When I was first appointed as Chair, I had a clear vision for the HCPC to become a high performing, adaptable and caring regulator that ensures public protection through strong, evidence-based regulation.
I have worked hard with the Council and HCPC’s Executive Leadership Team to deliver that vision, even when faced with the enormous challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
We have achieved some good successes in this time. We have met the PSA’s EDI standard for the first time, improved our fitness to practise process, and moved our registration process fully online. I am proud of the progress that has been made. But we have more to do if we are to be the truly customer-focused, highly efficient regulator that we want to be.
As we embark on the next phase of our improvement journey, we are making a number of changes to our leadership structures that will enable us to go further and faster.
After three years as CEO and Registrar and over 10 years of service at the HCPC, John Barwick has made the decision to move on from the HCPC. The Council and I are united in thanking him for his loyalty, diligence and hard work, including pushing forward the HCPC’s improvement agenda, during such a difficult time for health and care services, and the wider world. He has been a great asset to this organisation and we all wish him well.
During his tenure, he has been instrumental in the development of the HCPC’s Corporate Strategy and he has guided the organisation through the most testing of times, inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
John will be leaving us on 31 December 2022. John and I, together with Council colleagues, have discussed the importance of ensuring that the HCPC continues to have a strong leadership structure in place pending the appointment of his successor.
I am pleased to say that we have appointed our Executive Director of Regulation Andrew Smith as interim Deputy CEO. Our Head of Governance, Claire Amor is joining the Executive Leadership Team as Executive Director of Governance, Assurance and Planning. Andrew and Claire have been central to the progress we have made so far. In their new roles, they will play a pivotal part in maintaining our improvement path and increasing the pace of progress. I look forward to continuing to work closely with them both.
Efficiency starts at the top. To ensure that the HCPC’s leadership is well-run, efficient and co-ordinated, we are establishing a new Office of the Chief Executive and Chair. This will not only ensure smooth and effective working between the Chair and the Chief Executive, it will also deliver a more joined-up approach between the Executive and the Council.
The HCPC remains committed to continuing to deliver against our Corporate Strategy 2021 - 26 and we are confident that these changes will allow us to embed our successes and make further improvements.
Chair of Council
