Registration Update December 2009

Added on 18 December 2009

You can download the registration update in either word or pdf format at the bottom of this page.

Winifred Tumim

At the beginning of November 2009 we learned with sadness of the sudden death of Winifred Tumim, the founding Chair of the NRCPD. Winifred was a tireless campaigner for better and more accessible communication with deaf people and her work contributed directly to a more equitable and inclusive society. Over the years Winifred gave her time as a trustee, chair and volunteer with many charities and organisations working with and for deaf people. She will leave a huge gap in the NRCPD.

New NRCPD Registration Board members

Two new Registration Board members, Kath Phipps and Ross Trotter, attended the November 2009 Registration Board meeting. Profiles of all Registration Board members can be found by clicking here.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

The NRCPD Registration Board has agreed in principle that CPD should become a requirement of registration from January 2011 (at the earliest).

Discussions are underway to determine a system that will enable the NRCPD to track and record CPD.

There will inevitably be a cost involved in CPD. As yet it is not clear what the cost will be but the intention is to keep it as low as possible. We will update everyone as and when further information becomes available.

If you have any views on CPD please email these to: enquiries@nrcpd.org.uk. Your comments will be considered by the NRCPD Registration Board during 2010.

Code of Conduct for Communication Professionals

With effect from 1 January 2010 there will be one Code of Conduct for all Communication Professionals replacing all previous Codes. The draft Code was posted on the NRCPD website in August 2009 to allow the views of interested parties to be sought. All comments received were considered by the NRCPD Registration Board at its November meeting and, where appropriate, have been included in the amended version.

The new Code is in the News Updates section of the NRCPD website or can be found by clicking here.

Complaints Procedure

At the request of the NRCPD Registration Board the existing Complaints and Disciplinary Procedures for each profession have recently been reviewed with the aim of having one Complaints Procedure for all Communication Professionals. The revised draft procedure can be found in the News Updates section of the NRCPD website or by clicking here.

We value any views or suggestions you have on the draft procedure and encourage you to read it and send any comments to: enquiries@nrcpd.org.uk by Friday 12 February 2010.

The amended version will be presented to the NRCPD Registration Board for consideration at its March 2010 meeting.

Highest Numbers registered

At the end of October 2009, for the first time ever on the Register there are:

over 500 MRSLI
over 700 sign language interpreters and
over 800 communication professionals across all Registers

We would like to thank all registered communication professionals for your continued support and all those on the NRCPD Committees who tirelessly champion the need for registration.

Registration Fees

Current registration fees will remain unchanged until 31 August 2010.

Vetting and Barring Scheme (Independent Safeguarding Authority)

As you are probably aware changes to the regulation of those working with vulnerable adults and children came into force in October 2009. The Vetting and Barring Scheme will maintain a constantly updated list of people who are unsuitable to work with vulnerable adults and children. All existing barring lists will be incorporated. The Scheme will do this by vetting all those who wish to work with vulnerable groups and barring those where the information shows they pose a risk of harm.

The details of how the Scheme is to be introduced are currently unclear. We therefore encourage you to read the Guidance document relating to this Scheme which can be found at www.isa-gov.org.uk

The key dates for the scheme are as follows:

12 October 2009: Launch date and implementation of the ISA’s new barred lists (ie ISA Adults’ Barred List and ISA Children’s Barred List which replace POCA, POVA and List 99).

26 July 2010: ISA registration available for new employees and those changing jobs in regulated activity, either paid or voluntary.

1 November 2010: ISA registration becomes mandatory for new employees and those changing jobs in regulated activity, either paid or voluntary.

January 2011 - July 2015: Existing workforce is phased into the Scheme.

As more information becomes available, NRCPD will find out what we need to do and what you need to do.

If you are self-employed and already working in regulated activity, an umbrella body will be able to advise you when to apply. A list of umbrella organisations is available from the CRB website (http://www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk). If you obtain useful information from any of the organisations on the list please let us know and we will pass this on to other colleagues.

If you have thoughts on the Scheme please let us know by emailing enquiries@nrcpd.org.uk. The NRCPD Registration Board will be discussing the Scheme early in 2010.

Registration Renewal

As you know your registration as a communication professional is valid for a year. At the beginning of the month in which your registration expires we will send you an email to remind you to start the renewal process and attach guidance notes on how to do this. You’ll be pleased to know that the details you entered when you first registered online will already be recorded for you.

To avoid a gap in your registration please remember to leave enough time to complete the online process, provide any required new supporting information and have both checked and signed off before your registration expiry date.

Don't forget if your CRB Enhanced Disclosure is nearing 3 years old, start the renewal process for that now!

You can check the expiry date of your registration on your current ID card or by logging into your online registration application and looking in the “Registration Status” section.

Merry Christmas

On behalf of the NRCPD we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

NRCPD - The National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People