CORU Newsletter August 2017

Welcome to the second edition of CORU’s newsletter for 2017. The newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the progress we are making in developing a system of regulation for Ireland’s Health and Social Care Professionals. 

The role of CORU is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional education, conduct, training and competence amongst registrants of the designated professions.

This newsletter is only one of the ways we will be communicating with you about our progress. You can also check our website www.coru.ie for updates about our work and contact us by emailing info@coru.ie with any queries you may have. 

Meet CORU

During September and October, CORU will host a series of information events around the country to provide CORU registrants with the opportunity to hear CORU updates in relation to registration, continuing professional development, fitness to practise, enforcement and the current review of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. There will also be an opportunity to speak directly to us with any questions you may have.

We will have two sessions available in each location to help facilitate as many attendees as possible. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis so early registration is advised.

Please click on your preferred location/time to register your interest in attending.
If you have any queries, please contact info@coru.ie.

Cork - 26 September - 2-4 pm 
Cork - 26 September - 6-8 pm


Limerick - 27 September - 2-4 pm 
Limerick - 27 September - 6-8 pm 


Galway - 10 October - 2-4 pm 
Galway - 10 October - 6-8 pm 


Sligo - 11 October - 2-4 pm 
Sligo - 11 October - 6-8 pm 


Dublin - 18 October - 2-4 pm
Dublin - 18  October - 6-8 pm 

Public Consultation on the Framework Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics 2017

In 2010, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council at CORU developed a Framework Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics detailing common standards across its regulated professions. The Framework Code is for use by each Registration Board to adopt its own Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics.

This Code outlines the standards of ethical behaviour, conduct and performance that the public expects from registrants. Each year registrants will be asked to pledge that they comply with the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. It is essential that all registrants read, understand and meet the standards set out in this Code.

The Framework Code was reviewed and updated in 2013, and a further review and update is now being undertaken due to changes in legislation and policy.

The Council now seeks the views of the public, the professions, representative bodies and other interested parties on the draft Framework Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics 2017.  We hope you will take the time to share your views and thoughts with us.
Please click here for full details on the consultation.

Balloon Man Ltd. Pleads Guilty to mis-selling of Cosmetic Contact Lenses following investigation by CORU's Enforcement Division

On 26 July 2017, CORU, the regulator for Health and Social Care Professionals in Ireland secured a conviction against Balloon Man Ltd for the mis-selling of cosmetic contact lenses at its premises in Sandyford Industrial Estate. The company which pleaded guilty to the offences in the Dublin District Court was fined €400 each for two separate offences by Judge Conal Gibbons. The company also agreed to pay a contribution of €2,000 towards CORU’s costs. Please click here to read more >

Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2017 

On 20 June 2017, the first steps in the journey of the Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2017 through the Houses of the Oireachtas commenced. One of the main tasks of this amendment is to facilitate the protection of the title “physical therapist” and to allow for the one year special period for those who have been working as physical therapists to apply to be considered for registration by the Physiotherapists Registration Board. 
 
The Minister for Health's speech in the Dáil also outlined a number of other important upcoming developments, namely that the:

• Psychologists Registration Board would be established in the coming weeks (please see below for further details as the members were appointed on the 21 July 2017);
• Registration will be progressed for all by the end of 2018; and 
• Following the consultation process, counsellors and psychotherapists will be designated as regulated professions.

Social Care Workers Registration Board Launch Educational Standards and Criteria

The Social Care Workers Registration Board launched the Standards of Proficiency for Social Care Workers and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes on the 31 May, in O’Callaghan’s Mont Clare Hotel, Dublin. The event was well attended by representatives from education providers, professional bodies, unions and state bodies such as QQI and HIQA. 

The launch of the Social Care Workers Registration Board’s requirements signals a twenty four month ‘lead in’ period for education providers to prepare for the programme approval process. Education providers are encouraged to review these requirements in detail to meet the standards required of the Standards of Proficiency for Social Care Workers. Further support and information is available from CORU and will be provided to education providers who wish to apply for programme approval over the course of the coming months. 

Please click here to read more about the launch and to view the documents in full > 

Pictured at the launch (left to right): Ginny Hanrahan, CEO/Registrar CORU, Madeleine Mulrennan, Educational Consultant and Aoife Sweeney, Head of Education, CORU. 

Appointment of the Psychologists Registration Board

The Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, confirmed on the 21 July 2017 the establishment of and appointment of members to the Psychologists Registration Board, under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (amended). The first meeting of the Psychologists Registration Board is scheduled for the 19 September 2017. This is the tenth Registration Board established under the Act. 

We look forward to working with the members of the Psychologists Registration Board to establish the register. To learn more about the members appointed, please click here.

New Council and Registration Board Members Appointed

There have been 18 appointments made to the Health and Social Care Professionals Council and Registration Boards over the past three months by the Minister for Health.

CORU would like to welcome all new members and thank them for taking on this important role. Details of all the new members appointed can be viewed on our website. 

We'd also like to show our appreciation to all of the outgoing Registration Board and Council members for their work and significant contribution to CORU. Thank you to all of the members, all of whom participate on a voluntary basis, for their ongoing commitment, collaborative effort and involvement in policy and decision making. 

CORU featured in The Irish Times

Ginny Hanrahan, CEO/Registrar was interviewed by Sylvia Thompson of The Irish Times to discuss CORU's role in protecting the public. Please click here to read the article.

Ten Months of the Grandparenting Period for Physiotherapists Elapsed

On 30 September 2016, the Register of Physiotherapists opened and the Physiotherapists Registration Board has commenced registering physiotherapists. Section 91 of the 2005 Act, provides for a two year transitional period (grandparenting period) for existing practitioners to register.

Please note that over 40% of this time period has already elapsed, and there is no provision in the legislation to provide for an extension of this two-year period. The transitional (grandparenting period) for existing practitioners will close on 30 September 2018.

Please also note that the current processing times for registration applications is between 8 and 16 weeks, however an increase in applications towards the end of the grandparenting period, is likely to increase these estimated time frames considerably.

Click here for more information on the application process.

30 September 2017

• Physiotherapists (S38)

31 October 2017

• Dietitians
• Speech and Language Therapists
• Radiographers
• Radiation Therapists

Recognition Update
If an applicant holds a qualification from outside of the Republic of Ireland, for a profession regulated by CORU and is interested in working here, they must first apply to the Registration Board for recognition of their professional qualification.

In 2016, 405 applications for recognition of international qualifications were received. Since 1 January 2017, CORU has processed 285 applications for recognition and there have been 226 decisions made by the Registration Boards on applications. 66% of applications for recognition of international qualifications have been received from the following professions - radiographers and radiation therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Please click here to learn more about the recognition application process >

CPD Model Review

A planned review of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) model used by the Registration Boards at CORU is commencing shortly. This review will involve significant consultation with registrants, professional bodies, employers and other stakeholders. The majority of this consultation will take place between September and November 2017 and registrants are encouraged to participate when invited. The CORU website will be used to provide project updates throughout the review. In addition to this, CPD will be discussed at the upcoming "Meet CORU" events. 

Social Workers CPD Audit

The Social Workers Registration Board are currently undertaking a CPD audit with their registrants. Further information about this audit can be found on the CORU website. Portfolios are still being accepted. Any social worker who is interested in participating in the audit should email cpdaudit@coru.ie to arrange a submission. 

Speech and Language Therapists Criteria and Standards of Proficiency Review and Update 

The Speech and Language Therapists Registration Board is currently reviewing and updating their Criteria for Education and Training Programmes and Standards of Proficiency for Speech and Language Therapists to reflect the updated Council approved frameworks.

The Board is inviting feedback from their stakeholders, including registrants, on the draft documents. The consultation period is open until Monday 21 August at 5pm. More information can be found here >

Public Consultation on the Dietitians Registration Board Approved Qualifications Bye-Law 2017

The Dietitians Registration Board is seeking the views of the public, members of the profession and other interested parties on the Dietitians Registration Board Approved Qualifications Bye-Law 2017. 

The consultation period is open until Monday 21 August at 5pm. Information on the consultation process including the text of the bye-law is available on www.coru.ie

Review Team - Training and Development

Registration Boards carry out the approval and monitoring of education and training programmes for the regulated health and social care professions under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended). 

Review Teams assist the Registration Board with this work. The Education Unit developed and delivered a training programme to enable reviewers carry out this function in 2016. They prepared and delivered an even more in-depth training for 2017. 

To learn more about the Review Team and what the objectives of the training are, please visit our website>

CORU has just completed a recruitment campaign for members of our Disciplinary Committees under Part 6 of the Act (Fitness to Practise) and the Appeals Committee for Part 4 of the Act. While we received high numbers of expressions of interest from both Registrant and Non-Registrant applicants, we are still looking for applications from registered Dietitians and Dispensing Opticians.

If you are a current registered member of one of these professions and are interested in becoming a member of one of these committees, please email recruitment@coru.ie for an application form.

CLEAR Educational Conference 2017

Council for Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR)'s Annual Educational Conference is attended by more than 600 members of the regulatory community from across North America, Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Conference content is developed by and for members of the regulatory community and focuses on four areas of inquiry:

• Compliance and discipline
• Testing and examination issues
• Entry to practice issues
• Administration, legislation and policy

CORU is delighted that three members of staff have had papers accepted for presentation at the CLEAR Educational Conference 2017. Ginny Hanrahan, CEO/Registrar, Aoife Sweeney, Head of Education and Orla Barry, Education Policy & Standards Manager will all be in attendance to present their latest research findings. 

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