The Constitution of the BSCH: guiding professional hypnotherapy

• Objectives 
• Code of Conduct and Ethics 
• Complaints Procedure 
• Disqualification and Disciplinary Procedure
• Grade and Qualifications for membership
• Register of Hypnotherapists 
• Fees and Subscriptions 
• Education 
• The Executive Committee 
• Annual General Meeting 
• Meetings, Notices and Miscellaneous Provisions
• Changes to the Rules, Aims and Objectives of the BSCH 
• Accounts of the BSCH 
• Solicitor to the BSCH 
• Addresses 

1.The name of the Organisation shall be the 'British Society of Clinical Hypnosis'. The registered office of the Society shall be situate in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. 

2. OBJECTS OF THE BRITISH SOCIETY OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS 

The objects for which the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis (BSCH) is established are: 

• (a) To provide its Members with a Professional Body which will act on their behalf to further and protect their interest. 
• (b) To identify and promote appropriate standards for the practice of hypnotherapy and the supervision of its membership. 
• (c) To keep and publish a Register of Members which may include their qualifications and appropriate experience. 
• (d) To establish a Code of Ethics for its Members. 
• (e) To co-operate with any other organisation which has as its sole objective the furtherance of Hypnotherapy as an ethical Profession. 
• (f) To foster and promote research in the Hypnotherapeutic Profession. 
• (g) To do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any part of them. 

This code applies to affiliate, associate and full members of the BSCH as well as diplomats and fellows of BSCH and all students in training with the LCCH.

This code applies to all members of the BSCH and to all students of the LCCH even prior to eligibility for membership of the BSCH.

Members of the BSCH and students in training with the LCCH will be referred to as 'members' in this code.

• Members engaged in the practice of Clinical Hypnosis shall at all times conduct their professional activities with the propriety and dignity becoming that of a servant of the public. They shall not, under any circumstances, infringe the code of morality becoming their profession and shall not commit any breach of conduct that would adversely reflect upon themselves, the BSCH, the LCCH or upon their fellow practitioners.
• Members shall never enter into a sexual relationship with a patient under their care nor shall they exploit their patients' past, present or future financially or emotionally.
• Members shall work in ways that will promote patient autonomy and well being and maintain respect and dignity for the patient. Hypnotherapy is a non-exploitative therapy.
• Members shall not, under any circumstance, offer or promise cures for any conditions.
• Members shall not give any performance or display that presents hypnosis as a means of entertainment (e.g. Stage Hypnosis) or engage in activities likely to bring the profession into disrepute.
• Members are required to take appropriate action in accordance with the Complaints Procedure with regard to the behaviour of a colleague, which may be deemed detrimental to the profession and or other members.
• Members shall not claim to have qualification or credentials they have not earned. Neither shall they use designated letters to which they are not entitled. The title 'Dr.' shall not be used unless they have a bona fide Medical or Academic Qualification from a Medical or Educational Establishment.
• Members are required to disclose qualifications when requested and evidence of such qualification should be made available for inspection when necessary.
• Members shall disclose their terms and conditions and where appropriate their method of practice at the very beginning of therapy. The fees and length of therapeutic session(s) shall be disclosed even if the patient does not enquire about them at the first point of contact.
• Members shall endeavour to keep their patients' affairs confidential. Confidentiality shall only be breached without the patient's consent in exceptional circumstances. This breach shall be minimised by releasing only essential information pertinent to the immediate action. Members have a responsibility to their patient and to the community at large and shall work within the law.
• Members shall clearly explain patient confidentiality in the initial session.
• Members shall discuss ethical dilemmas with their clinical supervisor and/or other experienced and qualified therapists.
• Patients shall be informed if records of the sessions are kept and the degree of access patients and others have to them.
• Members shall accept that any patient referred to them by a Medical Practitioner remains the clinical responsibility of that Medical Practitioner and therefore shall keep that Medical Practitioner and other relevant agencies up to date with written report(s) of the patient's progress.
• Members shall under no circumstances advise their patients to discontinue any course of treatment as prescribed by a Registered Medical Practitioner.
• Members shall respect the integrity of other recognised health care professionals.
• Members shall consider the patient's best interest when making contact with the patient's GP, relevant psychiatric services, or other relevant professionals with the patient's knowledge. Members shall show an awareness of their limitations when seeking advice and the decision to treat, decline or refer the patient shall be made with the best interest of the patient in heart and in mind.
• Members shall monitor and recognise their own limits of competence through active personal development and or consultative support, clinical supervision, peer supervision, continuous professional development and patient feedback.
• Members using patient information for case studies, research, publications, or other purposes, shall seek patient's informed consent. Patient's identity shall be disguised to the extent they cannot be recognised by others.
• No member shall become or remain a member of any organisation that has been exposed to public scrutiny as dangerous or fraudulent or which in any way causes detriment to the profession of Hypnotherapy.
• Any member convicted in a court of law of any criminal offence or civil action by a patient, shall report the facts in writing to the BSCH. The individual shall consider him or herself suspended from the BSCH and or the LCCH pending a decision regarding membership by the Complaints Committee.
• Members shall ensure their professional work is adequately covered by appropriate indemnity insurance.
• A Complaints Procedure and Disqualification and Disciplinary Procedure are published by the BSCH. Members who break the Code of Ethics and Practice shall be liable to the Disqualification and Disciplinary Procedure.
• Members are required to bring their advertisements to public attention in a dignified and professional manner. The Executive Committee may appoint a Complaints Committee, at its discretion, to review any advertisement deemed unacceptable.
• The Executive Committee shall appoint a Complaints Committee who will have the power to interpret and enforce compliance with the Code of Ethics and Practice by all members.
• Members are required to sign a Code of Conduct based on the Code of Ethics and Practice.
  

4. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE 

• (a) The Executive Committee (EC) shall have the power to appoint a special Complaints Committee consisting of not less than five senior Members of the BSCH who are not Members of the EC and will investigate all complaints. The Complaints Committee shall have the power to request the Organising Secretary of the BSCH to report its findings and recommendations to the EC at its next available meeting.
• (b) The EC may at its discretion choose to delegate the responsibility of rule 4(a) to an outside professional body. 
• c) No Member of the EC, Disciplinary Committee (DC) or Complaints Committee shall be involved in any way with an investigation concerning him/herself. 
• (d) Members of the public with a complaint against any Member of the BSCH shall be requested to put that complaint in writing to the Organising Secretary of the BSCH who shall be obliged to lodge each complaint with the Complaints Committee. The Organising Secretary shall keep the complainant informed of each stage of the progress of the complaint with regular written reports. Please see contact details at the bottom of this page.
• (e) Should a complaint be upheld by the Complaints Committee the matter will be placed before the EC who shall have the power to: i. Censure the said Member ii. Impose a fixed period Suspension on said Member iii. Expel said Member under Rule 5(a) of this Constitution 

• (a) Should any Member be guilty in the opinion of the EC of a breach of the BSCH Code of Ethics, the EC may by resolution terminate his/her membership. The EC may under this rule delegate its powers to a Disciplinary Committee of no fewer than five members of the BSCH of whom at least one shall be a Member of the EC, and of whom three shall form a quorum. 
• (b) Notice of intention to propose a resolution for his/her removal from membership shall be given to a Member whose conduct is in question at least fifteen days prior to the date of the meeting at which such resolution is to be proposed, and the Member shall be entitled to attend and be heard at any such meeting and shall be entitled to appeal against any decision of the EC or DC to an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the BSCH called for that purpose, but if such an appeal be lost the appellant shall bear the costs of such Extraordinary General Meeting at which the appeal was heard together with the cost of notices. The EC or DC shall have the power to request estimated costs of such an appeal to be deposited into the bank account of the BSCH before official notices are posted for an EGM . 
• (d) Failure to comply with Rule 3(j) of the BSCH Code of Ethics shall result in the Members' immediate expulsion from the BSCH. Members shall have the right of appeal to the EC and this appeal must be made in writing to the Organising Secretary of the BSCH and be made no more than 15 days after receiving notification of the judgment. Members shall accept that the decision of the EC regarding rule 5(d) of this Constitution is final. There shall be no right of appeal under this rule to an EGM . 
• (e) Organisations referred to in Rule 3(j) of the BSCH Code of Ethics shall be proscribed by resolution of the EC. Proscribed Organisations shall have the right to request a change in their status in the form of a written request to the Organising Secretary of the BSCH who will then place the matter before the EC who shall consider the request at their next meeting. Such Organisations shall have the right to attend and be heard at this meeting and have the right to appeal against the decision of the EC by requesting an EGM of the BSCH called for that purpose, but if such an appeal be lost the Proscribed Organisation shall bear all costs of such an EGM at which the appeal was heard together with the cost of the notices. The EC shall request that estimated costs of such an appeal are deposited into the bank account of the BSCH before official notices are posted for an EGM. 

The BSCH considers its Membership as belonging to those persons who are engaged in the practice of Hypnotherapy and who shall comprise one of the following categories: 

• (a) Affiliate Membership shall be conferred on students who are currently studying for their Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis with a training organisation approved by the EC of the BSCH. Said students shall be under clinical supervision and shall be able to obtain Professional Indemnity Insurance. Affiliates shall be entitled to use the letters BSCH (Affil). 
• (b) Associate Membership shall be automatically available to persons who are holders of the Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis from a training organisation approved by the EC. Such Membership shall carry the designating letters BSCH (Assoc).
• (c) Full Membership shall be open to persons who are holders of the Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis from a training organisation approved by the EC and who have obtained such a Practitoner Diploma as shall be determined by resolution of the EC. Full Members are entitled to use the designating letters MBSCH. 
• (d) Diplomate Membership shall be open to those who have met the requirements for Full Membership and have also completed any additional requirements set by the BSCH (e.g. Examination, Dissertation, etc.,). The designated letters shall be DBSCH. 
• (e) Fellowship may be conferred upon Members who have given distinguished service to the profession or the BSCH. Such Fellowship shall carry the designating letters FBSCH. The awards of Fellowship shall at all times be at the discretion of the EC with a maximum of four such Fellowships being awarded in any one year. 
• (f) Honorary Membership may be conferred, by agreement of EC, on persons who are not Members of the BSCH but who are genuinely associated with the profession and the work of the BSCH. Honorary Membership shall carry no designating letters. 

• (a) Members of the BSCH shall also be entitled to be registered for referral of patients. Such Members shall be entitled to refer to themselves as "Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist". No designating letters accompany this title. 
• (b) The Register shall be known as the "British Society Register of Clinical Hypnotherapists". 
• (c) Diplomate, Full and Associate Members who wish to be included on the British Society Register of Clinical Hypnotherapists shall be required to pay an annual administration fee, set by the EC, to include a new membership certificate showing that they are currently practising and validated for that year. Fellows shall be admitted to the register free of charge. 
• (d) Members on the register will be required to provide evidence of suitable professional indemnity insurance, providing cover of up to at least £1m when renewing their registration. 

• (a) Members will be required to pay a once only lifetime Membership fee which will be set by the EC. 
• (b) Affiliate Membership of the BSCH shall be for the period of Diploma study. 
• (c) Associate, Full, Diplomateand Fellow grades of Membership shall be for life. 
• (d) Honourary membership of the BSCH shall be gratuitous throughout the period of Membership.
• (e) All members except Fellow and Honourary may register annually; fee set by the EC. 

9. EDUCATION  and CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• (a) The BSCH recognises any training college approved by the EC of the BSCH.
• (b) There is a required minimum of 16 hours of CPD undertaken during the registration year.  

10. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

• (a) The affairs of the BSCH shall be managed by an Executive Committee (EC) of the BSCH, such Officers being Full Members, Diplomates, or Fellows of the BSCH.
• (b) The Officers of the BSCH shall be as follows: i. there shall be a President and one Vice President of the BSCH. At the second, and at each subsequent, Annual General Meeting the BSCH membership shall elect a President, one Vice President, and not less than three Committee Members for the ensuing year of which four will form a quorum. ii. there shall be an Organising Secretary, who because of the specific relationship between the BSCH and the London College of Clinical Hypnosis shall be a representative of the London College of Clinical Hypnosis. This person shall be appointed by the Director(s) of the London College of Clinical Hypnosis and such appointment shall be accepted by the EC. iii. there shall be a Chairperson of the EC who will chair all Meetings of the EC and the AGM. The Chair is elected by and from the EC. iv. there shall be a Treasurer who shall be elected by and from the EC. This role may also be assumed by the Organising Secretary. v. there shall be a representative from Scotland on the EC appointed by the EC and called Vice President for Scotland. 
• (c) The EC shall meet not less than two times per annum, at such times as shall be fixed by the EC and at such places as the President or the EC shall appoint. At each such meeting of the EC either the President, Vice President or the Chair shall be in attendance for a quorum. 
• (d) should any Member of the EC fail to attend three successive Committee Meetings he/she will be removed from the EC. 
• (e) in order to preserve the BSCH as a united body there shall be only one central body of the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Members are permitted to join together as an informal branch of the BSCH but are not permitted to appoint any Officers for their branch. 

• (a) The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the BSCH shall take place each year on a date to be decided by the EC. 
• b) The attendance of 20 Full and/or Associate Members personally present at the AGM shall constitute a quorum. 
• (c) The Chairperson of the EC (or in his/her absence the Organising Secretary) shall preside at the AGM in the capacity of Chair. 
• (d) Each Full Member, Diplomate, and Fellow shall be permitted to place Resolutions before the Members at the AGM. Resolutions must be submitted in writing to the Organising Secretary not less than one month before the AGM. 
• (e) Voting at the Annual General Meeting shall be as follows: Each Full Member, Associate Member, Diplomate, and Fellow shall be permitted one vote on each Resolution placed before the Meeting, subject to their being fully paid-up Members at the time of the Meeting. 
• (f) Normally, voting at an AGM shall be permitted from attending Members only, but a Member unable to attend may appoint a proxy to vote on his/her behalf, such proxy to be in writing. Note: Any proposals affecting the Rules, Aims and Objects of the BSCH, i.e. as given in Sections 1 to 15 of this Constitution, shall not be dealt with at the Annual General Meeting but will be dealt with in accordance with Section 13. 

• (a) No Motion shall be discussed until it has been proposed and seconded. 
• (b) When a Motion has been proposed and seconded it shall be put from the Chair and discussion thereon invited by the Chair. 
• (c) No Member shall speak to the same question more than once except as provided in paragraph (h) of this Rule. 
• (d) At any time after discussion has been invited and before the Motion has been put to the vote any Member who has not previously spoken in the debate may propose an Amendment. 
• (e) No Amendment shall be entertained until it has been proposed and seconded. 
• (f) When an Amendment has been proposed and seconded it shall be put from the Chair and then the debate may proceed on the Amendment and the original Motion together. 
• (g) No second Amendment may be moved whilst an Amendment is before the Meeting. 
• (h) A Member who has spoken to the original Motion may speak again to the Amendment. 
• (i) When the debate on an Amendment is concluded the Chair shall put the Amendment to the vote. If the Amendment is rejected, the original Motion shall again be put and another Amendment may be moved. 
• (j) If the Amendment is carried the Motion as amended shall be put from the Chair and further Amendments may be moved. 
• (k) Votes shall be taken by a show of hands, the hands being counted by the Chair and Organising Secretary unless a majority of those present request a secret vote. 
• (l) In case the voting is equal the Senior Officer present shall have a second or casting vote. 
• (m) Upon the demand, made before the count, of any two Members present, unless the meeting has requested a secret vote, the names of the Members voting and their votes shall be taken down, and entered in the Minutes. 

• (a) Any proposal affecting the Rules, Aims and Objects of the BSCH must be notified in writing to the Organising Secretary who will then place the matter before the EC at its next meeting. 
• (b) Having discussed the matter, the EC, if it considers it of sufficient importance, may conduct a postal ballot of all fully subscribed Members. 
• (c) Two-thirds of the Membership voting in favour of a proposal shall be required in order to secure a majority. 

• (a) The EC shall ensure that proper books relating to the Accounts of the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis are kept either by the Treasurer or the Organising Secretary and a Revenue Account and Balance Sheet shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting each year.
• (b) No Member of the BSCH is permitted in any respect to pledge the credit of the BSCH. 
• (c) The funds of the BSCH shall be kept in a current account of an established Bank and a deposit account may be kept at the same Bank. Cheques drawn on current account of the BSCH shall require two out of the three signatures of the President, Organising Secretary and Treasurer. 
• (d) The BSCH shall pay all expenses incurred by its Officers in the execution of their duties or when travelling on the business of the BSCH, such expenses to be paid at the discretion of the EC. 
• (e) The EC shall act gratuitously but the Organising Secretary may receive an annual honourarium, such honourarium being fixed by the EC and to be shown in the Balance Sheet each year. 
• (f) The BSCH will raise funds through the initial one only life membership fee and through lectures, seminars, or any other fund raising activity deemed appropriate by the EC. 

The EC shall have power to appoint an Accountant and Auditor to perform such duties and functions in relation to the BSCH's Accounts and Balance Sheet that may be desired by the BSCH, and the charges of the Accountant in this respect shall be paid by the BSCH. 

16. SOLICITOR TO THE BSCH The EC shall have power to appoint a Solicitor to perform such legal duties and functions as may be desired by the EC, and the charges for the Solicitor in this respect shall be payable by the BSCH. 

All correspondence in respect of the BSCH and its members should be addressed to: 

The Organising Secretary
125 Queensgate
Bridlington 
East Yorkshire YO16 7JQ
Tel: 01262 403103
email: sec@bsch.org.uk 

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