HCPC Subgroup Blog - March 2025

1. Fitness to Practise (FtP) 

The society is hosting another FtP webinar this year. We are hoping to have contributions from society members, the HCPC, a professional indemnity insurer, the Professional Standards Authority, Unite the Union and a partner of a legal firm involved in FTP cases. 

If there are any themes/topics you wish to see on this webinar, please contact [email protected]. 

We continue to receive a small number of enquiries from members related to registration and FtP.  The Society has been able to provide clarification about processes and timescales for decision-making.

For members who receive a letter about their fitness to practice we very strongly recommend:

• talking to your professional indemnity insurer
• talking to your trade union representative. 

before you respond to the HCPC.

Self-Referral

Many registrants submit an unnecessary self-referral.

For members considering self-referral we very strongly recommend you contact your professional indemnity insurer or your trade union representative before contacting the HCPC.  

Fitness to Practice Data Analysis 23-24

HCPC published their FtP supplementary analysis 2023-24 at the end of last year and provided some preliminary data analysis to inform stakeholders and the public about this work. The professions with the two highest rates of complaint are, Paramedics (the  highest) and Practitioner Psychologists, and they accounted for 40% of the total number of registrants with one or more FtP concerns in this period.

FtP Issues

The Society regularly meet with the HCPC.  If you wish to raise any feedback or issues please contact [email protected]

2. HCPC Preceptorship guidance non-NHS settings

We are still waiting to hear from the HCPC.  Volunteers are keen to work with the HCPC particularly those employed outside of health and social care settings.

3. HCPC Employer engagement

HCPC hosted their first CPD week to showcase resources, sharing good practice and publishing materials designed to support registrants with their CPD, the Society contributed to this with reference to our CPD resources and our own CPD platform BPS Learn. 

Again, we trust to have further details on this HCPC campaign soon. We have provided a list of employers outside of health and social care settings.  Our HCPC stakeholder liaison officer has written to these employers informing them about HCPC and the role of the Council to raise awareness of the importance of registration.

Sexual safety work is still ongoing, HCPC are looking for comms/resources on best practice employers to be highlighted by the HCPC, the Society have provided this. HCPC have the sexual safety hub on their website now, the FtP report discussed this in December at the Professional Body Forum. 

4. Standards of Education and Training (SETS)

The HCPC's Standards of Education and Training, has begun. This is a major piece of work for the HCPC. We are contributing to this important piece of work and have recently submitted feedback on their short survey. The formal consultation is due in Summer 2025. 

5. PSA Update

The PSA is currently consulting on its Standards of Good Regulation and Standards for Accredited Registers to assess whether they are still fit for purpose and ensure they effectively protect the public and uphold professional standards. 

The consultation responses received will be considered and used to develop the PSA's approach going forward, which could include introducing new Standards on areas such as culture, governance or duty of candour, or the removal or simplification of current standards. The Society will be responding to the consultation.

6. Practitioner Psychologist renewal window 1 March 2025 to 31 May 2025

There has been a 46.6% renewal rate in March so far, we are due to receive further updates on this from the HCPC. Please could you renew your registration before the May deadline, as failing to do so means you can not continue to practice.

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