Review of research into health and care professional regulation published

In January of this year we commissioned an independent team at Cardiff University to undertake a review of the research into health and care professional regulation since 2011.

The three key objectives for this research were:

1. To source research in the area of health and care professional regulation in English since 2011;
2. To evaluate the research and draw out what it has taught us; and
3. To identify any gaps in the research and areas that would benefit from deeper exploration to inform the focus of further research and continue to build the evidence base in relation to health and care professional regulation.

In addition to the core of their work – a rapid evidence assessment of the published literature – the researchers carried out interviews with our key research and policy contacts at the regulators, as well as reviewing their websites.

In terms of what the literature has taught us, the key themes are grouped into six areas, including Education and Training and Harm Prevention and Patient Safety. A strong overall finding to emerge from the work is that – whereas health and care professional regulation studies is rapidly emerging as a new field – it is still less developed compared with other areas, such as financial, legal or aviation regulation studies.

You can read the full report here or see a summary of the findings in this infographic.

Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care

Contact:

Email: media@professionalstandards.org.uk

Notes to the Editor

1. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK.
2. We assess their performance and report to Parliament. We also conduct audits and investigations and can appeal fitness to practise cases to the courts if we consider that sanctions are insufficient to protect the public and it is in the public interest.
3. We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
4. We share good practice and knowledge, conduct research and introduce new ideas to our sector. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally and provide advice on issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
5. We do this to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of users of health and social care services and the public. We are an independent body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
6. Our values are – integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and teamwork – and we strive to ensure that they are at the core of our work.
7. More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk