been actively involved in the AEP for over 20 years at local, branch, regional and national levels.  I was the Regional Representative for Region 4 before I was elected as National Member in 2010.  I would like to stand again for election as National Member.
 
Our Association has changed significantly over the last decade and the ‘trade union’ aspect has become more prominent.  As national member I would be supporting colleagues on the NEC and members regionally and nationally.
 
However I believe strongly that the ‘professional role’ of our Association is equally important.  As part of a team the National Member will ensure that the annual course continues to be a well received, dynamic course focusing on both academic psychology and psychology in practice, at both national and local levels.
 
In April 2012 we will celebrate our 50th anniversary as an Association and we are planning to bring the two focal parts of our membership together in an event where the professional and trade union courses would be run in parallel.  I would like to continue to be part of these deliberations to ensure the Annual Course continues to be valued at a time when hard decisions are being made about CPD funding.
 
I believe my commitment to the AEP is evident through my work on behalf of members over many years and if elected I would carry out my duties as National Member with continued enthusiasm and determination.
 
 
REGIONALLY ELECTED MEMBER FOR ELECTORAL REGION 1
December 2011 – November 2013                                                
 
DAVID COLLINGWOOD
 
Proposed by:                        Christine Sketchley
Seconded by:                       Joanne Mowbray
 
I am currently an EP in two authorities (Redcar & Cleveland and Newcastle).  I have been the local rep for Redcar & Cleveland for about two years now and have attended the local reps training, regional meetings and conferences.
 
I see the main role of the Regional Rep as representing the views of the region’s members and will encourage continued good attendance from members at regional meetings.  I do not view the regional rep role as stand alone and will value collaboration and support from regional members.
 
The role of the AEP in supporting its members through the current local authority reviews and cuts is a key current issue for me.  This includes how members can be supported within their authority to ensure continuity of employment and also how the AEP can support the profession in moving forward to adapt to the changing circumstances we find ourselves in with the growth of traded services and other non-LA ways of working.
 
If I were elected I would endeavour to be available to offer support as appropriate to regional members.  I would liaise with the regional officer in order to offer informed advice and information.
 
 REGIONALLY ELECTED MEMBER FOR ELECTORAL REGION 2
December 2011 – November 2013
 
YVONNE PRICE
 
 
Proposed by:                        Debbie Burton
Seconded by:                       Yakub Padia
 
Local authorities continue to undergo internal and external transformations that, in many cases, have had a detrimental effect on conditions of service, morale and the job security of North West EPs.  As regional representative for this area, I have been involved in assisting the ever increasing number of North West EPs who seek support, mainly as a result of these transformations.
 
I am currently an elected member of the professional policies sub-committee.  This allows me opportunities to contribute to major policies such as guidelines for supporting children/young people with ADHD, ASD and SEBD.
 
Alongside this professional side of the AEP, there has been much activity in continuing to develop its trade union perspective.  I believe that I have the skills, determination, vision and experience to help support members through these difficult and uncertain times.
 
If I am re-elected, as a trade unionist representing AEP members, I intend to continue being proactive in ensuring that EPs are protected if and when potentially unfair changes to their terms and conditions of work are threatened.  With regard to the other equally important aspect of the AEP; again, if re-elected, I will endeavour to support moves to further develop the professional perspective of our association.  I intend to persist in promoting our profession in order to help ensure that EPs are given the status and recognition that they so richly deserve.
 
 REGIONALLY ELECTED MEMBER FOR ELECTORAL REGION 5
December 2011 – November 2013
 
JACKIE KING
 
Proposed by:                        Nicola Smethurst
Seconded by:                       Cordelia Garrelts
 
Educational Psychologist (Senior Practitioner)
London Borough of Brent
 
Over the last 2 years, as Region 5 Rep, I have been a Member of the EPSC and have seen many changes to our profession and recognise that these are challenging times for all our members.
 
In my capacity as Region 5 Rep, I attend the Local Reps Conferences and as part of EPSC make a contribution to the organisation of such events.  I hold regular Regional Meetings; where I have the opportunity of obtaining members’ views and feeding them back to the NEC.  I also believe that these meetings provide an opportunity to collect Bench Marking Data, e.g. how other boroughs are operating and managing change and sharing this information at a National Level.
 
If re-elected, I will continue with the Local Reps Meetings in London, as I believe that this is an excellent way to support members through discussions of key issues both at a local and national level.  I will continue to offer my support to Local Reps and members who are currently without representation.
 
 REGIONALLY ELECTED MEMBER FOR ELECTORAL REGION 7

December 2011 – November 2013
 
MIKE RANCE
 
Proposed by:                        Richard Stephen Lewis
Seconded by:                       Phillipa Jane Collyer
 
I have served on the National Executive Committee and have been the region 7 representative for several years.
 
The profession is currently facing its biggest challenge due to a combination of budget cuts, growth of Academies and free schools, alternative methods of service delivery and threats to conditions of service.
 
At a time like this it is essential that the AEP remains active and influential in representing the interests of its members.
 
·         We should maintain our links with the DfE and TUC
·         We must continue to influence and inform MPs and comment on educational political events, with the help of our parliamentary lobbyists, especially in light of the publication of the recent Green Paper.
·         We must work with all agencies involved to ensure that the training of educational psychologists is properly funded and managed and that the employment conditions of trainees are suitable.  This is essential to ensure the high quality of entrants into the profession.
·         We must continue to strive for an appropriate salary level and structure that befits this profession.
·         We must continue to ensure that all authorities maintain an effective educational psychological service, with a full range of responsibilities, with appropriate conditions of service, properly structured and managed by a fully qualified educational psychologist.
 
It would be a privilege to be elected to serve the Association and the interests of members in region 7.