HSC Clinical Education Centre Policy on Validation and Monitoring of Professional Registration December 2014 Review date:
Title Operational date Review date Policy on Validation and Monitoring of Professional Registration 1 November 2014 (TBC) November 2016 (TBC) Version number V0.1 Lead author Business unit Glynis Henry, Head of HSC Clinical Education Centre HSC Clinical Education Centre Contact details Tel: 028 9056 1353 Email : glynis.henry@cec.hscni.net Reference number BSO/CEC/01-2014 Validation and Monitoring of Professional Registration V0.1 2
Contents Section Page 1.0 Introduction 4 2.0 Aims 4 3.0 Policy statement 4 4.0 Scope of policy 4 5.0 Responsibilities validation of Professional Registration on appointment 6.0 Responsibilities ongoing monitoring of Professional Registration post-appointment 5 5 7.0 Failure to maintain valid Professional Registration 6 8.0 Legislative compliance, relevant policies and procedures 6 9.0 Equality and Human Rights considerations 6 10.0 Policy approval and implementation 7 11.0 Review of policy 7 12.0 Sources of advice and further information 7 Appendix 1 8 Validation and Monitoring of Professional Registration V0.1 3
1.0 Introduction The HSC Clinical Education Centre (HSC CEC) requires that: a Nurse or Midwife employed in a regulated post must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) an Allied Health Professional (AHP) employed in a regulated post must be registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). This policy will ensure that the HSC CEC has processes in place to validate and monitor staff required to be registered with the NMC or HCPC in order to commence, and continue to work in a regulated post. 2.0 Aims The aims of this policy are to ensure that: Nurses, Midwives, AHPs, managers and human resources personnel are clear as to their responsibilities regarding the validation and monitoring of professionally regulated posts (Appendix 1 details renewal registration dates for AHPs). Clear arrangements are in place to validate the regulatory status of Nurses, Midwives and AHPs at the point of employment. Processes are in place to facilitate the recording and monitoring of Nurses, Midwives and AHPs renewal registration status and to provide assurances that these processes are working effectively. Management arrangements are in place to deal with incidents of lapsed registration. 3.0 Policy Statement It is the policy of the HSC CEC that all Nurses, Midwives and AHPs who have a statutory requirement to be registered in order to practice must hold a valid registration at all times. Staff required to be professionally registered to undertake the post to which they have been appointed will be personally responsible for ensuring their registration remains valid at all times. Where professional registration is no longer valid (has lapsed or been withdrawn) the staff member will not be permitted to continue to work in a post. 4.0 Scope of Policy This policy applies to all staff required to be registered with the NMC or HCPC as the relevant regulatory body in order to undertake the duties of their post. Validation and Monitoring of Professional Registration V0.1 4
5.0 Responsibilities validation of Professional Registration on appointment 5.1 Validation of Professional Registration on selection (Recruitment and Selection Service) At the point of selection of new nursing, midwifery or AHP staff, the Recruitment and Selection Service within the Business Services Organisation, are responsible for ensuring that the individual appointee s registration is valid. This will form part of the conditional offer of employment and subsequent pre-employment checks. An original certificate of valid registration must be presented to the Head of HSC CEC managing the appointment file and a copy of this will be retained on file. An appointee who is not registered will not be employed by the HSC CEC in a post where registration with the NMC/HCPC is a requirement of the post. 6.0 Responsibilities ongoing monitoring of Professional Registration postappointment 6.1 Registrant s responsibility It is the responsibility of the individual Nurse, Midwife or AHP to ensure that his/her registration remains valid throughout the course of his/her employment. He/she is responsible for informing the operational Line Manager of changes to the registration status (additions, cautions, suspensions) imposed by the NMC/HCPC. The individual Nurse, Midwife or AHP is also responsible for maintaining and renewing his/her registration and must provide proof of renewal by presenting relevant documentation to the operational Line Manager. 6.2 Midwife and Supervisor of Midwives responsibility It is the responsibility of the individual Midwife to meet annually with his/her named Supervisor of Midwives and to annually notify his/her Intention to Practice (ItP) to the Local Supervising Authority via his/her named Supervisor of Midwives Failure to complete the ItP form will delay and possibly lapse the midwife s registration which will result in inability to practice or work as a midwife until valid registration is renewed. 6.3 Line Manager s responsibility Whilst the issue of registration remains the responsibility of the individual Nurse, Midwife or AHP, the operational Line Manager is responsible for ensuring that professional staff continue to retain valid registration and that re-registration takes place as prescribed by the NMC/HCPC Seconded Nurses, Midwives or AHPs In the HSC CEC, the operational Line Manager is responsible for ensuring that an appropriate mechanism is in place to record evidence of current registration status and Validation and Monitoring of Professional Registration V0.1 5
that staff s personal records are updated. The operational Line Manager engaging staff will be responsible for ensuring that processes are in place to check the registration of these staff prior to commencement of duty. The operational Line Manager will be required to assure the Head of HSC CEC that the Nurse, Midwife or AHP is registered with the NMC. 6.4 Responsibility of the Head of the HSC CEC The Head of the HSC CEC is responsible for ensuring that Nurses, Midwives and AHPs comply with this policy and that a periodic audit is undertaken to assure compliance. 7.0 Failure to maintain valid professional registration It is a condition of employment that a Nurse, Midwife or AHP employed in a regulated post must maintain his/her professional registration throughout the duration of the employment. A Nurse, Midwife or AHP who fails to renew his/her professional registration will be sent home with no pay, until valid registration status can be proved. The decision on the course of action will be taken by the Head of the HSC CEC with advice from Human Resources. A Nurse, Midwife or AHP who experiences difficulty in renewing his/her registration must advise his/her operational Line Manager immediately. Failure to ensure a valid registration is a serious matter and may have an adverse effect on the HSC CEC s ability to fulfill its remit. Operational Line Managers may, therefore, initiate formal disciplinary proceedings against staff who fail to adhere to the conditions of their employment. The outcome of disciplinary proceeding may result in dismissal. 8.0 Legislative compliance, relevant policies and procedures This policy has been developed in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2002 Part III; Articles 8-12. It should be read in conjunction with the following:- The Code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. (NMC 2008 updated July 2014) Midwives rules and standards (NMC 2012) This policy has been developed in line with HCPC standards. 9.0 Equality and Human Rights considerations This policy has been screened for equality implications as required by Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and for compliance with human rights and disability legislation. Documentation to evidence the screening has been produced and is publicly available. Using the Equality Commission s screening criteria, no significant equality implications have been identified. This policy will therefore not be subject to an equality impact assessment. 10.0 Policy approval and implementation This policy was considered in draft form by the HSC CEC s Senior Management Team and the BSO s Senior Management Team and the final draft was submitted to, Validation and Monitoring of Professional Registration V0.1 6
discussed and approved by the BSO s Board on.. The final policy was signed by who? Chairman or Chief Executive and circulated by the Head of the HSC CEC s existing nursing, midwifery and AHP staff on All operational Line Managers must ensure that relevant staff have access to this policy, understand its content including provision of any necessary training, and are aware of its aims and purpose immediately on its release. All operational Line Managers must ensure that new nursing and midwifery staff have access to this policy, understand its content including provision of any necessary training, and are aware of its aims and purpose immediately on their appointment. A supporting standard operating procedure has been developed to evidence compliance with this policy. 11.0 Review of policy The HSC CEC is committed to ensuring that all policies are kept under review to ensure that they remain compliant with relevant legislation. This policy will be reviewed by the HSC CEC s Senior Management Team in November 2016 or earlier if further guidance is issued. The review will be noted on a subsequent version of the policy, even where there are no substantive changes made or required. 12.0 Sources of advice and further information Further advice and information regarding this policy can be obtained from the Head of the HSC CEC, Assistant Heads or Senior Education Managers. Signed: Date: Chairman, Business Services Organisation Signed: Date: Chief Executive, Business Services Organisation Appendix 1 AHP Professional Registration must be renewed every two years Profession Arts Therapists Chiropodists and Podiatrists Date of Registration 31st May 31st July Years 2014/16/18/20/22 etc 2014/16/18/20/22 etc Validation and Monitoring of Professional Registration V0.1 7
2014/16/18/20/22 etc Dietitians 30th June 13/15/17/19/21 etc Occupational Therapists 31st October 13/15/17/19/21 etc Orthoptists 31st August 2014/16/18/20/22 etc Physiotherapists 30th April 13/15/17/19/21 etc Practitioner Psychologists 31st May 13/15/17/19/21 etc Prosthetists/Orthotists 30th September 2014/16/18/20/22 etc Radiographers 28th February Speech and Language Therapists 30th September 13/15/17/19/21 etc Validation and Monitoring of Professional Registration V0.1 8