The Road to Voluntary The Road to Voluntary RegistrationRegistration

Terry JohnsonTerry JohnsonVRC Chair & RegistrarVRC Chair & Registrar

OverviewOverview How did it start?How did it start? What is it all about?What is it all about? Why run a voluntary register?Why run a voluntary register? How will regulation affect my How will regulation affect my

profession?profession? What's in it for me?What's in it for me? How do I get registered?How do I get registered?

How did it start?How did it start? Summer 2003 DoH Summer 2003 DoH

meetings with several meetings with several professions indicating professions indicating intention to proceed to intention to proceed to formal regulation.formal regulation.

September 30th 2004 – September 30th 2004 – meeting in Birmingham, meeting in Birmingham, Prof. Sue Hill outlines the Prof. Sue Hill outlines the proposal to form proposal to form Voluntary Registration Voluntary Registration Council.Council.

Voluntary Registration Voluntary Registration CouncilCouncil

November 25November 25thth 2004 2004 inaugural meeting.inaugural meeting.

RCCP provided valuable RCCP provided valuable support in the beginning.support in the beginning.

July 2005 was the first July 2005 was the first meeting of VRC as it stands meeting of VRC as it stands today.today.

September 2005 first full September 2005 first full VRC meeting.VRC meeting.

What’s it all about?What’s it all about?

Registration is a form of regulation.Registration is a form of regulation. Regulated professions work to Regulated professions work to

defined standards.defined standards. Those who are being regulated sign Those who are being regulated sign

up to abide by a Professional Code up to abide by a Professional Code of Conduct thus making them (by of Conduct thus making them (by definition) professionals.definition) professionals.

Why run a Voluntary Why run a Voluntary Register?Register?

The Health Professions The Health Professions Council (HPC) was Council (HPC) was established as a result of the established as a result of the Health Professions Order Health Professions Order 2001 (Statutory Instrument 2001 (Statutory Instrument 2002 No 254).2002 No 254).

It is an HPC requirement that It is an HPC requirement that professions operate a professions operate a voluntary register for a voluntary register for a period of at least two years.period of at least two years.

Why run a Voluntary Why run a Voluntary Register?Register?

HPC also requires that a minimum of 25% HPC also requires that a minimum of 25% of the membership of any profession is of the membership of any profession is voluntarily registered.voluntarily registered.

In addition 25% must belong to a In addition 25% must belong to a professional body.professional body.

In reality it takes a good deal longer than In reality it takes a good deal longer than two years to get a registration process (to two years to get a registration process (to the right standard) up and running.the right standard) up and running.

Effects on the ProfessionEffects on the Profession Rationalisation of Rationalisation of

standards via:standards via: Standards of proficiencyStandards of proficiency Agreed scope of Agreed scope of

professional practiceprofessional practice Approved qualificationsApproved qualifications Approved training and Approved training and

educationeducation Professional code of Professional code of

conductconduct

Effects on the ProfessionEffects on the Profession

Practitioners need to be Practitioners need to be registered to practice.registered to practice.

Training, education and Training, education and qualification therefore qualification therefore become mandatory.become mandatory.

Status of the profession Status of the profession increases as practitioners increases as practitioners can now call themselves can now call themselves “Professionals”.“Professionals”.

What’s in it for me?What’s in it for me? Professional status. In a Professional status. In a

regulatory sense you regulatory sense you are on the same level as are on the same level as Biomedical Scientists, Biomedical Scientists, Physiotherapists, Physiotherapists, Radiographers, Nurses, Radiographers, Nurses, etc.etc.

Clear and well defined Clear and well defined training, education and training, education and qualification.qualification.

What’s in it for me?What’s in it for me?

Being registered (even Being registered (even voluntarily) has an impact in voluntarily) has an impact in Agenda for Change terms.Agenda for Change terms.

With defined standards of With defined standards of proficiency and scope of proficiency and scope of professional practice everyone professional practice everyone has clear operating standards.has clear operating standards.

Established to lead Healthcare Science Established to lead Healthcare Science professions to regulation by HPC or any professions to regulation by HPC or any other approved formal regulatory body.other approved formal regulatory body.

Has the mechanisms and administration in Has the mechanisms and administration in place to run voluntary registers.place to run voluntary registers.

Funding initially provided by the Funding initially provided by the Department of Health.Department of Health.

Currently represents six professions Currently represents six professions (seven groups).(seven groups).

Anatomical Anatomical Pathology Pathology TechnologistsTechnologists

Critical Care Critical Care TechnologistsTechnologists

Ophthalmic Ophthalmic Science Science PractitionersPractitioners

Diabetic Retinopathy Diabetic Retinopathy ScreenersScreeners

Genetic Technologists Genetic Technologists (two groups)(two groups)

CytotechnologistsCytotechnologists

Tissue Banking Tissue Banking TechnologistsTechnologists

How do I Register?How do I Register?

Information relating to the Information relating to the registration process including entry registration process including entry criteria, application forms and fees is criteria, application forms and fees is available via the VRC website:available via the VRC website: www.vrcouncil.orgwww.vrcouncil.org

Entry CriteriaEntry Criteria

Are specific to the professionAre specific to the profession In line with the other professions In line with the other professions

managed by VRCmanaged by VRC Significant input expected from Significant input expected from

the professional body.the professional body. Become more stringent with Become more stringent with

time.time.

How do I Register?How do I Register? Either download the application form, application Either download the application form, application

guidance and Code of Conduct from the VRC websiteguidance and Code of Conduct from the VRC website

OROR

Contact Stephanie Gunn,Contact Stephanie Gunn,VRC Administration,VRC Administration,Suite 4, Sovereign House,Suite 4, Sovereign House,22 Gate Lane, Boldmere,22 Gate Lane, Boldmere,Sutton Coldfield.Sutton Coldfield.West Midlands.  B73 5TT.West Midlands.  B73 5TT.

  Tel: 0845 838 6267Tel: 0845 838 6267Email: Stephanie@execbs.comEmail: Stephanie@execbs.com

The FutureThe Future There is much to do before a There is much to do before a

submission is made to HPC.submission is made to HPC. Professional body to Professional body to

establish clear training, establish clear training, education and qualification education and qualification in conjunction with Skills for in conjunction with Skills for Health.Health.

Submission for formal Submission for formal regulation will be made at regulation will be made at the earliest opportunity and the earliest opportunity and when circumstances permit.when circumstances permit.