HPC In Focus. Revalidation continuing fitness to practise. Health Professions Council Newsletter, Issue 12, August 2007

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1 HPC In Focus Health Professions Council Newsletter, Issue 12, August 2007 INSIDE PAGE Note from the Editor 1 Revalidation continuing fitness to practise Renewal reminder! 2 Behind the scenes at HPC 3 HPC Listening Events COT annual conference and exhibition Come and see us at 4 Professor Diane Waller awarded OBE New Council members 5 FTP case study: OT suspended Fitness to practise hearings 6 Dates for your diary 8 Welcome to Issue 12 of HPC In Focus. We have again been busy over the last two months, running Listening Events in Dumfries and Lancaster (page 3), exhibiting in Manchester, and processing renewals (page 2). We welcome three new members to Council and congratulate Diane Waller on receiving an OBE (page 4). We also have an update on what goes on behind the scenes in our Education Approvals and Monitoring Department (page 3). Finally, we would like to extend our thanks to all those who completed a newsletter feedback form (sent out with our last edition). We are currently collating responses and will update you on the review in our next issue. Once again, we hope you find this issue of the newsletter interesting and look forward to receiving any feedback you may wish to provide. Philippa Richardson, Editor This newsletter and previous issues can be downloaded from the website at: To have it sent straight to your inbox, please newsletter@hpc-uk.org Revalidation continuing fitness to practise In April s edition of HPC In Focus we reported that the government had released a White Paper reporting its findings following an in-depth review about the future of healthcare regulation. Trust, Assurance and Safety The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21 st Century will have a direct impact on us and the health professionals we regulate. Revalidation The White Paper recommended that all health professionals should be subject to some kind of check on their continued fitness to practise. This is often known as revalidation. When the Department of Health in England consulted last year, following a review of non-medical regulation, we raised a number of points about revalidation. We do not believe the case for revalidation of non-medical healthcare professionals has been made convincingly HPC, November 2006 In particular, we noted that some questions remained unanswered, including: What is the definition of revalidation? What risks does revalidation aim to minimise or mitigate? What is the outcome of the revalidation process? Continuing fitness to practise professional liaison group We will continue to work with the Departments of Health in the home countries as the White Paper s recommendations are scrutinised further. We are also establishing a working group, known as a professional liaison group or PLG to explore the issues around continuing fitness to practise. We have used this term rather than revalidation to refer to all steps taken by regulators, employers, health professionals and others which are supportive of maintaining fitness to practise beyond the point of initial registration. This includes, but is not limited to, revalidation. The members of the PLG will be drawn from our Council, as well as from employers, other regulators, patient groups and professional bodies. Setting up a PLG is an effective way in which we can explore this area in more detail and benefit from the expertise of our stakeholders. The work of the PLG will include looking at existing good practice in the nonmedical professions and exploring more closely the issues raised in the White Paper. The first meeting of the PLG is due to take place in October 2007.

2 2 Health Professions Council Newsletter, Issue 12, August 2007 Further information You can download our response to the Department of Health review of non-medical regulation from our website at : A copy of the White Paper is available to download from the Department of Health s website: If you have any questions or comments about this work, please contact the Policy and Standards Department by policy@hpc-uk.org We will keep you updated about this work in future editions of the newsletter. Renewal reminder! The professions listed below are due to renew their HPC registration later this year. Registrants will be lapsed on these dates if we have not received their completed renewal forms and payment. If you are lapsed your name will no longer appear on the HPC Register. Profession Orthoptists Paramedics Clinical scientists Prosthetists / orthotists Speech and language therapists Occupational therapists Biomedical scientists Renewal cut-off /lapsing date 31 August 31 August 30 September 30 September 30 September 31 October 30 November To check your registration status, please see the online Register via our website: It has been encouraging to see the number of lapsed health professionals decrease since the first round of registration renewals in We are committed to working towards further reducing the number of registrants who find their registration has lapsed, but we need health professionals to work with us to ensure that this happens. We will send registrants a renewal form approximately three months before their current registration is due to expire. This document must be signed and returned to the HPC by the date specified on the renewal form, with a payment - unless a direct debit instruction is in place. Even if you do pay by direct debit, you will still need to sign your renewal form. There are several ways you can help make sure your name stays on the HPC Register. Call the HPC Registration Department now if you have changed your home address. Send your renewal form (and payment) to us well before the deadline. Check the online Register via our website ( after you have sent your renewal form to ensure that you are showing as registered for the next two-year registration cycle. Call us if there s a problem. You can help your colleagues stay registered too! Encourage them to sign up to this newsletter by ing: newsletter@hpc-uk.org If you know someone who needs to renew remind them. The UK Registration team can be contacted Monday to Friday, 8am 6pm on our lo-call number (if calling from within the UK) or +44 (0)

3 3 Health Professions Council Newsletter, Issue 12, August 2007 Behind the scenes at HPC Education Approvals and Monitoring Department The Education Approvals and Monitoring Department takes care of all the pre-registration training programmes in the UK. There are currently over 400 approved programmes, across the 13 professions and each year, new programmes seek approval for the first time. We approve programmes to ensure that UK graduates have the education to meet our standards of proficiency (on completion of their approved programme) and are therefore eligible to apply for HPC registration. Since September 2006, we have visited 125 programmes. Each visit (which is either one or two days in length) involves a six month preparation period and a three month follow-up period making the complete process a minimum of nine months. On average, each visit generates ten phone calls, 100 s, 1000 pages of documentation and twelve hours of face-to-face meetings. Each year, all approved programmes complete our annual monitoring process. Programmes need to successfully complete this process in order to remain approved. Since September 2006, we have received over 180 annual monitoring submissions. All of these submissions have to be logged, checked and considered by one of our partners (all of whom are registrants themselves). The Department has arranged four assessment days, where over 60 visitors have considered these submissions. The average time for an annual monitoring submission to be considered is three months. We have recently published updated guidance for education providers on our processes and is committed to reviewing them on an annual basis, to ensure a cost effective and efficient operation. We always welcome feedback, so, if you have any comments or suggestions, please get in touch. You can call our Education Approvals and Monitoring Department on +44 (0) or education@hpc-uk.org HPC Listening Events Listening Events were held in Dumfries and Lancaster on 10 and 12 July, providing another opportunity for registrants to meet members of our Council and management team and to provide feedback on the HPC and regulation. Both events were well attended, with over 50 guests at each. Amongst other topics, questions from registrants covered: CPD; the regulation of support staff; the HPC s relationship with professional bodies; our engagement with the public; and future developments in healthcare regulation. Summaries of the question and answer sessions will be posted on the HPC website as soon as they are available. The next set of Listening Events are scheduled for Tuesday 16 October in Swindon, Wiltshire, and Thursday 18 October in Barnstaple, Devon. Full details are available on the HPC website and letters of invitation will be posted to local registrants in the coming weeks. If you would like to attend please see the website for details of how to register. Alternatively, please call us on We hope to see you there. College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference and Exhibition The HPC recently exhibited at the College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference and Exhibition in Manchester. The conference included lectures, workshops and discussions, and offered the opportunity to hear about the latest professional developments, techniques and innovations in occupational therapy.

4 4 Health Professions Council Newsletter, Issue 12, August 2007 Members of the HPC Communications team were on hand to answer questions from registrants, and to distribute HPC publications and publicity materials. Delegates were particularly interested in taking away our extended guides to CPD, available from our website at: They were also interested in finding out more about returning to practice, registration while working abroad, and the student registration process. A member of the HPC Registration team was available to answer questions about the upcoming renewal period for occupational therapists (from August to the end of October 2007). One issue that came up several times was the need to return your signed renewal declaration even if you currently pay by direct debit. Please ensure that you and your colleagues are aware of this important point. We were very pleased at the response to our presence at this meeting, and that we were able to meet and hear the views of so many occupational therapist registrants. Come and see us at Members of the HPC will also be attending the following conferences. For full details please see the HPC website. We look forward to meeting more of you at these events. Institute of Biomedical Sciences Annual Congress When? September 2007 Where? The International Convention Centre (ICC), Birmingham Website? Primary Care Live When? 9-10 October 2007 Where? The ExCel International Conference and Exhibition Centre, London Website? NHS Employers annual conference and exhibition 2007 When? 9-11 October 2007 Where? The ICC, Birmingham Website? Health and Wellbeing at Work 2008 When? 5-6 March 2008 Where? The National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham Website? UK Public Health Association, Annual Public Health Forum When? 2-3 April 2008 Where? Convention Centre, Liverpool Website? Professor Diane Waller awarded OBE in the Birthday Honours list for services to healthcare Diane has been a registrant member of the Council since 1 May 2001 and is Professor of Art Psychotherapy at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and Life President of the British Association of Art Therapists. She is Vice-President of the International Society for Expression and Art Therapy, a council member of the World Psychiatric Association s Section on Art and Psychiatry and Honorary President of the British Association of Art Therapists. On receiving her award, Diane commented: I am really surprised and very honoured to receive this prestigious award. I am looking forward to my future work with the HPC, especially in the

5 5 Health Professions Council Newsletter, Issue 12, August 2007 area of bringing new professions into regulation, and with Goldsmiths, and to continuing my research which for the past few years has been focused on new forms of service provision for people with progressive illnesses (such as Parkinson s disease and dementia)". Diane is also a group analyst registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy and her research interests are in sociology of professions in the UK and Europe, art and group psychotherapy, intercultural therapy, addiction and progressive illness. She has written several books on these subjects. Diane was formerly Chair of the Arts Therapists Board at CPSM, and of the HPC Education and Training Committee. Diane lives in Brighton, Sussex. Congratulations Diane, from all at the HPC! New Council members Three new members have recently joined the Health Professions Council. Karen Bryan was appointed as the registrant speech and language therapist member, Neil Willis was elected as the registrant biomedical scientist member and John Donaghy was elected as the registrant paramedic member. A brief biography of the new members can be found on the HPC website. Pam Sabine was also re-elected as the registrant chiropodist / podiatrist member. On 18 June the new members spent a day at the HPC's offices for an induction, during which they met the Chief Executive and employees, and received a general introduction to our work. Newsletter review thank you to our readers Many thanks to all our readers who took the time to complete and return a newsletter feedback form. (Forms were sent with the last edition of HPC In Focus and were posted on our website.) Your comments /suggestions are currently being collated and analysed. We will update you on the review in our next issue. FTP case study: OT suspended for viewing sexually explicit websites at work A department head has been suspended for a year after accessing sexually explicit websites at work when he should have been attending to his duties. The occupational therapist then installed a software programme on his computer to try and cover up his actions. Panel Chair Christine Mills said: Although accessing the websites concerned was not in itself illegal, this activity did demonstrate a serious abuse of the employer s trust. The registrant spent time looking at sexually explicit websites instead of attending to his work. The public would have reason to doubt his judgment and his fitness to practise in light of this misconduct. The registrant admitted the allegations but chose not to attend the conduct and competence hearing, which took place at the Health Professions Council in London. Instead he submitted information about a medical condition he had at the time of the misconduct, which the panel took into consideration when deciding which sanction to impose. In light of registrant feedback we feature an FTP case study in each edition of the newsletter. These case studies are intended to provide some insight into the kind of fitness to practise issues that we deal with and the action that we can take. As our fitness to practise proceedings continue to grow in number and complexity, it must be recognised that they still involve only a tiny proportion of the health professionals on our Register. Most remain fit to practise, and pride themselves on high standards of care. For more information on our FTP processes, see our website at:

6 6 Health Professions Council Newsletter, Issue 12, August 2007 Fitness to practise hearings: May July 2007 Our Fitness to Practise Department is responsible for handling complaints, known as allegations, about the fitness to practise of professionals we register. When we say that a health professional is fit to practise we mean that he or she has the health and character, as well as the necessary skills and knowledge to do their job safely and effectively. Our main responsibility is to protect the public, maintaining public confidence in the professions and professionals we regulate. We will consider every complaint we receive about a health professional on a case by case basis and take action in light of the individual circumstances. The table below provides basic details of hearings since the production of our June edition of HPC In Focus. For further information on these and all other fitness to practise hearings, please click on the following link: Date of Name Registration Profession Details Outcome hearing number 8 May Christopher Warren ODP17187 Operating Failed to report for Caution department practitioner duty, absence without authorised leave 9 May Helen Taylor OPD09579 Operating Self administered Struck off department practitoner profopol a controlled drug 11 May Phillip Lanridge PA5396 Paramedic Self administered non Caution prescribed entonox 14 May Shinu Joseph OT39825 Occupational Failure to meet Suspended therapist standards of proficiency 16 May Paul Flack PA03292 Paramedic Failure to recognise Suspended duty of care 16 May Stephen Bowen RA30184 Radiographer Review hearing Struck off 21 May Paul Bennett BS37251 Biomedical scientist Fraudulent use of trust postal system, misused trust property 29 May Brian Beber PH66313 Physiotherapist Inappropriate behaviour and treatment of a patient 30 May Kes Outhwaite PH59040 Physiotherapist Conviction failure to provide a specimen for analysis 30 May Robert Atambo OT37787 Occupational therapist Conviction failure to provide a specimen for analysis, caution common assault Struck off Conditions of practice Suspended Caution 1 June Fraymond PH45841 Physiotherapist Review hearing Suspended Mayunga 1 June Alexander Mac PH55045 Physiotherapist Review hearing No further action Henry 4 June Neil Rushton PA01839 Paramedic Misled employer during management of sickness procedure No further action 7 June Tamora Heath BS28814 Biomedical scientist Damaged probe on analyser Caution 11 June Shelly Tse RA29815 Radiographer Caution Caution 15 June Paul A Johnston BS39492 Biomedical scientist Conviction possession of indecent photographs Suspended

7 7 Health Professions Council Newsletter, Issue 12, August June Steve Driver PA1565 Paramedic Conviction driving under the influence of excess alcohol, attending work under the influence of alcohol 19 June Paul Fryer PA02272 Paramedic Misuse of controlled drugs 25 June Janice Rhodes PA3476 Paramedic Failure to provide adequate clinical assessment, failure to provide adequate medical care 25 June Philip Arkwright PA14626 Paramedic Failure to provide appropriate level of care 28 June George Baldwin CH17476 Chiropodist / Failure to deal safely podiatrist with risk of infection Struck off Caution Struck off Suspended Conditions of practice 2 July Gavin Hall RA36612 Radiographer Conviction murder Struck off 2 July Derek Dredge PA08949 Paramedic Conviction Struck off possession of indecent images 3 July Gaynor McAlister OT26458 Occupational Review hearing Suspended therapist 3 July Fadayomi Alade PH42997 Physiotherapist Review hearing Suspended 4 July Frank Attwater PH66063 Physiotherapist Review hearing Suspended 5 July David Carradine RA29161 Radiographer Conviction driving with excess alcohol, caution common assault Caution All hearings will now begin at 10am (other than those previously fixed at 10.30am). They are open to the press and public, unless otherwise stated. If you wish to attend a hearing held by the HPC, please contact Victoria Smyth on or victoria.smyth@hpc-uk.org

8 8 Health Professions Council Newsletter, Issue 12, August 2007 Dates for your diary: August October 2007 Council and committee meetings HPC Council and committee meetings are held in public; more information, including minutes and agendas can be found on our website: Thursday 2 August Tuesday 4 September Tuesday 11 September Wednesday 12 September Wednesday 12 September Wednesday 12 September Thursday 13 September Tuesday 18 September Tuesday 25 September Thursday 27 September Thursday 27 September Wednesday 3 October Wednesday 24 October Education and Training Panel Applied psychologists standards of proficiency PLG Council meeting Investigating Committee Conduct and Competence Committee Health Committee Review of the standards of education and training PLG Finance and Resources Committee Audit Committee Education and Training Committee Education and Training Panel Council meeting and away day Communications Committee CONTACT US What do you think of this newsletter? Is there anything you would like to see in future issues? We would like to hear your views, so please newsletter@hpc-uk.org To subscribe or unsubscribe please newsletter@hpc-uk.org Park House 184 Kennington Park Road London SE11 4BU [t] [f] [w]