Character
When we look at whether an applicant is of ‘good character’ we take account of conduct in the past which indicates that the applicant may be dishonest, untrustworthy, capable of harming service users or to act in a manner which undermines public confidence in the profession in question.
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 does not apply to an application for HCPC registration, so you must declare to us any convictions or police cautions that you have received, even if they are ‘spent’ under that Act, other than a protected caution or protected conviction.
A caution is protected from disclosure less than six years after it was accepted (or immediately protected if the offender was under 18 when it was accepted). A conviction is protected from disclosure after less than 11 years (or less than five years and six months if the offender was under 18 when convicted).
In either case a conviction resulting in a custodial sentence will not be protected and must always be disclosed to us.
A caution or conviction will not be protected if it is for a ‘listed offence’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. These include serious violent or sexual offences and offences of specific relevance to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. A caution or conviction for a listed offence must always be disclosed to us.
Further guidance on listed offences may be found on the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
Vetting and barring
Vetting and Barring schemes have been introduced across the UK to make sure that unsuitable individuals are not able to work with children or vulnerable adults.
You must tell us if you have been barred from working with children or vulnerable adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 or the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.
Health and disability
You are asked to provide us with information about your health if it may affect your fitness to practise. We are not asking whether you are ‘healthy’, as many health conditions can be managed appropriately so that the applicant is still able to practise their profession safely and effectively.
We recognise that a disability may not be seen as a health condition but we also need information about any disability that may affect your fitness to practise.
Having a disability should not be seen as a barrier to joining the HCPC’s Register as you are a health and care professional in the country you qualified in. We have produced guidance called A disabled person’s guide to becoming a health and care professional which you should refer to for more information before you answer the questions in this section.
Final declaration
We will only process your application if you have completed this declaration. You should make sure that you fully understand the declaration before signing it.
Background checks
We will conduct background checks to verify the information provided in your application. These may be undertaken by the HCPC, its agents or their representatives.
The information you provide may be disclosed to government agencies and other third parties such as employers, referees and professional bodies. The information may be used outside of the EEA if appropriate
