Ongoing Accreditation Requirements

In receiving Accreditation status, education providers agree to:

• meet all the conditions required at the point of Accreditation and maintain this throughout the Accreditation period;
• address all recommendations provided at the point of Accreditation;
• adhere to RCOT’s Learning and development standards for pre-registration education;
• complete an annual monitoring report (AMR) for each pre-registration programme;
• provide data on learner intake and graduating learners annually;
• advise RCOT of any major change to the pre-registration programme, prior to change being implemented;
• submit evidence of the education provider’s entry onto the Register of End-point Assessment Organisations , or that they have appointed an end-point assessor from amongst those who have successfully been entered onto the Register, at least 12 months prior to the first scheduled end-point assessment;
• work proactively and in partnership with RCOT throughout the Accreditation period.

The attached document provides an overview of the requirements and support available to Professional and Programme Leads.

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RCOT expects that education providers continually evaluate, improve and enhance their pre-registration programmes outside of the cycle of RCOT Accreditation, using their own internal quality assurance policies, processes and procedures. One of the requirements of RCOT’s Learning and development standards for pre-registration education is that education providers advise RCOT of any changes made to the pre-registration programme, after Accreditation has been awarded.

The table below includes information to help you identify whether alterations to the pre-registration programme are considered by RCOT as major or minor changes. Where it is unclear whether a change should be classified as major or minor, the pre-registration programme team are encouraged to discuss this further with RCOT to identify the most appropriate notification process.

<table displaying minor & major chanes, and examples and related standard in RCOT's publication>
 

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Where it is unclear whether a change should be classified as major or minor, the pre-registration programme team are encouraged to discuss this further with RCOT to identify the most appropriate notification process.

Minor changes

Minor changes do not require RCOT approval; however, RCOT should be informed of the change via the annual monitoring report (AMR) for the year in which the change will take effect. Pre-registration programme teams are required to maintain and submit evidence of an audit trail, clearly showing how the education provider’s internal approval mechanisms were followed before the change was implemented.

Where several minor modifications across more than one standard have a cumulative effect and represent a more significant change to the pre-registration programme, it will likely be necessary to follow the major change process. 

Major changes

RCOT should be informed prior to a major change being implemented. Notification of changes can be made to RCOT by email (to QA@rcot.co.uk) and should include a clear rationale for the change, copies of all related documentation, an overview of the internal quality monitoring and enhancement processes followed, and clarification of whether the HCPC or any other stakeholders have been involved in the change or update.

Introducing a Major Change form

The Major Change Request form may assist in structuring your request.

Once notified, RCOT will consider the impact on the ongoing Accreditation of the pre-registration programme and will notify the pre-registration programme team of the outcome. Notifications may be reviewed in collaboration with an RCOT Accreditor. Where a proposal for a major change is not approved, further discussion with the education provider will be undertaken and potentially an Accreditation Visit to gather supporting evidence.

Pre-registration programmes will continue to be reviewed on their established Accreditation cycle regardless of whether a change has been approved within the 5 year Accreditation cycle. 

As a condition of RCOT Accreditation, education providers are required to submit an annual monitoring report (AMR) for each pre-registration programme. There are 2 different types of AMRs:

• Report A: Full Annual Monitoring;
• Report B: Light-touch Annual Monitoring.

RCOT will provide the relevant AMR template (Report A or B) to individual pre-registration programmes, depending on their position in the 5-yearly accreditation cycle. Each pre-registration programme will complete a Full Annual Monitoring report (Report A) every 2 years, with a Light-touch Annual Monitoring (Report B) in between. No report is required to be submitted during the academic year in which Re-accreditation occurs.

Each AMR is based on a self-declaration by the education provider as to their ability to continue to meet RCOT’s Learning and development standards for pre-registration education.

In addition to the AMRs, all pre-registration programmes are required to submit data regarding learner intakes and departures on an annual basis.

Significant data of benefit to the profession and to inform workforce and programme development is collated from all education providers and presented in a compiled report annually.

The calendar below describes the information provided, and requested, by RCOT throughout the academic year.

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Extensions to the Accreditation cycle may be requested by an education provider and all requests will be considered on an individual basis by RCOT.  Examples of where an extension may be granted include:

• for the purpose of aligning the pre-registration programme review cycle with the education provider’s own internal review cycle or those of other allied health pre-registration programmes;
• where there is a significant internal reorganisation of schools or departments.

Any request for an extension must be made in writing to RCOT, at least 6 months prior to the end date of the pre-registration programme.

RCOT will raise concerns with the education provider about the delivery of a pre-registration programme if: 

• it is believed that the education provider is not meeting the requirements of Accreditation;
• RCOT receives a complaint about the education provider or the pre-registration programme e.g. by a learner, a member of the public or profession;
• a potential issue is identified through the annual quality monitoring and enhancement process.

Following a concern or complaint being received, RCOT will confidentially discuss this with the Programme Lead – Operational Level or Professional Lead – Strategic Level and will escalate it to the Head of Department/Dean of Faculty if the issue is unable to be resolved. RCOT may communicate the concern with HCPC if required.