Alan Clamp - an introduction

In this first blog, Alan Clamp explains that, though he may be new to the Professional Standards Authority, he is an old hand when it comes to regulation.

At the beginning of this month I was delighted to take on the role of chief executive of the Professional Standards Authority. It is a privilege to work for an organisation that plays a vital role in maintaining and improving professional standards in health and social care. In this short blog post, I would like to take a few moments to introduce myself and share some thoughts about the role of the Authority.

So, who am I? Well, regulation is in my DNA. I have worked in a range of regulatory roles in the education, health, legal and security sectors for over 20 years. I have been the chief executive of two statutory regulators; the Human Tissue Authority and, most recently, the Security Industry Authority. In those roles, I grew accustomed to working closely with government departments, other regulators and the NHS. And now, I bring my experience and enthusiasm to the Authority at a time when appetite for regulatory reform is gathering pace.

I am very pleased to be here. The Authority does an important job and I am fortunate to work with a talented team of expert staff. Simpler, more responsive, effective and efficient regulation leading to higher standards and better protection from harm. That’s our vision for the future. 

In a recent speech, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, said, ‘Improving patient safety is a determined and unwavering commitment from us all.’ In my view, that goes for professionals, establishments, regulators and the Professional Standards Authority. We have different roles, but we are on the same team. Getting regulation right is a key factor in patient safety. There is no room for complacency.

Related Material

The Authority announces its new chief executive - press statement July 2018