Delegation FAQs and resources

FAQs Delegation

• Can I delegate to someone from outside of my profession?

  Yes, provided the person has the relevant skills and training to undertake the activities and that you can give them appropriate support and supervision. This is reflected in the standards of conduct, performance, and ethics:

  • 4.1 You must only delegate work to someone who has the knowledge, skills and experience needed to carry it out safely and effectively.
  • 4.2 You must also ensure that you continue to provide appropriate supervision and support to those you delegate work to.
• How do I know whether the person I am delegating to is capable of undertaking the activities, especially if they are not in the same profession as me?

  As a registrant, you are required to use your professional judgement when delegating activities, ensuring the person being delegated to is capable of the activity and that ongoing support is provided. This is reflected in the standards of conduct, performance, and ethics:

  • 4.1 You must only delegate work to someone who has the knowledge, skills and experience needed to carry it out safely and effectively.
  • 4.2 You must also ensure that you continue to provide appropriate supervision and support to those you delegate work to.

   You may wish to consider all or some of the following questions:

  • Is the activity, or the part being delegated, within the job role for the member of staff?
  • Has relevant and appropriate training and education been provided?
  • Has / does a competency for the activity need to be demonstrated, assessed and signed off?
  • Are there appropriate and relevant protocols and policies in place for the activity being delegated?
  • Are the wider team aware of the delegation plans, for example the line manager for the person being delegated to?
• What should I do if I have been delegated an activity but I don’t think I have had the training and experience to do it?

  As a registrant you must ensure you only undertake activities for which you have the necessary skills and training to do so safely.

  You have a duty of care to service users, other staff and yourself to ensure you speak out if you feel that you cannot take on an activity safely and competently, as reflected in the HCPC standards of conduct, performance and ethics:

  • 3.1 You must only practise in the areas where you have the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to meet the needs of a service user safely and effectively.
  • 3.2 You must undertake additional training to update your knowledge, skills and experience if you wish to widen your scope of practice.
  • 3.3 You must refer a service user to an appropriate practitioner if the care, treatment or other services they need are beyond your scope of practice. This person must hold the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to meet the needs of the service user safely and effectively.
  • 7.1 You must report any concerns about the safety or wellbeing of service users promptly and appropriately.
  • 7.2 You must support and encourage others to report concerns and not prevent anyone from raising concerns.
  • 7.4 You must make sure that the safety and wellbeing of service users always comes before any professional or other loyalties.
• Do I have to keep records each time I delegate?

  It is a requirement of HCPC to keep accurate and full records (see standard 10). While our guidance on record keeping is not prescriptive, it is important that all records provide a clear picture overall of decisions made and interventions to meet service user needs, including processes related to delegation. If you are unsure, you may want to review the support available through your professional body.

• Am I liable for the actions of others that I delegate to?

  As a registrant, you are required to use your professional judgement when delegating activities, ensuing the person being delegated to is capable of the activity and that ongoing supervision and support is provided.

  The HCPC can provide advice to registrants about meeting our standards, but advice about legal and clinical liability is outside of our remit. It is also important to note that the HCPC’s standards are focused on outcomes rather than being prescriptive. We would expect a registrant to use their professional judgement to make autonomous decisions which are in the best interests of their service users.

  While all registrants must meet our standards, registrants are also part of a larger system which is designed to protect the public. We would expect registrants ensure they are following best practice, employer guidance and the law at all times. 

  Where a registrant delegates a task, they need to do this with standard 4 of the standards of conduct, performance and ethics in mind. 

  • 4.1 You must only delegate work to someone who has the knowledge, skills and experience needed to carry it out safely and effectively. 
  • 4.2 You must continue to provide appropriate supervision and support to those you delegate work to.
• If I am being delegated a new activity and have acquired additional training, education and / or qualifications to perform it safely, can this count as part of my continuing professional development (CPD) activities, even if these activities extend beyond the generally accepted scope of practice for my profession?

  In short, yes, as long as you reflect on the impact of the activity to meet service user needs.

  The HCPC requirements for CPD are not prescriptive, so there is a wide range of activities that you can do which meet the requirements we set out.

  As you advance in your career you may well appropriately extend your individual scope of practice beyond the generally accepted scope for your profession in order to meet service user needs. Training for new activities can be included as part of your CPD requirements so long as the skills gained are relevant to the service users you work with.