About The Psychologists Protection Society Trust

The Psychologists Protection Society Trust is a defence organisation, run for the benefit of members – counsellors, psychologists and psychotherapists working in the talking and listening therapies. As a not-for-profit organisation, the Trust is run by therapists, for therapists.  PPS was established in 1974 and has approximately 6000 members resident in The United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

The Purpose of the Trust

The PPS Trust is here to protect and defend our members and support them when they face a professional claim against them.

The Trust has four core objectives:

1. To provide education and advice to practitioners in the talking and listening therapy services to promote high standards of professional practice.
2. To promote, support and protect the character, honour, interests and reputation of practitioners in the talking and listening therapy services.
3. To provide financial, legal and/or other professional assistance to members when complaints are received from their clients.
4. To provide assistance to members when damages and costs are awarded by a court, or where a settlement is made out of court.

You can find full details in our Articles of Association, which are available on request.

The Role of the Board of Trustees

• Help to shape the future of the Trust
• Help your fellow professionals and students
• Trustees work in a voluntary unpaid capacity
• Typically 4 or 5 hours per month
• Trustees may attend conferences & events on behalf of PPS
• Expenses reimbursed whilst carrying out duties of the Trust
• Most meetings and correspondence are done using a secure online environment or by telephone conference

The Board of Trustees is made up of current PPS members, who are fellow professionals from the talking and listening therapies. They are volunteers who are either elected from the current membership roll or appointed to the Board for the specific skills and experience they bring (co-opted Trustees). They are directors of The Psychologists Protection Society Trust, a company limited by guarantee, and take on the responsibilities of company directors for the financial well-being of the company.

Our current Trustees bring their extensive knowledge and professional experience to their role to assist members who find themselves in difficulties. They are practicing professionals or retirees who want to give something back to their fellow professionals.  Trainee PPS Members can also join the Board to give their student colleagues a voice. Trustees provide therapy-related professional advice when necessary, oversee any Members Professional Protection claims and PPS Discretionary Trust Fund requests for assistance. So, as a member of PPS, you have the reassurance that any claim you make will be managed by fellow professionals who have an understanding of the field of talking and listening therapies.

The current Trustees are drawn from across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Board meetings are held via teleconference every four to six weeks and the Board meets in person at least once a year, usually at our Annual General Meeting.

Elections to the Board are held every year. If you are interested in becoming a trustee, we’d love to hear from you.

PPS Trustee – Katrina Millhagen on the role of a PPS Trustee

Current Board of Trustees..

• Catherine McMaster (Chair)
• Sally Aldridge (Vice-Chair)
• Sharron Grainger (Secretary)
• Anne Martin
• Katrina Millhagen
• Terry Cromey
• Emer McDonagh
• Pamela Custers