HCPC Subgroup Blog March 2024

1. Fitness to Practise (FtP)

The society will be hosting a FTP webinar on 31 May. There will be contrinbutions from society members, the HCPC, Professional Standards Authority, Unite the Union and a solicitor involved in FTP cases.  A plenary session will conclude the event. Further details will be available soon from the society's events page. 

We continue to receive a small number of enquiries from members related registration and FTP.  The society has been able, via our dedicated HCPC liaison manager, to either provide clarification and in most cases resolve the matter entirely. 

2. HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (SCPEs), and Social Media  

The revised Standards of Conduct Performance and Ethics have been approved by HCPC's Council.  The revised Standards come into effect on 1 September 2024. 

3. Introduction to the UK Workforce for Practitioner Psychologists

The society hosted a webinar with contributions from members and the HCPC for newly registered psychologists who completed their training overseas.  Over 80 attendees heard about support available to them. 

4. HCPC Perceptorship guidance non- NHS settings

Following our consultation submission – we will be working with the HCPC on psychology specific guidance concerning preceptorship related to non-nhs settings.  More detail to follow. 

5. HCPC Employer engagement 

The HCPC will shortly launch their engagement with employers campaign.  This will be linked to CPD – HCPC are currently updating/refreshing their CPD content for registrants.  The HCPC's Professional Liaison Team will be leading on the engagement campaign.  We have provided a list of employers outside of health and social care settings - the campaign is geared up to specifically focus on employers in non-NHS settings.  There will be webinars to support the campaign, employers will be invited to attend. 

6. Standards of Education and Training (SETS)

The HCPC's Standards of Education and Training, pre-engagement work will begin later this month (March 2024).  This will be a major piece of work for the HCPC during 2024. We will be contributing to this important piece of work. 

7. Tone of voice review

HCPC's tone of voice review which is attempting to improve the quality and sensitivity of communication with registrants has been completed for FTP correspondence.  Phase 2 related to registration letters in on going.

8. HCPC FTP Registrant Support Helpline

The FtP registrant support helpline was launched at the end of April 2023. Please see here for further details FTP registrant support service | (hcpc-uk.org)

9. English language proficiency

The society responded to this consultation.  Please see Consultation responses | BPS

10. BPS Response – PSA review of HCPC Perfornance 2023

The society responded to this consultation.  Please see Consultation responses | BPS

11. PSA draft Accepted Outcomes and Rulemaking guidance

The society would be responding to this important PSA consultation, which is welcomed.  Concerns were expressed about the existing investigation process and whether this would be improved by the new accepted outcomes process.  Case examiners would play a pivotal role in accepted outcomes. This would be a new role with significant powers.

12. Communications

We continue to meet with HCPC colleagues on a regular basis and raise matters that have been drawn to our attention by members. 

Please contact [email protected] if there are areas of improvement we can work on with the HCPC.