Health Professions Council meeting summary Thursday 20 May 2010

20 May 2010

This is a summary of the decisions made at the Council held on Thursday 20 May. The full agenda and papers are available on our website at: www.hpc-uk.org/aboutus/council/councilmeetings_archive

Full minutes of the meeting will be published as part of the papers for the next Council meeting.

Health Professional Regulators' Register
In a report published by the CHRE, variations between the regulators in terms of the information provided by the online registers were identified. The Council discussed the recommendations arising from the report and agreed that a further paper on the implications of including information on the Register on suspended and struck off registrants be submitted to a future meeting of Council.

Building the National Care Service
The White Paper "Building the National Care Service" included proposals for the licensing of social care workers and healthcare support workers. The Council considered the implications of the White Paper on the HPC and agreed that no action could be taken until such time as the new Government had given a clear direction on statutory regulation going forward.

Whistleblowing Policy
The Council considered whether the HPC should provide formal advice to its registrants on whistleblowing in the workplace. The Council agreed that formal published guidance in addition to existing HPC standards and guidance was not necessary, and alternative forms of advice should be given to registrants.

Appointment of Registrant Assessors
Article 36 of the Health Professions Order 2001 ("the Order") enables the Council to appoint HPC registrants with appropriate expertise as "registrant assessors" to give advice to Practice Committees on "matters of professional practice arising in connection with any matter" which the panel is considering.

The Fitness to Practise Department is currently implementing the use of registrant assessors in the investigation of allegations. The Council agreed the policy for the appointment of registrant assessors. The power to appoint registrant assessors is delegated to the Chief Executive under the scheme of delegation, subject to "any appointments process established by the Council".

Partner Code of Conduct
Council approved a revised Code of Conduct for Partners which will make compliance with the Code of Conduct a contractual obligation.

Changes to the "absence and sickness policy" and other HR policies
Council considered and approved a revised "absence and sickness policy" and other small amendments to HR policies.

Annual report
The Council approved the text for the front section of the Health Professions Council 2009-2010 annual report.

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