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Last updated 19th March 2026.
This document outlines the Terms & Conditions and Research Governance Framework for the Sexology and Psychotherapy Applied Research Centre (SPARC).
SPARC operates as a formally constituted research centre within the Institute of Psychosexual Psychotherapy’s governance framework, maintaining appropriate autonomy for research activities while ensuring institutional accountability and legal compliance.
SPARC operates with awareness of ethical frameworks established by UKCP, COSRT, BACP, HCPC, BPS, and equivalent professional and regulatory bodies. This supports practitioner-researchers across counselling, psychotherapy, applied psychology, and specialist sex and relationship therapy in navigating professional and ethical requirements while maintaining independent research governance.
SPARC’s governance is informed by established research integrity frameworks, including UKRIO guidance and the Concordat to Support Research Integrity. This is demonstrated through structured research governance, ethics procedures, and ongoing review processes.
All research undergoes mandatory ethics committee review using structured application procedures, risk assessment, and monitoring protocols informed by established academic research governance frameworks.
The Ethics Committee operates with independent decision-making and includes internal and external professional representation. Its function is to ensure participant welfare, ethical integrity, and proportionate review of research activity.
Where appropriate, researchers are supported in seeking additional ethical approval from university or institutional ethics committees, particularly for collaborative academic or clinical research.
SPARC recognises the ethical complexities of practitioner-led research where clinical practice and research intersect. Safeguards include:
Researchers must:
Responsibility for determining scope of practice remains with the individual researcher.
Research involving forensic, safeguarding, or high-risk contexts includes:
All research activities adhere to UK data protection legislation, including:
Policies include:
Membership operates on a 12-month subscription basis, with clearly defined access to research infrastructure, supervision, and CPD.
Membership complies with UK consumer law, including:
CPD certificates are issued for professional development purposes only and do not constitute formal accreditation by UKCP, COSRT, BACP, HCPC, BPS, or any regulatory body. Members remain responsible for ensuring CPD meets their professional requirements.
SPARC provides governance, support, and infrastructure for research but does not act as the legal sponsor of research projects unless explicitly agreed in writing.
Support may include:
Policies govern:
SPARC operates on a not-for-profit basis, with income reinvested into research infrastructure, governance, and practitioner support.
Funding activities adhere to:
SPARC supports research quality through:
All practitioner-researchers are responsible for maintaining appropriate professional indemnity insurance that explicitly includes cover for research activities.
Where practitioners are engaged in clinical, supervisory, or research activity under SPARC governance, insurance policies must clearly state that research activity is included within the scope of cover. Policies that reference psychotherapy, psychosexual therapy, supervision, or teaching alone are not sufficient unless research activity is explicitly included.
SPARC reserves the right to request evidence of current and appropriate indemnity insurance at any stage of membership or research activity. Failure to provide adequate evidence may result in suspension or withdrawal of access to SPARC services.
For practitioners not currently in private practice or without existing indemnity insurance, SPARC can provide guidance and signposting to appropriate and affordable insurance providers.
SPARC provides governance and support only and accepts no liability for individual research conduct, clinical practice, or any outcomes arising from member activity. Responsibility for professional conduct, scope of practice, and risk management remains with the individual researcher.
Concerns may be raised via:
All complaints are handled with:
This framework operates under English law and complies with:
SPARC maintains transparent and independent relationships with professional and regulatory bodies, including UKCP, COSRT, BACP, HCPC, BPS, and equivalent organisations. SPARC recognises their regulatory and professional roles while operating as an independent research centre.
Policies are reviewed regularly to ensure alignment with:
Policy updates may involve:
SPARC operates as a specialist research centre supporting practitioner-led applied research through structured governance and ethical oversight. Its framework is informed by recognised research integrity principles and supports high-quality, ethically grounded research across psychotherapy, counselling, applied psychology, and specialist sex and relationship therapy.