We have published our Annual Report and Accounts for 2022/23. There is no doubt that it has been a busy and challenging year for both individuals and organisations working in health and care, including the regulators and Accredited Registers we oversee.
Our annual report documents how we have carried out our statutory duties, as well as continuing to press for regulatory reform and promoting the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in health and social care. However, although the report lists a great deal of activity, it does not paint the picture of the ‘work that goes on behind the scenes’. This includes our work reviewing the regulators and how they are meeting our standards of good regulation as well as checking the regulators’ final fitness to practise decisions (and appealing them where we believe it is necessary for public protection).
The Accredited Registers team has also been very busy this year implementing the work started in 2021 as part of our Strategic Review of the programme. We also accredited two new registers during the year. In addition we carried out two consultations: one on introducing a new EDI Standard for Accredited Registers and one on strengthening the approach to safeguarding within the programme. As a result, we are introducing a new EDI Standard during this year and will be publishing a report on the results of the safeguarding consultation later this Summer.
We published our report – Safer care for all in September 2022. Publishing the report was just the start of the journey and we hope that through cooperation and collaboration with others in the sector, regulation can contribute to addressing some of the huge challenges the health and care sector is facing.
During 2022/23, we also consulted on a draft of our Strategic Plan. The plan sets out our vision, mission and aims for the next three years (2023 to 2026). We asked stakeholders for input and subsequently published the consultation’s outcome as well as the plan on 25 May 2023.
The PSA’s Chair, Caroline Corby said: ‘It has been a busy and productive year for the PSA. As we look forward to 2023/24 and beyond, we remain as committed as ever to improving regulation and registration to protect the public.’
ENDS
Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care
Contact: media@professionalstandards.org.uk
Notes to the Editor
- The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK.
- We assess their performance and report to Parliament. We also conduct audits and investigations and can appeal fitness to practise cases to the courts if we consider that sanctions are insufficient to protect the public and it is in the public interest.
- We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
- We share good practice and knowledge, conduct research and introduce new ideas to our sector. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally and provide advice on issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
- We do this to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of users of health and social care services and the public. We are an independent body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
- Our report Safer care for all was launched at a parliamentary reception on 6 September 2022.
- The consultation on the draft Strategic Plan 2023-26 ran from 8 December 2022 to 24 February 2023. The findings of the consultation were considered by our Board and the Plan was then updated to take account of feedback and this discussion. In accordance with requirements under our legislation, the Strategic Plan was laid before Parliament, on 26 April 2023.
- Our values are – integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and teamwork – and we strive to ensure that they are at the core of our work.
- More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk