_SECTION
FIVE

In this chapter:

_{Always collaborating}

^{Other significant achievements}

The JCCP has continued to work very closely with five Professional Statutory Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) this year:

The GMC (The General Medical Council)
The GDC (The General Dental Council)
The NMC (The Nursing and Midwifery Council)
The GPhC (The General Pharmaceutical Council)
The HCPC (The Health Care Professions Council)

Memoranda of Understanding remain current between the JCCP and these professional statutory regulators who together recognise the importance of joint working to ensure public protection and patient safety. These agreements continue to seek to ensure that effective channels of communication and information sharing are established and maintained between the named PSRB and the JCCP to promote patient safety and high quality services for patients receiving aesthetic treatments and where appropriate and necessary, the processes and procedures adopted by the JCCP and the PSRB, with regard to matters of ‘fitness to practise’ for registered clinicians involved in the provision of aesthetic treatments. In addition, the ‘Memoranda’ relate to the areas of interface between the named PSRB and the JCCP and clarify respective roles and responsibilities and outline mechanisms in place to promote effective liaison. A formal exchange of letters has also established a firm working relationship with the HCPC. Regular meetings continue to take place with the GMC, the GDC and the NMC.

The JCCP/CPSA Code of Practice (2023) continues to be applied throughout the Council’s work and assumes that any practitioner who undertakes cosmetic treatments is embarking on a new career pathway, associated with significant risk of harm to patients and members of the public. The JCCP therefore applies and promotes the use of a range of fitness to practice procedures that are designed to promote best practice within the sector and to set out guidelines appropriate to all levels of practitioner as to the risks involved and how to mitigate them, alongside the implementation of sanctions if required. These procedures apply to all JCCP registered aesthetic practitioners, regardless of level of attainment or professional background.

These procedures (and their associated sanctions) apply equally therefore to those cosmetic practitioners who are registered clinicians and to those who do not have registerable status with a Professional Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) and who perform procedures that the JCCP formally recognises and for which the JCCP and CPSA have set standards for. Our aim continues to provide a practitioner with a sense of belonging to this applied area of practice and to outline the duty of care that they should provide to the public and to other practitioners.

The JCCP Practitioner Register Committee published two Practitioner Newsletters during2024 in which Registrants (and members of the public) were provided with details of the JCCP Practitioner Register annual renewal process and sampling requirements and were updated regarding the JCCP’s developments and related political activity.

_{Striving for public protection}

^{Other notable matters}

This year the JCCP has continued to focus attention on matters relating to cultural diversity and the celebration of difference.

The JCCP has also continued to promote the use of the Council’s safe premises standards for implementation across the sector and has produced and disseminated ethical guidelines for trade show demonstrations, simulation, and exhibitions.

The JCCP has also continued to work collaboratively with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the ‘MHRA’ this year regarding the provision of safe treatments, premises regulation, product and device standards and prescribing regulations. The overarching objective of these discussions continues to facilitate discussion and the establishment of common ground for the formation of understanding between relevant authorities – the ‘MHRA’, the CQC and CPSA/JCCP. The JCCP transacts an established and respected working relationship with Ofqual, the CQC and ‘MHRA’, sharing a common interest educational governance and in ‘patient and product safety’. Regular bi-monthly virtual meetings have been held again this year with all three organisations, complemented by a regular exchange of correspondence and attendance at JCCP Committee meetings.

The JCCP Chair and other Trustees also attended regular meetings with representatives of the House of Commons and the House of Lords during 2024 to discuss cosmetic regulation and to reinforce the case for statutory regulation for the sector, with particular regard to mandating a minimum standard of educational competence for all practitioners who deliver invasive treatments in the sector. Active liaison with Parliamentarians from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords continues. The JCCP’s facilitation and engagement with key Government representatives, MPs and with regulatory agencies continues to provide evidence of the Council’s transaction of its core mission – public protection and patient safety.

The JCCP has also engaged regularly with other key sector stakeholders. For example, meetings have been held throughout the year with insurers and indemnifiers, pharma and product manufacturers and pharmaceutical suppliers and with education and training provider organisations. As a result of such engagement the JCCP has appointed representatives from the Insurance sector, Pharma companies and Pharmacy distributors to its Committees and to its Trustee Board.

Key priorities for 2025:

The Council will continue to campaign for the full implementation of the JCCP 10 Point Plan as part of the UK and Scottish Government’s proposed licensing schemes.
The JCCP will continue to be actively and fully engaged in influencing, shaping and implementing the UK and Scottish Government’s proposals for regulation and licensing in England and Scotland.
The JCCP will continue to operate its PSA approved Practitioner Register under the same terms and conditions as currently used (free membership and agreed auditing arrangements with the Practitioner Register Committee and the PSA).
The JCCP will further develop its Education & Training Register for providers and qualifications in association with DHSC proposals for the design and implementation of a new licensing scheme in England.
The JCCP’s Clinical Advisory Group will continue to work with the CPSA and key partners to develop new and revised standards to assist in the design of a new and responsive model for licensing, and to identify emerging procedures that may warrant inclusion in the UK and Scottish Government’s new proposed licensing/regulatory systems.
The JCCP will continue to engage with research partners to contribute to the evidence base to inform safe and effective aesthetics practice and governance.
The JCCP will continue to build on those areas where it is seen as having a major strategic role in the sector – influencing members of the public, government, regulators and other stakeholders, complaints handling, standard setting, licensing and education and training.
The Council will expand and develop the JCCP&me consumer/public facing website to further raise consumer awareness of risk associated with the higher level/invasive procedures.
The Council will review, update and enhance its social media presence and identify innovative and responsive ways to promote the JCCP’s patient safety and public protection ‘message’ through its Marketing and Communication Committee strategy.
The Council will continue to develop and promote its consumer complaints platform in the interests of public protection and patient safety.
The JCCP will call for the immediate cessation of remote prescribing for elective non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Priority will be given to grow and develop the JCCP Corporate Membership Scheme for commercial partners in the aesthetics sector.

Professor David Sines CBE PhD FRCN

Executive Chairperson and Registrar JCCP