Professional Standards Authority
banner
prof-standards.bsky.social
Professional Standards Authority
@prof-standards.bsky.social
We are the UK’s oversight body for the regulation and registration of people working in health and social care.
Have you had experience with the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP)?

We are inviting feedback as part of JCCP’s full assessment for renewal of its accreditation.

Share your feedback by 20 February 2026: https://ow.ly/p4tr50XWA0U

Find out more: https://ow.ly/KmAR50XWA0V
January 16, 2026 at 10:30 AM
The first PSA Board meeting of 2026 was held in London this week ✅

Want to see what was discussed? Agendas and minutes are published here:
🔗 https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/about-us/about-our-board/board-meeting-papers-and-agendas
January 15, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Have you had experience with DVACT-PAI (www.dvact.org) or expert domestic abuse risk assessors?
1/4
January 14, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Workplace culture can affect the decisions of HCPs and stop them from complaining. Here's what our research uncovered:

1) Rigid hierarchies can make challenging a colleague feel risky
2) Commonly, HCPs will raise issues with trusted senior colleagues, which sometimes fails to result in action
1/3
January 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Interested in an example of good EDI practice?

In 2023, the General Chiropractic Council surveyed registrants on equality, diversity and inclusion.

Here were some of their key findings:

✅ Only 57% felt the profession adequately served diverse communities
1/5
January 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM
💭Updating Right-touch regulation for today’s challenges 💭

Right-touch regulation helps regulators act proportionately, once the level of risk has been considered. Last year, we refreshed the framework for the first time since 2015.

Discover what’s new and why it matters: https://ow.ly/Zj1N50XMyrk
January 7, 2026 at 5:00 PM
We thank the BACP, a PSA Accredited Register, for its work to support the amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to improve access for children to receive school counselling. Children deserve nothing less.

www.bacp.co.uk/news/news-fr...
‘Great result’ with proposed changes to Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
News from BACP | This follows more than a year of conversations and campaigning
www.bacp.co.uk
January 7, 2026 at 11:35 AM
📢Read our latest blog 📢

A change in the law means employers have a proactive duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. But what does this mean for regulators?

Find out here: https://ow.ly/ckYv50XMy1Y
January 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM
We recognise the value of a collaborative, cross-sector approach to AI regulation, especially given the complex, fragmented regulatory landscape in health and social care.

Read our submission to the government's AI Growth Lab call for evidence.

www.professionalstandards.org.uk/publications...
Response to Department for Science, Innovation and Technology AI Growth Lab open call for evidence
Read our submission to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's call for evidence on its AI Growth Lab.
www.professionalstandards.org.uk
January 6, 2026 at 12:40 PM
How are we helping regulators use new powers effectively?

Reform is changing how complaints are resolved, giving regulators greater agility. In 2025, we published guidance on making the most of new powers.

Read our guidance here: https://ow.ly/CyPh50XMxNL
The PSA publishes guidance to help regulators use new powers to protect the public
The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) is today publishing guidanc
www.professionalstandards.org.uk
January 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Case Study: How the General Optical Council (GOC) uses data to drive quality and inclusion in optical education

Every year, providers of GOC-approved qualifications submit annual monitoring and reporting forms as part of the GOC’s quality assurance process.
1/3
January 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM
How do experiences differ between health and care professionals (HCPs) and service users, when it comes to making a complaint to a health or social care regulator?

HCPs and service users experience the complaints process differently:
1/4
January 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM
How can decision-making be fair, consistent and robust?

Our recent report offers data, case studies and thematic insights to support fitness to practise decision-making by regulators’ panels.

Read the full analysis here: https://ow.ly/Z8SO50XMwu2
PSA publishes report aimed at strengthening fitness to practise decisions
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has today published its first report focused on its ‘S
ow.ly
December 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Earlier this year, we published guidance to share good practice amongst regulators when working to address health inequalities.

Persistent inequalities in health and social care continue to affect both the public and professionals.
1/3
December 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM
What motivates both service users and professionals to make a complaint?

✔️The desire to prevent harm to others and ensure safe, high-quality care
✔️To see poor practice addressed
✔️To see professionals held to account
✔️A sense of moral responsibility

Find out more: https://ow.ly/AYWn50XMvIz
December 29, 2025 at 5:00 PM
❄️Today concludes our twelve days of Christmas ❄️

Over the past few posts, we have reflected on the work the PSA has achieved this year.

Thank you to everyone who has collaborated and contributed to driving improvements across health and social care.

www.professionalstandards.org.uk
PSA| Healthcare regulation
Protecting the public by overseeing the regulation and registration of healthcare professionals- We are the UK’s independent regulatory oversight body improving the quality of regulation and registration of people working in health and social care.
www.professionalstandards.org.uk
December 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM
❄️ Eleventh Day of Christmas: Standards Review ❄️

You can read two reports related to the Standards Review consultation below.

Consultation outcome report: https://ow.ly/9BpU50XMt7J
Evidence review outcome report: https://ow.ly/qWml50XMt7I
December 25, 2025 at 5:00 PM
❄️Tenth Day of Christmas: Accredited Registers ❄️

Take a look at some statistics from the last financial year:

75 assessments completed
32 reports published
6 new registers accredited at current registers
2 new applicant Standard One assessments completed

Find our more: https://ow.ly/rNVc50XMryl
December 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
❄️Ninth day of Christmas: Our Responses❄️

We responded to 19 consultations/inquiries/calls for evidence, including evidence to the review into PAs & AAs, led by Prof. Leng CBE & evidence to the Women and Equalities Committee’s Inquiry into cosmetics.

Find our publications: https://ow.ly/JE3v50XMr1E
December 23, 2025 at 5:01 PM
We have published our annual performance review of the General Dental Council.

They met 16/18 Standards. It did not meet Standard 3 (EDI) or Standard 15 (fitness to practise timeliness).

Read the review: https://ow.ly/Ue8650XMnOj
December 22, 2025 at 2:02 PM
❄️Eighth Day of Christmas: Barriers to Complaints ❄️

In September, we published research we commissioned into the barriers and enablers to making a complaint to a health or social care professional regulator.

Download the report here: https://ow.ly/FG8t50XMnz3
Barriers and enablers to making a complaint to a health or social care professional regulator
Research we commissioned to help us better understand the barriers and enablers to making a complaint to regulators or Accredited Registers.
ow.ly
December 19, 2025 at 1:45 PM
❄️Seventh Day of Christmas: Performance Reviews ❄️

We check how well organisations regulating people working in health and social care are doing their job. Every year, we report on the 10 regulators we oversee to make sure they're protecting the public properly.
1/3
December 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM
We have published our most recent report for the General Medical Council (GMC).

The report covers October 2024 to September 2025 and looks at how the GMC is meeting the Standards of Good Regulation. During this time, they met all 18 Standards.

Read it here: https://ow.ly/9Usi50XKL55
December 17, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) and @patientsafetylearning.org recently published 'ABHI Patient Safety System Foundations: A Call for Action'.
1/3
December 16, 2025 at 10:02 AM
❄️Sixth Day of Christmas: Events❄️

We have shared our expertise and engaged with stakeholders across a range of events and forums this year. From our Symposium, to our Research Conference, it has been a highly collaborative year.

Learn about our events: https://ow.ly/9TEh50XJwtr
December 15, 2025 at 11:29 AM