JCCP agrees memorandum of understanding with key organisations

The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with keys organisations in the aesthetics, dental and medical sectors as it moves forward with its plans to tighten up standards of practice in the industry.

MoU's have been signed with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), General Dental Council (GDC), the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS). 

The purpose of the MoUs are to set out a framework between the various organisations and the JCCP and to allow the JCCP to share any concerns it has about registrants with these bodies as well as to work collaboratively with them in the interests of public protection. 

This will include: 

• Effective channels of communication and information sharing are established and maintained  to promote patient safety and high quality services for patients receiving non-surgical aesthetic treatments
• Where appropriate and necessary, the processes and procedures adopted by the organisations with regard to matters of ‘fitness to practice’ for professionals involved in the provision of non-surgical aesthetic treatments, are aligned to promote patient safety and public protection
• Oopenness and transparency between the organisations as to when cooperation is and is not considered necessary or appropriate 
  
  

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) 

Professor Sines commented, "Nurses represent nearly 50% of all registered professional health care practitioners working in non-surgical aesthetics. The JCCP is delighted to have signed this agreement with the NMC which sets in place clear operational arrangements for working together on matters relating to public protection and patient safety."

The NMC Director of Fitness to Practise, Matthew McClelland said, “Across the UK, hundreds of people have non-surgical cosmetic procedures every day, with many undertaken by registered nurses. This Memorandum of Understanding builds on our strong working relationship with the JCCP. It cements our commitment to ensuring high standards and supporting better, safer care, while giving a clear framework for communication where there are concerns about the practice of individuals.” 

The General Dental Council (GDC)

Professor Sines, commented, “An increasing number of dental professionals are now engaged in delivering non-surgical treatments. The JCCP is delighted to have signed this agreement with the GDC which recognizes the JCCP educational, clinical and practice-based standards and puts in place clear operational arrangements for the exchange of information and for working together on ‘fitness to practice cases”. 

Ian Brack, Chief Executive and Registrar at the General Dental Council (GDC), said, “One of our primary purposes at the GDC is to protect public safety. Where it is appropriate and proper to share information in the interest of public safety, we are keen to agree memoranda of understanding such as this one. We look forward to working with the JCCP to further-develop our joint approach in the field of non-surgical cosmetic practice.” 

Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)

Key objectives of the Partnership 

• • To promote public protection and patient safety by encouraging aesthetic pharmacists to practice safely and effectively through the use of both RPS and JCCP competencies and standards. 
• • Raising the professional profile of aesthetic practice undertaken by aesthetic pharmacists. 
• • Ensuring access to appropriate aesthetic training by aesthetic pharmacists. 
• The M of U agrees mutual recognition of RPS and JCCP standards through appropriate channels of communication, specifically:- 
• • The RPS Competency Framework for all Prescribers 
• • The JCCP Competency Framework for Cosmetic Practice 
• • The JCCP Standards to enter the JCCP Approved Education and Training Provider Register 
• • The JCCP/CPSA Code of Practice for Cosmetic Practitioners. 

The partnership supports actions to encourage aesthetic pharmacists working in aesthetics to become JCCP registrants and RPS members and JCCP approved education and training providers to allow aesthetic pharmacists to take part in appropriate training aligned to the JCCP Competency Framework for Cosmetic Practice. 

Professor Sines said, "We are aware that an increasing number of pharmacists are now engaged in delivering non-surgical treatments. The JCCP is delighted to have signed this partnership with the RPhS which recognizes the JCCP educational, clinical and practice-based standards and puts in place clear arrangements to enable pharmacists to join the JCCP Practitioner Register, access key training programmes and encourages aesthetic pharmacists to join the RPS." 

Robbie Turner, Director of Pharmacy and Member Experience - RPS said, “We are really pleased to be working with the JCCP to raise the profile of aesthetic pharmacy and to promote professional aesthetic practice. Our respective competency frameworks and standards support this, together with access to appropriate training. Pharmacists should join both RPS and JCCP practitioner register to make full use of the support available to them.” 

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Together, the GPhC and JCCP have agreed to a working relationship which will be characterised by regular contact and open exchange of information to: 

• • Maintain patient safety and confidence in pharmacy services and pharmacy professionals 
• • Support the sharing of information, intelligence, expertise and experience 
• • Contribute to improving the regulatory oversight of pharmacy activities 
• • Define the circumstances in which the two organisations will act independently. 

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the GPhC said, “We are pleased to have agreed this MoU with the JCCP and we are committed to implementing it. This MoU is part of our ongoing efforts to protect patients by collaborating with our partners and improving the sharing of information with the sector. This is particularly important as the scope and range of pharmacy services change at pace.” 

SQA Accreditation

An MoU has also been signed that sets out the arrangements for working on matters of common interest including the design and development of high quality qualifications in the area of non-surgical aesthetic treatments. 

SQA Accreditation will keep the JCCP informed and up to date on all matters with regard to developments in vocational and technical qualifications for practitioners in the relevant fields, on any evidence based findings with regard to relevant awarding organisations and education and training providers and any actions it is proposing to take on developments and information it receives. 

The JCCP will reciprocate in these arrangements and will advise SQA Accreditation on matters relating to the recognition and development of education, clinical and practice-based standards associated with non-surgical treatments (including hair restoration surgery) as prescribed by the JCCP and the Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority (CPSA). 

Dr Janet Brown – Chief Executive of SQA Accreditation said, "SQA Accreditation recognises that safety and precision in this sector is of paramount importance in light of the sector growth and public interest in non-surgical treatments. SQA Accreditation wants to ensure that we play a pivotal role in maintaining standards in this sector in order to provide greater public assurance. Through ongoing and open dialogue with the JCCP we feel that we are in the best position to ensure that the accredited qualifications for practitioners in the area of non-surgical aesthetic treatments, are fit for purpose for the people of Scotland."