General Questions
What is the LSI Accredited National Credentialing Register?
The Life Science Industry National Credentialing Register (the National Register) is the only professional patient safety register in the UK for life-science industry staff. The National Register is not-for-profit, accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) and underpinned by an ethical framework, training and performance standards, and a robust complaints (Fitness to Practise) process.
Developed by a group of life science industry associations working together with the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) and the NHS, the National Register provides an accredited mechanism to confirm the identity, credentials and training status of individuals.
The National Register provides the assurance around the credentials of Life Sciences sector staff that interact routinely and directly with NHS front-line staff and/or patients by providing a framework for supporting these interactions. The National Register supports joint working in pursuit of improved patient safety, improved outcomes and system efficiency.
Who is the National Register for?
The National Register can be used by:
- All public and private healthcare providers who want to check the credentials of people visiting their facility.
- People who need to visit healthcare facilities as part of their work
Registration is a public demonstration of a commitment to public and patient safety.
The AHCS is responsible for assessing the merits of individuals on the register.
Why is the National Register Required?
The Register provides a not-for-profit registration system that has patient and public safety at its heart and secondly, a robust alternative to the issue of multiple providers of credentialing systems which creates confusion and duplication and is costly to the healthcare industry and ultimately, as a consequence, the NHS.
Trusts are looking to confirm the identity, credentials and training status of individuals who visit their sites. Currently the responsibility for this lies with each individual Trust and they have sought a variety of means to address this challenge. This has led to variable practices in the standards and processes used within the NHS to check the status of industry staff on site. This imposes an unnecessary administrative burden on industry where a single, national system such as the National Register would provide greater efficiency.
What does the National Register do?
In providing a route to protect the public and assure the NHS, this Register will;
- Establish, and periodically validate against, minimum acceptable standards for registrants and training provision
- Maintain the required standards of conduct, education, training and health & safety criteria
- Provide a single point for NHS staff and the public to verify an individual’s status against agreed criteria and eligibility to engage with the NHS
- Support Trusts with regard to credentialing and management of conflicts of interest
- Support the improvement of standards without restricting access to approved individuals.
To ensure the highest standards of governance, the Professional Standards Authority has independently accredited the Register. This is the same Body that accredits other significant registers.
Who is the Academy for Healthcare Science?
The Academy was established as a joint initiative of the UK Health Departments and the professional bodies across Healthcare Science and is the single overarching body for the entire UK Healthcare Science (HCS) workforce and works alongside the healthcare science professional bodies to strengthen the visibility of the contribution of the healthcare science workforce. Since its inception, the Academy has evolved and maintains registers for individuals who have completed accredited programmes, or their equivalent training routes.
See further details on our website.
Why do I need to join the National Register?
Staff from the Life Science industry engage with NHS staff and patients on a daily basis. It is important that these interactions take place within a professional, ethical and safe framework.
Trusts are looking to confirm the identity, credentials and training status of individuals who visit their sites. Currently the responsibility for this lies with each individual Trust and they have sought a variety of means to address this challenge. This has led to variable practices in the standards and processes used within the NHS to check the status of industry staff on site and as a result there has been a lack of consistency. The National Register provides consistency across both the NHS and private sector on how credentialing is managed and ensures high training standards are maintained within industry. Joining the National Register confirms your commitment to patient and public safety.
How do I contact the National Register?
Registration
How do I join the National Register?
The National Register has produced a number User Guides, which will help you to:
- Understand the process
- Know what is required of you
- Navigate the Register Application Form
How to be a good Registrant – explains the application process
Tiers – a summary of requirements – explains the different tier levels available to you
Photo Guidance – shows you the type and standard of photo needed for your ID badge
LSI Education & Training Framework Matrix – gives examples of how you can evidence your training, and how it maps against each standard. Your training will guide and inform your behaviour whenever you visit healthcare facilities and are in the presence of staff, patients and the public at those facilities.
Are there different levels of Registration?
Yes, in our collaboration with the NHS, it has been recognised that there are a number of areas in a hospital or medical environment, which require different levels of skills and training due to the perceived risk in those locations.
As a result, three Tiers have been recognised and you need to decide which Tier would be appropriate for you and / or your employees as this will determine the sections of the application form that will need to be completed.
How do I know which Tier is applicable to me?
The Tiers – a summary of requirements document will help you to understand the different Tiers, and which level will apply to you.
I am a Service Engineer. How do I know what Tier to apply for?
A Service engineer who maintains or repairs equipment in non-patient areas – Tier 1 would be appropriate. If the equipment has to be repaired in an area where patients are present, then Tier 2 would be required.
The Tiers – a summary of requirements will help you to understand the different Tiers, and which level will apply to you.
How do I get help in joining the National Register?
How long does my registration to the National Register last?
Registration to the National Register is renewable on an annual basis subject to the registrant being able to demonstrate continued compliance with the Register’s requirements through continued personal and professional development.
How do I renew my registration to the National Register?
The administration team will contact you at the appropriate time to advise that your registration is up for renewal.
Can my company initiate registration for a number of staff?
Requirements for Registration
What standards do I have to meet to be able to join the National Register?
The LSI Standards were developed in partnership with the NHS, Industry Associations and regulation experts to create a coherent system for regulation. The Standards are written in a way that enables them to be appropriate for the many occupations and roles across the Life Science Industry and they should be read in the context of the role and scope of practice.
To be registered and to remain on the register, a registrant must be able to demonstrate that they are ‘fit to practise’. By fit to practise, we mean that someone has the skills, knowledge, character and capacity to carry out their role safely and effectively, both on their first day of registration and throughout their career interacting with the NHS and where appropriate the wider healthcare system. To demonstrate fitness to practise, registrants must meet certain standards. These include:
Standards of Proficiency – the basic education and training outcomes that someone must achieve before they can be registered with us
Standards of Conduct – the minimum standards registrants must meet in their professional lives
Standards of Continuing Personal and Professional Development – how you ensure your knowledge, skills and behaviours to carry out your role, are up to date
Details of the standards expected of a Registrant on the National Register can be found on our website here.
Account Information
Will I receive an ID badge in the post?
You will be able to download an app-based ID card from the following platforms:
- Google Play
- App Store
Alternatively, you can download a pdf copy of your ID badge from your register application.
We do not send out physical ID badges to keep the costs low. The LSI Register operates on a not-for-profit basis.
How do I upload my photo on to the National Register?
Sign in to your application via https://app.lifescienceindustry.co.uk/registrants/. Select ‘Edit Application’ then choose the Personal Details section. Here you can upload a recent photo.
What happens if I change employer?
You must tell us if you are changing employer. We can either deactivate your registration or you can ask us to open the Career section for you to change employer details.
How do I change my details (e.g. phone number) on the National Register?
Sign in to your application via https://app.lifescienceindustry.co.uk/registrants/. Select ‘Edit Application’ then go to the Profile section. In here you can amend your home address, telephone number and email address. Once your details have been amended, select ‘Save’.
What do I do if I have forgotten my password?
Login using your email address and then select Forgotten Password.
How do I view my account details on the National Register?
Sign in to your application via https://app.lifescienceindustry.co.uk/registrants/
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Do you sell my information to anyone?
No. We only use the data you provide for the purpose of your registration on the National Register.
Who has access to my information?
The Registrar and the administration team have access to your data. The AHCS is committed to protecting and respecting personal data, no matter where it is from or where it flows. Our data protection governance arrangements and privacy approach ensure that our operations are subject to continuous review to maintain alignment with GDPR.
You will find more detailed information about how we look after your personal data when you visit our website and use the registration system (regardless of where you visit from) and about your privacy rights and how the law protects you in our Privacy Notice .
Important
Registration is personal to you as an individual. It includes your data. Under UK GDPR legislation, we will not be able to take instruction from your employer to make any changes, or to deactivate your registration, even if your employer pays for your registration fee.
