HCPC proposes 16 per cent fee rise

In a statement, the council said it had launched a consultation about the increase. The announcement came as it expects to lose revenue after its responsibilities for social workers move to a new regulator, Social Work England.

The organisation is financed through the registration fees it receives. It does not receive a regular government grant.

Last year, almost a quarter of its revenue came from social work fees.

Essential to practice

HCPC registration is essential for physiotherapists and members of 15 other health professions to practice in the UK. Nearly 270,000 people on the HCPC register would be affected by the increase.

Marc Seale, the HCPC’s chief executive, said: ‘The consultation sets out where registrants’ fees are spent and why the increases are needed.

‘It also highlights how these increases compare to our existing fees and provides information on our financial performance, including the efficiencies we have already made.

Lowest renewal fee

‘If adopted, we would continue to have the lowest renewal fee of all the health and care regulators overseen by the Professional Standards Authority.’

The consultation is open until 14 December. If the proposal is adopted, the higher fee would be introduced on 1 October next year.

The CSP is studying the details and will be responding on behalf of members.