HCPC Guidelines

Question 1

What does ‘HCPC’ stand for?

Answer 1

Health and Care Professionals Council

Question 2

Why do these legal regulations exist?

Answer 2

To protect the public and ensure good practice and so failure to comply can result in clinicians being removed from the register.

Question 3

How often does a psychologist need to re-register to the HCPC.

Answer 3

Every 2 years

Question 4

What two standards do practitioners need to follow?

Answer 4

1) Character
- They need to obtain trustworthy character references from people who have known the practitioner for at least three years
2) Health
- Regular updates on general health must be sent to the HCPC every 2 years as if the practitioner has any issues that will effect clients they need to stop work immediately

Question 5

Why would a criminal psychologist need to adhere to the HCPC guidelines?

Answer 5

They are dealing with a vulnerable group of people (criminals) and victims of those crimes so they need to be sensitive and must also have knowledge of appropriate treatments for them.

Question 6

List the 15 statements of proficiency for practising psychologists in a few words.

Answer 6

1) Practise safely within the scope of their practice
2) Practise within legal and ethical boundaries
3) Maintain fitness to practise
4) Exercise own judgement
5) Awareness of culture’s impact
6) Practise non-discriminatory
7) Maintain confidentiality
8) Communicate effectively
9) Work appropriately with others
10) Maintain records
11) Reflect and review on own practise
12) Assure quality of practise
13) Understand key concepts of their knowledge based profession
14) Draw on appropriate information and skills to help practise
15) Understand need to maintain safe practice environment

Question 7

List the specific standards and its details for practising criminal psychologists.

Answer 7

13) Understand key concepts of their knowledge based profession
- understand the application of psychology in the legal system
- understand the development of criminal behaviour
- integrate a range of theoretical perspectives and models
14) Draw on appropriate information and skills to help practise
- be able to plan and design assessment and training programmes
- draw on knowledge of relevant psychological theories through their research
- implement therapy and assess social context and organisational characteristics
- raise awareness of potential contributions