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What is a person approved by the Secretary of State
Represented at a FTT yesterday where the District Judge adjourned the hearing in order to make directions to the SoS to ask why the DWP were not following their own PIP guidance with regards the 2 year minimum registration required to act as a HP. The FTT Judge suggested that this may be one for the UT. In any event it may help clients turned down for a PIP award by a non qualified/registered HP.
Attended another FTT on Monday morning with a Health Professional with less than 2 years registration - again adjourned for the SoS/DWP to explain if the HP is authorised to act without the 2 year registration.
I was only being pedantic regards the aromatherapist! I still believe the role of a paramedic should be challenged in assessing PIPs. Paramedics are highly trained people but are predominantly concerned with emergency and immediate life threatening situations. However with regards physical disability a physiotherapist would work in a controlled and calm environment and is trained to treat people over a prolonged period, unlike a paramedic. Also I am not too sure what mental health training a paramedic would have.
I know paramedics- a large part of their call outs are for people with MH issues
I too am beginning to suspect that large numbers of HPs have less than 2 years post registration experience. This would be consistent with recruitment problems which have been one cause of delays in assessments.
I am submitting in such cases that no weight should be given to their evidence.
To check the register: http://www.hpc-uk.org/check/
I too am beginning to suspect that large numbers of HPs have less than 2 years post registration experience. This would be consistent with recruitment problems which have been one cause of delays in assessments.
I am submitting in such cases that no weight should be given to their evidence.
To check the register: http://www.hpc-uk.org/check/
There is the possibility that the HPs have to renew their registration every two years and the date given is the last time they registered. Looked up one for an upcoming appeal and she is listed as registered from 01/11/13 until 01/11/15, after which I imagine she has to re-register. Has anybody actually found a HP on there that is recorded as registering more than 2 years ago?
I have just checked the register for the name of one of my colleagues who has been a radiographer for many years. It shows the registration from last year until next year, so it does look like it only shows the current registration not the full work history.
Having made a previous enquiry about the registration of named healthcare professionals I have a contact at the Health & Care Professions Council. I have emailed to ask whether the date of registration given on the website is the date of FIRST registration or of renewal. I also explained why this difference was important.
Watch this space for the response.
Ruth
The official response from HCPC:
“Each profession has its own different two-year registration cycle. The dates shown on the Register reflect the beginning and the end of the profession’s current registration cycle. The dates on the Register do not indicate how long a registrant has been qualified or practising.”
So, the information on the HCPC website is insufficient to establish whether a registrant meets the 2-year post-registration experience requirement.
I’ll follow this up with HCPC and post any progress to this forum.
R
And the reply to my comments regarding the incomplete data available:
“Thank you for your feedback. Unfortunately, our data protection policy does not allow us to publish the first date our registrants appeared on the Register. As mentioned below, we can provide this information in a letter at the registrant’s request.
Yours sincerely
Emily Watkins
Registration Advisor
Health and Care Professions Council
Park House, 184 Kennington Park Road, London, SE11 4BU
http://www.hcpc-uk.org
Tel +44 (0) 845 300 4472
Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)”
So, we appear to be stuck. There’s no way claimants or advisers can establish whether HCPs have 2-years post-registration experience. Where do we go from here?
Would a tribunal be able to request the necessary information?
Also, begs the question of how DWP are able to check length of registration.
If the companies in question were recruiting staff with less than 2yrs experience would they not risk forfeiting the contracts worth £££££££££££££‘s?
I can’t imagine a tribunal adjourning for ‘proof’ of post registration experience unless one can initially cast sufficient doubt upon the qualification of the HCP in question.
What reasons could one cite for not believing the HCP meets the 2yr post experience criteria?
Firstly I have two(2) FTTs adjourned in order that the DWP explain if they are following their own guidance or not re the two (2) year registration requirement. Secondly I also had a reply from HCPC today who also state they are not prepared to give out someone’s initial registration details without the HP’s consent! So yes as Ruth T says where do we go from here!
Someone kindly pointed out to me that both the Nursing & Midwifery Council and the General Medical Council publish dates of first registration of their registrants. I have now asked HCPC to look at the issue again in the light of that, and they have informed me that, while they have no immediate plans for a change in their publication policy, the matter has been referred to their “Policy Committee” for consideration.
It seems to me that HCPC may not have known about the requirement for two years post-registration experience of PIP HCPs, and were certainly unaware of the problems that this causes advisers and claimants.
One thing we possibly could do is for all of us to request registration details on each and every HCP we come across, so that HCPC is made fully aware of the problem.
Firstly I have two(2) FTTs adjourned in order that the DWP explain if they are following their own guidance or not re the two (2) year registration requirement. Secondly I also had a reply from HCPC today who also state they are not prepared to give out someone’s initial registration details without the HP’s consent! So yes as Ruth T says where do we go from here!
I’m still at a loss as to why anyone would assume the HCP has less than the 2 years experience?
It’s fair only to say we don’t ‘know’ either way.
If that’s going to become standard then what next, adjourn for evidence of the tribunal members qualifications?
I believe it is fairly important that we know that a HP is qualified and experienced to carry out PIP assessments. I believe the registration site should be updated to say when registration first started as like nurses and doctors otherwise is it reasonable eg that a client with mental health issues is examined by a physiotherapist one week into the job from college etc.