Improving regulation

To complement our work assessing the performance of the organisations we oversee, our Policy work highlights and seeks to address broad issues affecting professional regulation and registration. This way, we can use the intelligence gleaned from our oversight functions to further understanding of how professional regulation could better protect the public. 

Our policy initiatives are developed through engagement with professional regulators, accredited registers, patients and service users, and any other affected groups. They draw on the knowledge and expertise of individuals with a vested interest in or specialised understanding of the subject. To incorporate the perspectives of patients, service users, and the public into our work, we can commission research, engage with charities, patient and service user groups, or consult with our broader stakeholder network. We can also run public consultations on significant policy questions or publications. This ensures that diverse viewpoints inform our policy interests and recommendations.

We also receive requests from the Secretary of State for Health, and health ministers in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, to explore and provide insights on policy questions.

We can also shape and influence policy by responding to consultations initiated by other organisations.