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EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT
REGISTRATION BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK
(The Vision)

1. What is happening about statutory regulation?

  • Clinical Physiologists currently have voluntary registration with RCCP

  • The aim is for statutory regulation with Health Professions Council (HPC)

  • However, the coalition government does not want to extend statutory regulation but increase voluntary regulation

  • RCCP are continuing to try to influence the decision and raise the profile of Clinical Physiologists by lobbying

  • RCCP are pressing for a cost benefit risk assessment to be undertaken by Department of Health (DH)

2. How will the government’s plans to increase voluntary registration affect RCCP and its registrants?

  • A current regulatory oversight body (CHRE) is to be renamed –  Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) and their functions changed

  • In future Voluntary Registers (VR) will be able to apply to PSA for accreditation

  • They will assess a VR against agreed standards before granting them accreditation

  • They will also undertake a risk and cost benefit analysis

  •  If the risk assessment highlights the need for a statutory regulation for the protection of the public PSA will make this recommendation to the government

3.     Do I have to be registered with RCCP?

  • No  it is still only a voluntary process

  • However many employers, including locum agencies are insisting upon this

  •  In future PSA will have a role in promoting the need for staff to be on voluntary registers. It is proposed that a much more formal process will be in place and employers might have to demonstrate compliance if this becomes a quality standard

4.     What can you do about statutory regulation?

  •  Sign the Patient Charter

  • Lobby your MP

5.     What is happening about regulation and Modernising Scientific Careers (MSC) and does it have an impact upon RCCP registration?

  • RCCP registration was introduced at a minimum level of qualification – registration on day one as a new graduate of the BSc (Hons) in Clinical Physiology

  • Regulation as Clinical Physiologists has not been achieved

  • MSC proposes 2 levels of regulation or registration:- Practitioner Training (PTP) and Scientist Training (STP)

6.     How does PTP & STP equate to previous clinical physiology education and registration and what can be done to overcome the differences?

  • PTP output is 3 year broad based undergraduate education and training but with less scope of clinical practice and is less than that achieved by current clinical physiology education programmes

  • A preceptorship year with assessments by professional bodies could be introduced to advance their scope of clinical practice

  • STP output is 3 years masters education and training leading to regulation at a higher level

  • The RCCP higher register could be STP and a one year preceptorship

    Splitting of RCCP registers would bring us in line with the MSC proposals on regulation

7.     How does clinical scientist regulation under HPC work?

  • There are two routes to regulation:
    a)     Route 1: A 4 year training route (2-3 year training period followed by 1-2 years experience under supervision)
    b)     Route 2: 6 year route if official training route is not available

  • Training covers seven competencies (scientific, clinical, technical, R&D, communications, problem solving, management) and has to be undertaken with an appropriate supervisor

  • Applicants submit a Portfolio of evidence outlining training and experience

  • This is followed by a 1-2 hour interview with peers to discuss application

8.     What will happen to RCCP registration under MSC?

  • There are 5000 registrants with RCCP – all registered at the same level

  • The proposal is for RCCP to split its register between those working at the original registration level and those working at a higher level in line with MSC

9.     What will happen if RCCP does not split the register?

  •  If it does not split the register, all registrants could be deemed to be working at the lower level (PTP)

  • This will, or may, make it difficult for registrants to demonstrate that their practice is at a higher level

  •  It may make it difficult for them to step into the MSC career pathway at STP or HSST levels

10.      What do I need to do to be eligible for the higher RCCP register?

            Guidance will be available to help you choose the appropriate route

  • There will be two routes of entry:..

a)     Route 1 – Direct entry: RCCP members who meet the criteria of higher register without the need to “grandparent”.  This would require having a suitable masters or equivalent professional qualification and meet the standards expected of the higher register.  (Guidance will be provided and the form will be available on line)

b)     Route 2 – Grandparenting: RCCP members who do not meet the above criteria but who meet the standards expected of the higher register will be able to apply via portfolio submission

 11.   How will I be able to access the higher register via Route 1?

  • See guidance for appropriate information

 12.   How will I be able to access the higher register via Route 2?

Q. Can I access the higher register if I am not already a member of RCCP?
 A. No as you must be a member of RCCP for at least 1 year.

  • You register intent to apply for higher RCCP register

  • You will then be allocated a mentor to support Portfolio development, if needed

  • You submit your Portfolio for assessment once completed and approved by your mentor

 13.      Who will be the mentors?

Your professional body will appoint you an appropriate mentor

 14.       If I have to Grandparent what would go into my specialist register Portfolio?

  •  Applicants would use the framework agreed and printed by RCCP. 
    This will focus on the current Scientists Standards of Proficiency expected of the scientist exiting from the new Scientist Training Programme, which would keep this in line with the DH proposed first two new registers. 
    Guidance on the Portfolio content will be provided by RCCP and your professional body

  • Certification of postgraduate competence – this may be in house or more formal if available

  • Copy of post graduate examination certificates

  • If available, appropriate materials used to demonstrate competencies against the KSF at appraisal

  • Projects, audits, etc

  • It would include a job description, flow chart showing level of authority (freedom to act), evidence that matches Standards set for the scientist role descriptors, evidence of academic qualifications, etc

15.  What will it cost?

This is under consideration, but will only cost what is required to process applications

16.  When will the new higher register open?

  •  A phased approach is planned and some parts of the new register will be open on 1 January 2012

  •  All of the new registers will open during 2012

17.  What is the role of the professional body in the process?

  • They will define entry criteria to the register

  • They are an integral part of the process, have nominated scrutineers, are part of RCCP Council and approve applications to the register.  This will continue to be the case when the higher register is established

  • They will provide the mentors needed for the process

  •  They will be involved in assessing the preceptorship year (how this is assessed is yet to be agreed for each professional body)

 18.  What are the next steps for the professional body?

  • To work with RCCP to set up the process

  • To provide scrutineers

  • To provide and train mentors

  • To provide advice/guidance on criteria for entry

  • To advertise the process

 19.  What are the next steps for RCCP?

  • To set up and open the new register
  • To provide guidance on entry to the register
  • To train mentors
  • To allocate mentors to applicants

20.  How does this fit with Chartered Scientist (CSci) award some of the Professional Bodies represented by RCCP are considering offering?

  • For those who are unaware of CSci award*, full information can be obtained via http://www.charteredscientist.org/ website.  In brief it allows Scientists and Engineers from many different areas and employment basis’s receive recognition via the use of the title of Charter Scientist or Engineer within their discipline. This usually requires a relevant MSc + 2 years experience of working in a senior role. Professional bodies are licensed (once approved) to award this to their members, if they fit this criteria, on behalf of the Science Council. The awards are only available to professional body members

  • Splitting the register fits in well – the academic level is likely to be the same to demonstrate suitability for both higher level registration and CSci.  The time in practice required will be the main difference

  • Members of the higher RCCP register would complete the number of years in a scientific or highly specialised role in their area of practice and then be eligible to apply for CSci registration with their Professional Body

 21.  How does this fit with the Academy of Healthcare Science?

  •  The Academy is a new and evolving organisation set up to monitor standards of education and training.  It is unclear at this point how it will link in with RCCP and the Professional Bodies

 

* Taken from the from the Science Councils Web Site describing the Chartered Scientist Award:

 Chartered is a mark of excellence and competence and it will do much to improve the profile of science and scientists in the community.

The Chartered Scientist (CSci) designation ensures high and improving standards across all scientific disciplines; it reflects best practice in science and is set at a benchmark level throughout the science professions. CSci will encompass all high calibre scientists in the practice, application and teaching of science, recognising the increasing focus on interdisciplinary for the future of science, engineering and technology and it will provide employers with additional assurance of the quality of their science workforce.

Some of the Science Council aims applicable to our disciplines as reason to apply for CSci award:

    Society (or users of our services):  will be more confident in the competence of an individual scientist and need  no longer be confused by a platform of letters and descriptions.

Individual practitioners: by identification as a professional scientist that sets them at the forefront of their profession and offers a passport to mobility.

Employers: with confirmation, through the designation, of the quality of a job applicant’s application.

Regulatory Authorities: who could be confident in specifying the designation in Acts of Parliament and regulation.

Professional standing: recognising equality of excellence across the science professions.