Press Release

Health Professions Council launches Standards of Proficiency Consultation

6 October 2006

The Health Professions Council (HPC) has launched a three month consultation about its Standards of Proficiency.

The HPC published the Standards of Proficiency for the first 12 professions it regulates in 2003. The standards are set at a threshold level and play a central role in entry to the Register. The HPC visits education providers to ensure that their courses achieve the learning outcomes set out in the standards. The standards are also used to consider cases of lack of competence as part of the HPC’s fitness to practise process.

A Professional Liaison Group (PLG) was established to review the standards. The group met to consider whether any changes to the standards were necessary. They considered information from a variety of sources, including education providers, registration assessors (who assess international and grandparenting applications against the standards) and professional bodies.

The HPC are now consulting on the revision of their standards and would welcome your response to this consultation, in particular:

1. Do you think the introduction clearly explains the role and purpose of the standards?
2. Do you agree with the changes the HPC have made to the existing standards?
3. Do you think any additional standards are necessary?
4. Do you think any standards are redundant?
5. Do you think there are any standards which might be reworded?

The Council is consulting with a variety of stakeholders, including professional bodies, employers, higher education institutions and others with an interest in the HPC’s work. The HPC would like to invite any individual or organisation with an interest in these issues to respond to this consultation.

Rachel Tripp, Director of Policy & Standards said “We are looking forward to listening to registrant and stakeholder views on the Standards of Proficiency consultation, and updating the standards to reflect the diverse roles and settings in which HPC registrants practise.

"Anyone who wishes to take part in the consultations and have their views heard, can write to us with their comments by post or email. We look forward to hearing a variety of views and ideas over the coming months."

The consultation will run until Friday 12 January 2006