RCT Registrar’s Update November 2015

Lay membership of RCTMP

As part of the RCT’s successful application for Accredited Register status, the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has placed a requirement on the RCT to recruit lay members to join the Management Panel. All other bodies involved in professional regulation have lay members on their main Boards, in many cases forming a majority of members.  Lay members of the Panel will be full members of the Panel, working under the Terms of Reference, entitled to vote and forming part of the quorum of the meeting. They will bring an external perspective to the work of the Management Panel, helping to maintain focus on the key purpose of the RCT, to protect the public by settings standards for the training, practice and conduct of registrants.  The Management Panel appointed two lay members to its membership at its October meeting. We welcome Phil Goddard: a consultant with many years’ experience in the energy sector, including R&D, product and process development, training and project management; and Rosemary Anderton, a science and psychology teacher, with an MSc in Health Care Ethics, to the panel in this capacity. They will attend their first Panel meeting in February. In the meantime they will be visiting the clinical engineering and nuclear medicine departments at Bradford Royal Infirmary at the invitation of Panel member Iain Threlkeld, to learn more about the work of clinical technologists.

The summary minutes of the RCTMP held on 14^th October 2015 are available via the RCT website. This enables Registrants to keep up with the discussions and decisions being made on their behalf.

Public attendance at Panel meetings

In line with best practice, the RCT Management Panel has agreed to maximise the transparency of its work by allowing any member of the public to attend its meetings in an observation capacity.  The future dates will be published in advance of the meeting on the RCT website and any member of the public wishing to attend should notify the Administration Manager.  A maximum of 6 members of the public will be allowed to observe the open proceedings; there may be a requirement for a closed session as part the meeting.

The RCTMP is keen to ensure the draft standards are piloted and welcome interest from registrants who would like to lead the process for Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy Physics.  The panel will also be looking for pilot applicants from its waiting list.  If there is a colleague who you think may be interested please ask them to get in touch at enquiries@therect.org.uk

The costs of running the RCT have been increasing steadily, and now include the costs of the annual CPD audit, of assessor training and of PSA accreditation. So with effect from 1^st January 2016 the renewal fee for Registrants will be increased to £17.50.  Whilst increases in fees are never welcome, it is worth remembering that:

·       renewal fees have not risen for 15 years

·       the new fee is set to just cover costs, and no more

·       the RCT is now an Accredited Register, increasing its status with the NHS

·       other registers charge considerably more:

o   AHCS register – £50/year

o   HCPC – £90

Registrants sometimes ask: “But what do I get for my registration fee?” It is important to remember that any register only provides registration, indicating achievement of standards. Registrants don’t get anything more than this ‘quality mark’ of their practice. That’s why the RCT encourages registrants to join a professional body as well, in order to get member benefits, support and opportunities.

In 2013, the Professional Conduct Committee of the RCT suspended a registrant for five years for abuse of social media. To assist registrants, the RCT Management Panel has approved a set of guidelines for the use of social media.  The guidelines are intended to make RCT registrants aware of the positive and negative impact that their social media use can have, and give guidance on appropriate use of social media. The Guidelines should be read alongside the RCT Code of Professional Conduct.

Don’t miss out on the easy way to renew your registration – set up a Direct Debit and make sure your registration doesn’t lapse. Download the form here.

We have received six applications for the two recently advertised Registrant Representative posts on the RCTMP. A ballot is being conducted involving all RCT Registrants and an email has been sent to you with voting instructions. The ballot is being conducted via SurveyMonkey and will close on Friday 27^th November 2015, so don’t delay in casting your vote. The results will be communicated to all Registrants in due course.

The RCT Registrar