Good Scientific Practice replaced The RCCP Standards for Conduct Performance and Ethics on 1st April 2022. This is effective for all RCCP Registrants and applicants to the Register.
Good Scientific Practice
Patients are the number one priority and their safety in all settings where the healthcare science workforce
operate is paramount. The purpose of Good Scientific Practice (GSP) is to set out the professional standards
on which safe and good working practice is founded for all those in the healthcare science workforce.
GSP also confirms to employers the standards of behaviour and practice that all members of the healthcare
science workforce must be supported to achieve and maintain, both in the NHS and all others sectors and
settings. The standards are essential for all members of the workforce to perform their job role activities;
provide safe, effective patient care; and demonstrate their professionalism.
GSP uses the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency for Clinical Scientists and
Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics as its benchmarks. It also draws on other regulatory and
professional body standards and expresses them within the context of the healthcare science.
What the professional standards mean for different groups
Service users, carers and the public
If you are receiving care, treatment or other services from one of our registrants, or you might do so in the future, the standards will help you to understand how our registrants should behave towards you. The standards will also be helpful if you are a carer. On the rare occasions that something goes wrong, anyone can raise a concern through our fitness to practice procedure. We can take action when there are serious concerns about a clinical physiologist’s knowledge, skills or behaviour. We use the standards of conduct, performance and ethics to help us decide whether we need to take action to protect the public.
Registrants and applicants
If you are registered with us, you must make sure that you are familiar with the standards and that you continue to meet them. If you are applying to be registered, you will need to sign a declaration to confirm that you will keep to the standards once you are registered. As a registrant, you are personally responsible for the way you behave. You will need to use your judgement so that you make informed and reasonable decisions and meet the standards. You must always be prepared to justify your decisions and actions. Making informed and reasonable decisions might include getting advice and support from colleagues, education providers, employers, professional bodies, trade unions or other people. In particular, we recognise the valuable role professional bodies play in representing and promoting the interests of their members. This often includes providing guidance and advice about good practice, which can help you meet the standards.
Students
The standards also apply to you if you are a student on an RCCP accredited programme.
