Registration Categories
The UKBHC differentiates categories of registration relating to the level of experience of the applicant and their fitness to practice.
Full Registration:
Full registration is intended for chaplains working at Agenda for Change Band 6 and above, and who have developed their competence through extended supervised practice and training to the level of an autonomous practitioner, i.e. responsible for a wide ranging/ complex caseload of patients/clients. It is possible for a chaplain who meets the criteria for full registration to register even though their current post may be at Agenda for Change Band 5.
Provisional or Student Registration:
Provisional or Student registration is intended for chaplains in their first appointment who have developed the competence of a practitioner responsible for a routine caseload of patients/clients or for students undertaking a programme of academic study such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Chaplaincy. It is expected that chaplains with provisional or student registration will go on to apply for full registration once they have fulfilled the requirements for supervised practice and the development of their knowledge and skills as a healthcare chaplain.
Registered with conditions
Conditions may be appropriate where there is evidence of incompetence or significant shortcomings in practice but where the Professional Conduct panel can be satisfied that there is potential for the chaplain to respond positively to training and supervision. The purpose is to enable the chaplain to remedy any deficiencies in his or her practice whilst in the meantime protecting patients from harm. The chaplain will be subject to a future review hearing which will determine whether the objectives of any conditions have been achieved. Any conditions should be appropriate, proportionate, workable and measurable.
Suspended
Suspension for a defined period is likely to be appropriate: (1) for misconduct that is serious, but not so serious as to justify removal from the register (for example where there may have been acknowledgement of fault and where the panel is satisfied that the behaviour or incident is unlikely to be repeated); (2) in a case of deficient performance in which the chaplain poses a risk of harm to patients but where there is evidence that he or she has gained insight into their deficiencies and has the potential to be rehabilitated if prepared to undergo a programme of education and training. During the period of suspension the chaplain should not practise as an autonomous practitioner and should not perform on-call duties. [the GMC does not permit doctors to practice during suspension but allows contact with patients under supervision of a full registered practitioner] . The chaplain will be subject to a future review hearing which will determine whether the objectives of the suspension have been achieved.
Removed
A chaplain may be removed from the register to protect patients and the wider public interests. Cases of serious misconduct may lead to removal and include sexual misconduct, dishonesty, a serious failure to act in the patient’s best interest, and a serious failure to meet standards of professional performance. A conviction or caution in the British for a criminal offence, or a conviction elsewhere for an offence which, if committed in England and Wales, would constitute a criminal offence may also be grounds for removal.
Not Registered
A chaplain who cannot meet the criteria for registration or provides insufficient information or evidence to meet the criteria cannot be registered.
Registration Fees
Registration Fee for 2021
The registration fee for 2021 is £60 and will be requested by e-mail during January 2018. The fee is comparable with other healthcare professions and considerably lower than some.
Professional Registration
During 2018 The Board achieved Voluntary Professional Registration with the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Your Board Registration Fee includes the annual registration fee for the PSA.
Updating your Personal Information
When you go to the fee payments page you will be asked to update your personal information. Please ensure we have a Personal E-Mail Address this will help us keep in touch with reminders and information.
How do I pay?
The Board has a secure automated system using PayPal to handle and record payments. All registrants will be notified via email with details of how to make your payment. You can access the payment page using the link below. If you are not already logged in to the UKBHC website, you will be asked to log in before you can access the page.
A small number of registrants have reported difficulties with PayPal not accepting their payment. Please note the following advice:
- You may need to make your payment from your home as some NHS systems block personal payments and websites such as PayPal.
- If you have ever used PayPal in the past the system may recognise some of your details and require you to login to your account rather than pay by card.
If you are unable to pay your fee using PayPal you can pay by cheque to the treasurer or BACS but be advised it can take up to four weeks for a BACS payment to be confirmed. If you pay by cheque or BACS please remember to update your personal information on the UKBHC Website and in particular your e-mail address.