About The health and care professions council
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is a regulatory body that oversees the practice of health and care professionals in the United Kingdom. The HCPC was established in 2003 under the Health and Social Care Act, with a mandate to protect the public by ensuring that only qualified and competent professionals are allowed to practice.
The HCPC is responsible for regulating over 350,000 professionals across 16 different professions, including arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists/podiatrists, dietitians, hearing aid dispensers, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists/pleoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, practitioner psychologists (clinical psychology), prosthetists/orthotists , radiographers (diagnostic and therapeutic), social workers in England; speech and language therapists.
The HCPC's primary function is to maintain a register of qualified health and care professionals who meet its standards for education and training. This ensures that only those who are competent to practice are allowed to do so. The registration process involves an assessment of an individual's qualifications as well as their fitness to practice.
In addition to maintaining the register of qualified professionals in each field it regulates; The HCPC also sets standards for professional conduct performance which all registered practitioners must adhere too. These standards cover areas such as communication skills with patients or clients; confidentiality; record-keeping; continuing professional development (CPD); working collaboratively with colleagues from other professions or agencies involved in patient care.
One of the key roles played by The HCPC is investigating complaints against registered practitioners where there has been alleged misconduct or incompetence. If found guilty after investigation then disciplinary action can be taken against them which may include suspension or removal from the register altogether depending on severity.
Another important function performed by The HCPC is promoting public awareness about its role as a regulator through various channels such as social media campaigns aimed at educating people about what they do so that they can make informed decisions when seeking healthcare services from regulated professions.
Overall it can be said that The Health And Care Professions Council plays an essential role in ensuring high-quality healthcare services are provided across various fields within UK healthcare system while protecting patients' interests through regulation of health-care providers' practices.