The Professional Standards Authority’s Accredited Registers Scheme

There are a wide range of health occupations and social care occupations in England where practitioners are not required by law to be on a statutory professional register, including Play Therapy and its derivatives. Many of these occupational groups have formed organisations – such as Play Therapy UK – whose role is to develop and maintain standards of professionalism in their area of practice. Frequently, these organisations hold registers of practitioners who meet certain standards of conduct and competence. Many of these organisations act as representative bodies, promoting the interests of their occupational group.

The Professional Standards Authority’s Accredited Registers scheme exists to provide assurance that accredited registers are well run and achieve its high standards in the following areas: governance, setting standards for registrants, education and training, managing the register, complaints and information. Accredited registers require their registrants to meet standards of personal behaviour, technical competence and, where applicable, business practice.

Since December 2012, the Authority has been inviting organisations holding registers of health and care occupations to apply for accreditation. Play Therapy UK participated actively in the consultative process leading up to the definition of the standards and was one of five professional organisations chosen to test the accreditation processes. The Play Therapy UK Register was formally approved on the 11th April 2013.

Accredited organisations are able to display the Authority’s registered AVR symbol and are listed on the Authority’s website. Organisations or registers not listed on the Authority’s website have not been accredited by the Authority.