Our legislation and rules

From Monday 02 December 2019 following the transfer of Social Workers to Social Work England, our legislation has been renamed and will be known as the Health Professions Order (2001). There is no change to the content of the Order as this part of the former Health and Social Work Professions Order remain unchanged.

The HCPC's powers in respect of fitness to practise are set out in Part V of the Health Professions Order 2001.

They are supplemented by the Panel rules, statutory procedural rules made by the HCPC under that Order and HCPC policies key issues, such as its Sanctions Policy. In addition, there is a suite of Practice Notes to which Panels should have regard.

Appeal provisions are set out in Part VI of the Health Professions Order 2001.

The legislation and rules are available as PDFs from our publications section.