CHRE Announce...

New Professional Standards Authority for VSR Register-holders

BCTC Council members attended 3 workshops held in August, September and October to participate in discussions hosted by the CHRE about a new accreditation scheme for Voluntary Registers in the UK.

The CHRE has been commissioned by the government to establish a Professional Standards Authority for health and social care professionals.

The purpose of the workshops was to conduct an extensive consultation process with existing voluntary register holders (open to all) to develop a quality assurance scheme for all voluntary registers in the UK.  The CHRE recognizes the considerable time and effort already invested by organizations in developing professional standards and therefore has no interest in ‘re-inventing the wheel’. 

Rather their intent has been to develop a robust system for quality assuring all voluntary registers through drawing on the expertise of those that already exist.  The new scheme would serve two primary purposes:  add value to existing voluntary registers by increasing accountability in the eyes of the public; enable those organizations to maintain their role in developing standards for registration, professional conduct and ethical competence and continue to promote quality standards of performance. 

In presenting each workshop, Christine Braithwaite, Director of Policy and External Relations at the CHRE, emphasized the CHRE’s desire to exercise a ‘right-touch’ approach to regulation to promote quality standards of public safety whilst preserving the rights of practitioners and professionals to practice their chosen therapies.

There has been a spirit of co-operation and participation evident at all 3 workshops enabling significant progress to take place and the CHRE anticipates being able to open the accreditation scheme from July 2012.

The BCTC Council will be discussing what changes need to be implemented in our procedures as a voluntary regulator at the next meeting on 7^th December.  If any registrants wish to attend the meeting, please contact sheilahill@bctcvsr.org.uk by December 5^th.

If you wish to read more about the CHRE’s proposed Professional Standards Authority (PSA),  you can visit the CHRE website