Professional Standards Authority

04/11/2026

In our latest blog, PSA Deputy Chair Juliet Oliver considers how regulation can move further upstream by:

✔️identifying risks earlier
✔️strengthening governance
✔️making better use of shared intelligence.

Juliet looks at how our new Standards and Right-touch approach can support earlier, coordinated action across health and social care.

Read the blog: www.professionalstandards.org.uk/news-and-updates/news/moving-towards-more-preventative-regulatory-approach

03/11/2026

We welcome the publication of the Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy's report: Unlocking Potential: Transforming Lives.

With over 4000 people and organisations contributing, this report is a big step towards considering how best to protect the public and how counselling and psychotherapy can help growing mental health needs.

We independently accredit registers of health and care practitioners who are not regulated by law, to give people confidence in their services. We want a more strategic approach to regulation and registration alongside workforce planning, so that the right safeguards are considered as health and care roles and services evolve.

Six PSA Accredited Registers form the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies, and the Commission reports that around 82,000 qualified practitioners are registered across those six registers.

www.professionalstandards.org.uk/news-and-updates/news/psa-welcomes-report-commission-future-counselling-and-psychotherapy

02/11/2026

Research commissioned by the Professional Standards Authority found when booking non-surgical cosmetic procedures, like fillers, 36% are influenced by 5-star online reviews. Before booking, take an extra moment to look for the PSA Quality Mark.

Find out more: www.professionalstandards.org.uk/index%2Ephp/look-mark-cosmetics

30/10/2026

Concluding this month's Right-touch regulation hot topic, our latest case study explores how the College of Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Care Aides of Alberta (CLHA) has taken a more person-centred and proportionate approach to complaint resolution.

The CLHA’s revised complaints process is guided by the PSA’s principles of right-touch regulation, particularly proportionality. Rather than referring every complaint to investigation, its approach offers remedial and rehabilitative options, including one-to-one coaching, where appropriate.

Post-coaching surveys indicate registrants report enhanced nursing knowledge and increased confidence in applying learning to practice.

Overall, the new approach has reduced average complaint resolution time from 12 months to four months, while lowering costs and improving the experience for registrants.

Read the case study: https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/publications/case-study-right-touch-regulation-approach-complaint-resolution

30/10/2026

What does it mean to get regulation ‘just right’?

As part of this month's hot topic, you can listen to our Q&A on Right-touch regulation to hear how a balanced approach can help manage risk, protect the public and avoid unnecessary regulatory burden.

Prefer to read? You can find the written version here: https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/improving-regulation/right-touch-regulation/lets-talk-about-right-touch-regulation-qa

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

29/10/2026

We’re inviting abstracts and speaking proposals for the PSA’s 11th annual research conference, in Central London, on Wednesday, 24 February 2027.

The event will be held in partnership with Professor Ann Gallagher, Brunel University, and Professor Robert Jago, Royal Holloway, University of London.

The conference is about regulation, education and the health and care workforce. We will bring together researchers, regulators, educators, policy professionals, health and social care leaders and others to share insights and help shape future research priorities.

We welcome proposals on completed or ongoing research, as well as ideas for research that could address gaps in knowledge. We’re particularly interested in how research insights can bring about positive change in regulatory practice.

The deadline to submit your proposal is 10.00am on Thursday, 3 December 2026. Please do get in touch if you wish to contribute: [email protected]

29/10/2026

We are pleased to see the Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth’s update on the Lord Mann review of antisemitism and other forms of racism in the NHS.

We will be progressing work to develop new guidance for regulators on good practice in equality, diversity and inclusion, alongside further work to tackle antisemitism and other forms of racism in the NHS.

Read the statement:

Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.

28/10/2026

Effective regulation is not about doing more or less. It is about doing what is right for the level of risk.

Right-touch regulation means matching the regulatory response to the level of risk.

In this video, we explore how understanding the problem, assessing the risk and choosing a proportionate, consistent and targeted response can protect people without creating avoidable burdens.

Find out more: www.professionalstandards.org.uk/improving-regulation/right-touch-regulation

🎧 Please note: audio and visuals have been generated using AI

27/10/2026

“Action should have been taken on the basis of concern or suspicion alone, rather than waiting for definitive proof.”
Thirlwall Inquiry, 2026

PSA’s Director of Policy and Communications, Melanie Venables, recently co-chaired and spoke at the Westminster Health Forum conference on the future of professional regulation.

Melanie argued that regulation needs to move upstream, using concerns and other information to identify risks earlier rather than waiting for problems to escalate.

A shared understanding of risk, with clear responsibility for coordinating action, can help the system spot risks earlier, act together and learn faster.

Read more: https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/news-and-updates/news/preventative-regulation-priorities-regulatory-reform

26/10/2026

Catch up on the latest from the Professional Standards Authority.

Our October email update brings together recent news, projects and developments from across our work, including:
🟣AI and healthcare
🟣Statements and regulator news
🟣Blogs and thought leadership
🟣
🟣Healthcare Science
🟣Witness to Harm resources
🟣Accredited Registers news
🟣Where the PSA has been out and about

Read the full October update: www.professionalstandards.org.uk/news-and-updates/news/e-newsletter-standard