Professional Standards Authority

01/05/2026

Have you had experience with Tai Chi, Qigong or EFT Tapping practitioners?

We are inviting views on the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council - CNHC's proposal to add these occupations to its Accredited Register.

If you have relevant experience or evidence, we would welcome your feedback on:
• how these roles support people in practice
• any risks or limitations
• how these roles are described to the public

Share your views by 12 June 2026: https://forms.office.com/e/DeFkSJW7Ax

01/05/2026

Don’t forget to apply for our Scrutiny Officer roles.

There is just over a week left to submit your application.

These roles offer an excellent opportunity to build experience in regulatory scrutiny, evidence‑based assessment and report writing, while playing a key role in protecting the public.

Find out more and apply here:
https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/about-us/work-us/scrutiny-officer-roles-x-2

We are hiring!

We are looking for two Scrutiny Officers to join our Performance Review team within the Regulation and Accreditation Directorate, one on a fixed-term basis, and one permanent.

In this role, you will lead the annual performance review of one of the ten professional regulators we oversee.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop skills in regulatory scrutiny, evidence‑based assessment and report writing, while contributing to public protection.

This role will suit someone who can:
- Plan and lead projects
- Identify and analyse qualitative and quantitative information
- Manage stakeholder relationships
- Write reports for internal and external audiences

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

Deadline: 10 May 2026 (11:59pm)
Salary: £49,180

www.professionalstandards.org.uk/about-us/work-us/scrutiny-officer-roles-x-2

30/04/2026

Over the past month, we have been exploring artificial intelligence in health and social care as our PSA Hot Topic.

Across blogs, reports, a Q&A, and recommended readings, a few themes have emerged:

AI is already influencing access to care, professional decision‑making and regulation
There are opportunities to improve safety, consistency and prevention
There are also risks around transparency, bias, accountability and equity
Public confidence is important. People want AI to be safe and ethical
Clear guidance, strong governance and collaboration across the system are essential

This month has not been the end of the conversation. Our work on AI and regulation is ongoing. To explore all our AI resources and find out more about our continuing work, visit our AI page:

Updates on how the PSA is working with other regulators to explore the opportunities and risks that AI presents for public protection.

29/04/2026

Who is responsible when AI is used in health and social care?

As AI becomes more widely used, important ethical, professional and legal questions follow. How far should professionals rely on AI? And if something goes wrong, who is accountable?

We’ve published a new report with the University of Bristol, based on a workshop bringing together regulators, Accredited Registers, patients and service users. Using real‑world scenarios, discussions focused on AI safety, bias, transparency, accountability and where regulation needs to be clearer.

The findings will inform our contribution to the UK National Commission on the Regulation of AI in Healthcare, led by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Read the full report:
https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/publications/artificial-intelligence-how-guide-and-regulate-health-and-social-care-professionals

28/04/2026

How should professional regulation respond to AI in health and care, and is it a bit late to the party?

As part of our Hot Topic AI month, we asked our Policy and Communications Director Melanie Venables, what the rapid growth of AI means for professional regulation – from managing new risks to supporting professionals to use AI safely and well. This Q&A explores the role of regulators, the importance of collaboration across the system, and how AI could shape the future of both care and regulation itself.

For the Q&A in text form only, click here: www.professionalstandards.org.uk/improving-regulation/our-policy-work/artificial-intelligence-and-regulation/lets-talk-about

🎧 Please note: the accompanying audio has been generated using AI, based on this Q&A content.

24/04/2026

🔥Read of the week for our AI hot topic month🔥

This week we’re sharing a blog from the Department of Health and Social Care - DHSC by Sarah Blackmore, Executive Director at Social Work England, reflecting on innovation, AI and social work practice.

The blog explores how AI can support social workers by reducing administrative burden and creating efficiencies – while being clear that it can never replace professional judgement, lived experience or the relationships at the heart of social work. It also highlights the real risks around bias, inequality and over‑reliance on technology, and the importance of strong governance and ethical oversight.

A thoughtful and balanced read on embracing innovation with caution and a continued focus on people.

https://socialworkwithadults.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/19/innovation-ai-and-social-work-practice/

24/04/2026

When we published our updated Standards for regulators and Accredited Registers, we spoke to Amanda Partington‑Todd, who was our Interim Director of Regulation and Accreditation, about how we will support organisations through this change.

In this video, Amanda outlines the engagement activities that will take place over the coming months, the Accredited Registers Seminar which was held this week, and discusses where the most significant cultural changes may be required.

The new Standards for regulators and Accredited Registers create important opportunities. In this video you can also find out about how this moment can be used to build on existing good practice and strengthen what organisations are already doing.

👉 Find out more about the updated Standards: www.professionalstandards.org.uk/publications/standards-regulators-and-accredited-registers-2026

23/04/2026

AI in healthcare is already shaping access to care – but who holds the power?

As part of our AI Hot Topic Month, PSA Associate Board Member Ruth Ajayi reflects on her own experience of using AI to help advocate for a long‑overdue referral, and asks a bigger question about how artificial intelligence is designed, governed and used in healthcare.

In this blog, Ruth explores:
1. what patients are saying about AI,
2. how AI is already influencing clinical conversations and decisions,
3. why transparency, human oversight and equity matter,
4. and why patients must be involved in designing AI, not consulted after the fact.

"Patients are not resisting AI; they are asking for it to be safe, transparent and equitable."

👉 Read the full blog: https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/news-and-updates/news/artificial-intelligence-healthcare-who-holds-power

22/04/2026

We are hiring!

We are looking for two Scrutiny Officers to join our Performance Review team within the Regulation and Accreditation Directorate, one on a fixed-term basis, and one permanent.

In this role, you will lead the annual performance review of one of the ten professional regulators we oversee.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop skills in regulatory scrutiny, evidence‑based assessment and report writing, while contributing to public protection.

This role will suit someone who can:
- Plan and lead projects
- Identify and analyse qualitative and quantitative information
- Manage stakeholder relationships
- Write reports for internal and external audiences

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

Deadline: 10 May 2026 (11:59pm)
Salary: £49,180

www.professionalstandards.org.uk/about-us/work-us/scrutiny-officer-roles-x-2

21/04/2026

A big thank you to everyone who joined us today at Fazeley Studios for the Accredited Registers Seminar 2026.

The quality of discussion, challenge and collaboration has been exceptional – from conversations on the revised Standards, to shaping a maturity model, and imagining a more compassionate future for complaints.

Special thanks to our facilitators and speakers, including Dr Anna van der Gaag CBE, and to all participants for sharing your time, expertise and reflections.

Today showed what is possible when we think together about where the programme needs to go next. We are leaving with plenty to reflect on and build from.

For more information on the Accredited Registers, click here: https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/organisations-we-oversee/our-work-accredited-registers

21/04/2026

This afternoon we’re joined by Dr Anna van der Gaag CBE for a conversation on a compassionate future for complaints.

So far today we’ve:
• Explored the new and revised areas of the Standards
• Shared practical thinking on evidence, governance, collaboration and local resolution
• Discussed a draft maturity model to support quality, safety and future promotion of the programme

Anna brings deep experience and research into complaints handling, and her perspective will help us think beyond the immediate changes towards what a fairer, more accessible system could look like in the years ahead.

It is good to see such openness and ambition in the room.

21/04/2026

We’re pleased to be welcoming colleagues from across Accredited Registers to today’s Accredited Registers Seminar 2026, at Fazeley Studios, in Birmingham.

The focus of the day is on the revised Standards and what they mean in practice – making sure expectations are stretching, realistic and centred on quality and safety. We will also be exploring how the programme continues to grow, how a new maturity model could support improvement, and how we can start shaping a longer‑term future for complaints handling.

Thank you to everyone who has made the time to be here and to contribute your experience and insight. We’re looking forward to a thoughtful and constructive day.

Find out more about the Accredited Registers here: https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/organisations-we-oversee/our-work-accredited-registers