Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

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Partnership and stakeholder engagement

The pages and links below are some of the partnerships and stakeholder engagement which we are involved with along with regulatory bodies.

Strategic Learning and Research Advisory Group for Health and Social Care (StLaR)

The Strategic Learning and Research Advisory Group for Health and Social Care (STLAR) works in partnership with the Department for Education and Skills. The purpose of StLaR is to improve and oversee joint working at the interface between the health and social care and education sectors at central government level.

Council Heads of Medical Schools (CHMS)

The Council of Heads of Medical Schools and Deans of UK Faculties of Medicine is the authoritative voice of the Deans/Heads of University Faculties of Medicine and Medical Schools in the UK. Links to all the UK medical school websites can be found at:

NHS Employers

NHS Employers is the employers' organisation for the NHS in England, giving employers throughout the NHS an independent voice on workforce and employment matters.

Department for Education and Skills (DFES)

The Department for Education and Skills was established with the purpose of creating opportunity, releasing potential and achieving excellence for all.

Universities UK (UUK)

Universities UK (UUK) formerly known as the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom (CVCP). Universities UK is the essential voice of all the UK universities.  They promote and support  their work and provide services to members, the executive heads.

Strategic Health Authorities (SHA)

SHAs deliver stronger commissioning functions, leading to improved service for patients and better value for money for the taxpapyer.

SHAs are responsible for:

  • developing plans for improving health services in their local area
  • making sure local health services are of a high quality and are performing well
  • increasing the capacity of local health services - so they can provide more services

The Workforce Review Team (WRT)

The Workforce Review Team is a national body working on behalf of the NHS in England.

WRT produces reliable data and intelligence about the workforce needed to deliver high quality modern health and social care, to meet changing demands. Our analysis is trusted and helps drive decision making and shape workforce strategies. We have a reputation for accuracy and impartiality.

Foundation Degree Forward

Foundation Degree Forward’s primary objective is to support the development of high quality Foundation Degrees. The organisation has its origins in the Government's white paper The future of higher education published in January 2003.

NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement

The mission of the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement is to improve health outcomes and raise the quality of delivery in the NHS by accelerating the uptake of proven innovation and improvements in healthcare delivery models and processes, medical products and devices and healthcare leadership.

Skills for Care

Working in consultation with carers, employers and service users, Skills for Care aims to modernise adult social care in England, by ensuring qualifications and standards continually adapt to meet the changing needs of people who use care services.

Skills for Health (SfH)

Skills for Health (SfH) was established in April 2002 and licenced by DfES as the UK Sector Skills Council (SSC) for health in May of 2004. SfH are part of the NHS, being hosted by a Trust, but with their own Board and management.
SfH cover the whole health sector – NHS, independent and voluntary employers. SfH are funded through the four UK health departments, SSDA, the Education Act Regulatory Bodies and the sector.

Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE)

CHRE is a statutory overarching body, covering all of the United Kingdom and separate from Government, established from April 2003.

CHRE promotes best practice and consistency in the regulation of healthcare professionals.

When CHRE were established in 2003, they were called the Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals (CRHP). However, it was decided to change the name because it would better reflect their role and purpose and avoid possible confusion with bodies of a similar name.

General Medical Council

The purpose of the General Medical Council (GMC) is to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public by ensuring proper standards in the practice of medicine.

The law gives us four main functions under the Medical Act:

  • keeping up-to-date registers of qualified doctors
  • fostering good medical practice
  • promoting high standards of medical education
  • dealing firmly and fairly with doctors whose fitness to practise is in doubt

General Social Care Council (GSCC)

The General Social Care Council is the workforce regulator and guardian of standards for the social care workforce in England. We were established in October 2001 under the Care Standards Act 2000.

Health Professions Council (HPC)

HPC – Is a regulator and its job is to protect the health and wellbeing of people who use the services of the health professionals registered with them. At the moment, they register members of 13 professions. Arts therapists, chiropodists, clinical scientists, dietitians, medical laboratory technicians, occupational therapists, orthoptists, prosthetics and orthotists, paramedics, physiotherapists, radiographers and speech and language therapists. They only register people who meet the HPC standards for their professional skills, behaviour and health.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

The Nursing and Midwifery Council is an organisation set up by Parliament to protect the public by ensuring that nurses and midwives provide high standards of care to their patients and clients.

To achieve its aims, the NMC:

  • maintains a register of qualified nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses
  • sets standards for conduct, performance and ethics
  • provides advice for nurses and midwives
  • considers allegations of misconduct, lack of competence or unfitness to practise due to ill health

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