The way we carry out our regulator reviews is changing.
During 2021 we carried out two consultations to help us to do this. We fine-tuned our proposals as a result of comments received to our first consultation and then carried out a further consultation between October and December 2021, asking for feedback on three key areas:
- Moving from an annual process to one where we look in detail periodically, with ongoing monitoring in between to maintain our oversight
- Our proposals for setting this period as a three-year cycle
- The factors we will take into account when deciding whether we need to look in more depth at a regulator’s performance.
Respondents broadly supported our proposals. Following approval from our Board, we are moving to a three-year cycle for reviews. We are introducing this new process for the 2021/22 review year onwards – and plan to publish the first report during summer 2022.
Today we are publishing the results of this second consultation. The report details the responses received to each question and how we responded. It also outlines next steps, including how we plan to take our new process forward.
Alan Clamp, Chief Executive of the Professional Standards Authority said:
“Our new approach to performance reviews is the culmination of significant development work and consultation with stakeholders. It takes account of feedback we have received about improvements we can make to what we do, along with our own analysis of our work. I am pleased we received widespread support for our proposals and that we are able to implement these changes swiftly.
"The new approach will enable us to achieve our goal of continuing to provide robust oversight of the regulators and their work to protect the public, while being more risk-based and proportionate in our approach.”
You can find the full report or more details about the performance review consultations here. We have also published our equality impact assessment.
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. The 10 regulators we oversee are: the General Chiropractic Council, General Dental Council, General Medical Council, General Optical Council, General Osteopathic Council, General Pharmaceutical Council, Health and Care Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and Social Work England.
- 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 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