Updates to HCPC standards: learn about the changes

These create the ethical framework for HCPC-regulated professions, aligning with the HCPC physiotherapy standards of proficiency (updated last year) and linking to new guidance on social media.

The revisions follow a consultation in 2023, when the HCPC asked registrants, professional bodies, unions, and the public how to update the standards to reflect modern practice and ensure they are clear to users.

The key updates include:

• Promoting an active approach to ensure that registrants’ practice supports equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Communication: clarifying registrants’ responsibilities towards colleagues, service users, carers and the public.
• Duty of candour: ensuring practice is open and honest, promoting learning, and creating a process to support registrants to confidently follow their duty of candour.
• Upskilling and training responsibilities: ensuring registrants understand the relationship between their scope of practice and practising safely and effectively.
• Supporting registrants with health conditions and disabilities to continue practising safely and effectively.

Although a specific standard on sustainability was not incorporated the HCPC acknowledged its importance. They are developing supporting resources and plan to include a sustainability standard in the upcoming review of the standards of education and training.

Similar to last year’s updates to the HCPC standards of proficiency, it is important for physiotherapists to familiarise themselves with these revisions. The HCPC offers a suite of resources and events to support registrants in preparing for these changes. Visit the HCPC website, attend upcoming webinars and review the detailed guidance documents to ensure you are ready.