Line managers supporting CRP Registration

This page contains weblinks and resources for line managers supporting CRP Registration. 

Please click on the links below to see the information you need.

The AHCS PSA Accredited Register for CRPs

The AHCS PSA Accredited Register for CRPs is part of the Professional Standards Authority’s accredited register programme that supports over 90,000 practitioners across different health and care occupational groups.  It helps to keep patients and research participants safe by supporting high standards and ongoing professional development. 

CRPs who have at least one year of experience working at the practitioner level of the Skills for Health Career Framework, who meet defined standards of proficiency and engage in continuing professional development can apply to join the Register. 

Accredited registers are an important part of the regulatory landscape in the UK.  If an accredited register exists, there is an expectation that employers will encourage and support their employees to join because of the added level of assurance it provides.

This NHS Employers guide covers professional registration and qualification checks.

Why CRP registration matters

• Uphold high standards: Make sure your team maintains high standards of care and research to protect the public

• Quality assurance:  Demonstrate a commitment to excellence for the CRP workforce

• Improves research: Drive better research outcomes through a skilled workforce

• Clear career paths:  Provide a structured framework for roles, training, and career progression

• Show your support: The registration process supports your team with their career development

• Attract and retain staff: Become an employer of choice for CRPs

• Increase your impact: Promote your CRPs to primary care, community settings, and the life sciences industry 

Competency Frameworks 

Line managers need to confirm that their organisation uses a competency framework (or equivalent evidence based approach to knowledge and skills development) to track professional development. You may have a defined competency framework in use in your organisation, or you can access and/or adopt use of one of the resources identified below.   

Listening to your feedback

Voluntary accredited registers provide a way to address concerns about a registrant’s fitness to practise, both in terms of professional performance and acts that may have an effect on public protection. By supporting CRPs to become Registered, line managers demonstrate their own commitment to safety. 

The registration process requires CRPs to discuss their practice in relation to the Scope of Practice for CRPs and to highlight their development needs. This creates opportunities to address any concerns and agree development priorities.

The development of the AHCS PSA Accredited Register for CRPs presents a significant change for CRP line managers. We understand that some may feel uncomfortable about their role in confirming applications or not understand the purpose and value of accredited registers. The formal nature of registration and accountability for sign off may feel challenging, partly because the process is new and will be open to audit. As with all assurances, those given by confirmers signing CRP registration applications are accepted as being offered in good faith based on the information available at the time.

Currently applicants come from various educational backgrounds and have varying levels of experience.  This being captured within locally documented assurance and serves as a central feature of the public assurance offered by the AHCS PSA Accredited Register for CRPs.  This process will also inform the development of standardised education and training for CRPs in the future.