The HCPC (The Health and Care Professions Council) is conducting a consultation on its proposed new Sanctions Policy and I would really encourage registrants in particular to respond.
Many of the points we’ve included in our team response are legalistic (e.g. “The guidance on criminal convictions and cautions is wrong and does not reflect the updated legal position following the case of PSA v GDC & Patel [2024] EWHC 243 (Admin). Rather, it wrongly asserts the previous position from Fleischmann v GDC [2005] EWHC 87 (Admin)”). However, I think the most important feedback we’ve provided is that the document is unwieldy and confusing (as well as occasionally being wrong) and we think it likely that an unrepresented registrant trying to navigate the HCPC process alone would find it indecipherable. That’s the real problem and missed opportunity with the current draft of the new policy and it could – and should – be greatly improved.
The consultation will remain open until 1 September 2025 and can be accessed here.