The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments and Practitioner Psychologists) Order 2009 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provisions) Order of Council 2009

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force, on 1st July 2009, the new governance arrangements for the Health Professions Council (“HPC”) that are set out in the Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments and Practitioner Psychologists) Order 2009 (“the principal Order”). The principal change is that the Council, instead of having a mix of elected registrant and appointed lay members, will now be fully appointed, and its constitution is now to be set out in a separate Order of the Privy Council. The new governance arrangements also include revised arrangements for the constitutions of HPC’s statutory committees.

Statutory regulation of practitioner psychologists, by the HPC, is also brought into force on 1st July 2009. In connection with this, there are transitional arrangements (in article 3) which will allow both chartered psychologists and psychologists registered with the HPC to continue to carry out certain functions currently reserved to chartered psychologists for the duration of the three year transitional period during which existing practitioners without recognised qualifications will be able to join the HPC’s register in certain circumstances. In most cases, chartered psychologists also need to have practising certificates to carry out these functions, and these certificates are issued by the British Psychological Society, which is also the body responsible for conferring chartered status on psychologists.

This Order also brings into force on 1st July 2009 an amendment to the Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Order 2007 which removes a consultation requirement in relation to rules relating to legal and other specialist advisers.

This Order brings into force, on 1st October 2009, the new governance arrangements for the General Dental Council (“GDC”) that are set out in the principal Order. The principal change is that the Council, instead of having a mix of elected registrant and appointed lay members will now (like the HPC) be fully appointed, and its constitution is now to be set out in a separate Order of the Privy Council. The new governance arrangements (again like the HPC) also include revised arrangements for the GDC’s statutory committees and in respect of the use of standing orders.

This Order brings into force, on 6th April 2010, the removal of the income tax exemptions for professional fees associated with entries in the Register of Chartered Psychologists.