July 2011 - BASW England Consultation Response to HPC consultation – Updating the ‘Guidance on Health and Character’

The guidance is clear. However, we are not sure whether the guidance would ensure consistency in self-declarations about health, ie an illness, condition or disability affecting someone’s fitness to practise. From the fact that the HPC rarely refuses registration based on information received, it would appear that most people are referred by others or self-declare erroneously. An explanation for this is that sometimes the guidance implies the applicant or registrant should mention health issues which might affect their ability to practise safely and appropriately (‘You only need to declare information about a health condition if you believe that your health may affect your ability to practise safely and effectively. If you tell us you have a health condition that might affect your fitness to practise, we will use the information you give us to decide whether you should be registered.’