Professional Standards Authority

13/03/2026

Have you had any experience with the UKSBA - UK Society for Behaviour Analysis that you think we should know about?

Every three years, we carry out a full assessment of Accredited Registers against our Standards. We will shortly begin UK-SBA’s assessment for the renewal of its accreditation.

We are keen to hear about any experiences that may be relevant to UK-SBA’s ability to meet our Standards.

The deadline to share your feedback is 29 April 2026. You can submit your experience using this webform:
🔗 https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=gqAu-rxK1UWjmFIwQqO9npFuIFCtpRREmlTdggu-dZ9UQTY2WFhNVjU4QUpPNEw4NEUwQlpVQTlSQS4u&route=shorturl

For more information about how the “share your experience” process works, visit:
🔗 https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/organisations-we-oversee/share-your-experience

13/03/2026

Looking for some weekend reading?

This week we shared a guest blog, by David Hopkins of 39 Essex Chambers on a recent Section 29 appeal – PSA v NMC and Tchampet.

This case concerned a nurse who slept on duty while caring for a vulnerable child, later attempted to cover it up, despite previously receiving a 1-year warning for similar behaviour.

In his blog, David Hopkins explains why the High Court agreed that the original 9‑month suspension, imposed by the panel, was insufficient.

The High Court's decision shows the importance of previous adverse findings when decision-making, and the seriousness of a Registrant dishonestly attempting to cover up their misconduct during an investigation, even if they make admissions later.

👉 Read the full blog to learn more about the case, and how our Section 29 powers work to protect the public.

https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/news-and-updates/news/psas-section-29-appeal-powers-practice-case-psa-vs-nmc-and-tchampet?source=social-media

12/03/2026

There’s under a week left to apply for our Associate Board Member role!

In this clip, our current Associate Board Member, Ruth Ajayi, talks about her experience and what it felt like to join the Board for the first time.

We’re looking for someone who:
• cares about public service and protecting the public
• is open to learning and developing Non-Executive Director skills
• can assess complex information
• works well as part of a team
• can give and take advice
• shows good judgement when navigating difficult decisions
• is committed to equality and diversity

If this sounds like you, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Learn more and apply here: https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/associate-board-member

11/03/2026

🗞️Have you read our latest newsletter?

Our Winter edition of The Standard highlights the three areas we believe can strengthen health and social care for the next Scottish and Welsh Governments — and how professional regulation can play a key role in addressing these challenges.

We also cover a range of areas of interest, including:
- our work to address the risks of non-surgical cosmetic procedures
- recent fitness to practise appeal updates
- regulating for artificial intelligence use by professionals.

You can download the newsletter here:
https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/news-and-updates/news/e-newsletter-standard

10/03/2026

📢We are hiring📢

Are you a qualified lawyer looking for a new challenge or development opportunity?

We are looking for maternity cover for our Head of Legal role to lead our Section 29 team (responsible for checking and appealing regulators’ fitness to practise decisions and processes).

We are looking for a driven and enthusiastic individual who can:
- Demonstrate expertise in fitness to practise
- Lead effectively
- Continuously look for opportunities to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of our work
- Ensure good communication and relationship management with external stakeholders
- Effectively report to and advise our senior leaders

Deadline: 30 March 2026 (23:59)
Term: Fixed-term contract/Secondment opportunity
Remuneration: £86, 065

Click here for more information: https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/head-legal-maternity-cover

09/03/2026

Today we mark International Women’s Day. This year, we are highlighting an issue that disproportionately affects women: the risks of non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

Reports of Botox gone wrong or harm from “tweakments” such as lip fillers are now familiar. The public continues to face risks from unsafe, unregulated procedures. A UK‑wide survey (linked below) of people who experienced complications after Botox found that 70% reported lasting side effects.

We welcome progress in Scotland to strengthen safeguards through a recent Bill intended to restrict higher‑risk procedures, such as dermal fillers and deep chemical peels, to appropriately qualified, regulated healthcare professionals working in regulated premises. Scotland is also planning to introduce a proposed licensing scheme of non-surgical cosmetic procedures, including cryotherapy and electrocautery. If approved before the Scottish Parliament elections, licensing would come into effect in September 2027.

The recent Women and Equalities Committee report, to which we submitted evidence, makes clear that consistent regulation across the UK is essential to help keep more women safe. Alongside this, we welcome the UK Government’s commitment to introduce a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England, and its intention to consult on proposals this spring. A unified approach will help prevent cosmetic tourism, driven by differing national rules, and reduce confusion among the public and practitioners that can put people at risk.

In the meantime, we advise the public to choose practitioners on one of the two PSA-accredited registers for non-surgical cosmetic practitioners: Save Face and the JCCP. Look for the PSA Quality Mark which shows a practitioner belongs to an Accredited Register and meets recognised standards.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37799369/

09/03/2026

We recently published 'Safer care for Wales – A manifesto for change', outlining the actions we believe the Welsh Government should take to strengthen safety across health and social care.

We believe a preventative and compassionate system depends on:
- transparent leadership
- clear accountability
- the right balance between the responsibilities of employers and regulators

But how can regulation better support a preventative approach to healthcare in Wales?

This is the focus of our upcoming seminar, delivered in collaboration with the Welsh Government:
- Friday, 27 March 2026
- 10:00–13:00
- Online
- Anyone attending is welcome to use the Welsh language during this event

If you would like to express your interest in attending, please contact: engagement@professionalstandards.org.uk
.....

Yn ddiweddar fe gyhoeddom 'Gofal mwy diogel i Gymru – Maniffesto ar gyfer newid', yn amlinellu’r camau gweithredu y credwn y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru gymryd i gryfhau diogelwch ar draws iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol.

Credwn fod system ataliol a thosturiol yn dibynnu ar:
• arweinyddiaeth dryloyw
• atebolrwydd clir
• y cydbwysedd cywir rhwng cyfrifoldebau cyflogwyr a rheolyddion

Ond sut gall rheoleiddio gynnig gwella cefnogaeth i ddull ataliol o ofal iechyd yng Nghymru?

Dyma ffocws ein seminar sydd ar ddod, a gyflwynir mewn cydweithrediad â Llywodraeth Cymru:
• Dydd Gwener, 27 Mawrth 2026
• 10:00-13:00
• Ar-lein
• Mae croeso i unrhyw un sy'n mynychu ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg yn ystod y digwyddiad hwn

Os hoffech fynegi eich diddordeb mewn mynychu, cysylltwch â: engagement@professionalstandards.org.uk

06/03/2026

This time last week, we hosted a webinar with Dr Helen Smith RN and Professor Jonathan Ives from the University of Bristol to explore how guidance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare could be developed.

The session brought together healthcare professionals, regulators and members of the public to discuss both the opportunities and the challenges of using AI in clinical settings. Using real‑world scenarios, participants looked at key issues such as AI safety, bias, transparency, accountability and the importance of human oversight.

A clear message from the discussion was the need for strong governance, inclusive data and clear guidance to make sure AI supports safe, fair and effective patient care. Attendees also highlighted the importance of training, evidence‑based use and good reporting systems to help build trust and support responsible adoption of AI across healthcare.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to such a thoughtful and collaborative discussion.

05/03/2026

The General Optical Council (GOC) has met all 18 Standards of Good Regulation in our latest review.

We welcomed their wider understanding of what vulnerability can mean for individuals, and their ongoing work on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

There are still areas where the GOC needs to improve — particularly around some of its quality assurance processes and how they handle certain fitness to practise cases. The GOC has created an action plan, and we’ll be keeping track of how well it works.

Read the full review here: https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/news-and-updates/news/psa-publishes-its-review-general-optical-councils-performance-202425

04/03/2026

We’ve taken action to strengthen public protection.

Over the past few months, we have concluded six appeals of final fitness to practise decisions made by the regulators we oversee. We brought these appeals because we felt the original decisions did not go far enough to keep the public safe.

These cases involved issues such as:
• Failing to maintain, or overstepping, professional boundaries
• Not declaring relevant information when applying to foster vulnerable children
• Submitting falsified timesheets
• Being dishonest about English‑language skills and work experience
• Being dishonest about the care of a vulnerable child

Our appeals highlight why independent oversight matters — and how important it is that health and care professionals are held to the standards the public expects.

You can read the full update, including cases resolved by consent and recent court hearings, here:
https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/publications/fitness-practise-appeals-update-winter-2026

02/03/2026

Did you know...?

We produce bulletins quarterly to keep the UK's parliamentarians informed about our work, highlight issues affecting their constituents and show where they can create change.

You can now access all our Parliamentary Bulletins, including the latest, December edition.

📄 Read and download them here:

We circulate parliamentary bulletins to the four UK Parliament/Assemblies on a quarterly basis.

27/02/2026

We are hiring!

The Professional Standards Authority are looking to hire a talented Associate Board Member.

To strengthen the diversity of our Board, we particularly encourage applications from people who are currently under‑represented. We value the lived experience and fresh perspectives that candidates can bring, and this role is a great opportunity for anyone considering a future Non‑Executive position.

You may already have experience in health or social care, but it isn’t essential. What matters most is your enthusiasm, curiosity and willingness to learn.

Click here for the full job listing: https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/associate-board-member

Deadline: 18 March 2026 (midnight)
Term: Two‑year appointment
Commitment: Two days a month
Remuneration: £9, 407 per annum