Introducing our updated Standards for regulators and Accredited Registers

This month, we have published our updated and combined Standards for the organisations we oversee and accredit.  

The Standards set out our expectations when assessing the performance of the professional healthcare regulators and the voluntary registers we accredit through our Accredited Registers programme. They play an important role in promoting systems of professional regulation and registration that operate in ways that protect patients and the public. 

The updated Standards are the result of extensive engagement with stakeholders. They reflect what we heard through consultation and our experience of overseeing professional regulation across the health and care sector. 

Our aim has been to create a framework that is clearer, more consistent and more focused on the outcomes that matter most – protecting the public and maintaining confidence in health and care professions.  

This reflects the principles set out in our updated Right-touch regulation, published last October, which emphasises the importance of the key areas highlighted in the revised Standards. 

Clearer and more accessible expectations 

One of the most significant changes we have made is improving the clarity and accessibility of the Standards. 

We have refined and streamlined the framework to make our expectations of the regulators and Accredited Registers easier to understand and apply. Clear standards help organisations make better decisions, encourage transparency and support a shared understanding of what good regulation and registration look like in practice. 

This clarity also makes the Standards more accessible to a wider audience, including professionals, patients and members of the public who want to understand how regulation works and what they should expect from it. 

One set of Standards across our work 

For the first time, we now have a single set of Standards covering both regulators and Accredited Registers. 

These organisations operate in different ways and have different powers. Professional regulators have statutory responsibilities, while Accredited Registers are voluntary to join. However, both play an important role in supporting safe and effective practice. 

By aligning our expectations across both, we are providing greater consistency in how we assess organisations and how we promote good regulatory practice. 

Strong governance and leadership 

The updated Standards place enhanced expectations on governance and leadership. 

Effective regulation depends on organisations having strong oversight, clear accountability and leadership that understands the risks associated with their work. Boards and senior leaders must be able to identify emerging issues, respond appropriately to concerns and ensure that learning is embedded across their organisations. 

Strong governance helps create cultures that support transparency, learning and continuous improvement. 

A stronger focus on risk and safeguarding 

Reducing the risk of harm to patients and the public is central to effective professional regulation. 

The updated Standards reinforce expectations around risk-based decision-making and the evidence organisations should use to inform their work. This includes clearer expectations around safeguarding and the checks that may be needed to assess professional suitability. 

Through our oversight work, we will continue to assess how regulators and Accredited Registers identify risks, manage concerns about practitioners and maintain appropriate safeguards to protect the public throughout a professional’s career. 

Supporting collaboration across the regulatory landscape 

Health and care regulation operates within a complex system. Risks to patients and the public can sometimes arise when information is not shared or when concerns are not addressed early enough. 

The updated Standards encourage stronger collaboration and information-sharing across the regulatory landscape. By working together and addressing issues at the earliest appropriate stage, organisations can help reduce the likelihood of problems escalating and support better outcomes for the public. 

What happens next 

From 1 July 2026, the updated Standards will form the basis of how we assess the organisations we oversee and accredit. 

We will continue working closely with regulators and Accredited Registers as the new framework is implemented. Our aim is to support organisations in understanding our expectations and to promote continuous improvement across the regulatory system. 

Strong, effective professional regulation and registration are key parts of protecting patients and the public, and maintaining public confidence in health and care professions. Our updated Standards are designed to support these goals by providing a clearer, more consistent framework for the organisations responsible for regulating and registering health and care professionals.