CILIP | UKCHIP

UKCHIP - the UK Council of Health Informatics Professions.

UKCHIP was formed in 2002 to promote professionalism in health informatics. It operates a voluntary registration scheme for health informatics professionals who agree to work to clearly defined standards.

What is health informatics?
The NHS Information Authority define health informatics as "the knowledge, skills and tools which enable information to be collected, managed, used and shared to support the delivery of healthcare and promote health."

Who are health informatics professionals?
There are several different roles that fall into the classification of health informatician. In order to cope with this diversity UKCHIP has defined a number of constituencies:
• ICT Staff. Those working in the technical side of healthcare informatics and their managers
• Library. Information and Knowledge Management Staff
This includes those responsible for extracting information from healthcare records (e.g. for clinical audit and management information) and those who provide knowledge that informs patient care
• Clinical. Those who design, develop, educate or manage clinical record systems and the patient data held therein
• Records and Coding. Those who handle health records and code data into healthcare systems
• Academic Staff. Those concerned with the development and implementation of education, awareness and training about health informatics and those who research in the field.
Why was UKCHIP formed?
Firstly it was formed to improve the safety of healthcare information systems by ensuring those designing, implementing, managing and using them are appropriately qualified. Secondly it was formed to improve the credibility and status of those working in health informatics in the UK.

When was UKCHIP launched?
UKCHIP was launched by Lord Philip Hunt at the National Patient Safety Agency, on 10 March 2004.

Isn't there an existing organisation or group, which could have taken responsibility for the development of the professional registration now being proposed?
The view was taken that there needs to be one organisation to regulate professionalism. There were a number of groups who could have taken regulation forward, but the view was taken that asking one existing group to do might be to the disadvantage of the other groups.

There are too many organisations involved in health informatics for any one of them to become that regulator at the expense of the others, so it was decided to create a new group with a very specific remit which applies to members of a wide range of already established groups.

What is the relationship between professional associations such as the British Computer Society (BCS), the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), and the Association of ICT Professionals in the NHS (ASSIST) with UKCHIP?
The relationship is very good. BCS and ASSIST are major sponsors of UKCHIP. CILIP have been a major supporter from the start. None of these bodies see UKCHIP as a threat; rather that it will help to bring together everyone working in health informatics.

Why should I register?
Obviously as librarians or information professionals we have professional status through our qualifications, experience and membership of CILIP.

There is however some significant advantage to us in belonging to the wider health informatics community. All too often we have found ourselves on the fringes of an issue or agenda that we have the skills and expertise to be fully involved in. Membership and involvement in UKCHIP ensures that we can add to our portfolio of skills and qualifications, illustrating our fitness to work with health information, in whatever form that may take.

Membership of UKCHIP means that in continuing professional development terms you will have access to a wider variety of opportunities. If you work in the NHS and are going through the Agenda for Change process, then you are illustrating fitness to practice with information, and improving your portfolio of qualifications/experience when it comes to evaluating your role. It is also powerful when going through an evaluation process to provide evidence of your place in a wider agenda.

UKCHIP is not a threat to your professional status as a librarian or information professional, it is simply better to be part of the wider information environment, and to influence the make-up of that environment from within. By being involved we have a voice in what is a fast-moving and significant agenda.

Where can I find out more information?
Go to the UKCHIP website: http://www.ukchip.org/or contact Sara Whittaker: sara.whittaker@nhs.net

Organisation of UKCHIP

Who are the members of the UKCHIP Council?
They are a representative group of the leaders in the field of health informatics. At present they have been appointed by the UKCHIP Steering Group. Once registration is established they will be elected. Thus the current Council described itself as the Shadow Council.

Bruce Madge represents the library and information profession on the UKCHIP Steering Group, and Sara Whittaker represents the Health Libraries Group on the UKCHIP shadow Council. Sara is happy to discuss any issues relating to UKCHIP and health informatics with HLG members. Please email her in the first instance: sara.whittaker@nhs.net

How will Council be elected?
The community of UKCHIP Registrants will elect the Council. The details of the election process are currently being worked on.

How is the Council structured?
At present there is a Steering Group or Board, elected by the Council, which is responsible for the day-to-day administration and running of the company. There is also a series of Working Groups developing particular areas of UKCHIP. These are: Standards, Registration, Financial, External Relations, and Continuing Professional Development.

Who is the current chair of the council?
Dr Glyn Hayes. See http://www.ukchip.org/for biographical details.

How was he elected?
The first Shadow Council elected Dr Hayes.

How do I as an information professional, become involved in the work of UKCHIP?
Keep an eye on the website, comment on what is happening, and consider standing for the Council.

Registering with UKCHIP
How much does it cost to register with UKCHIP?
Initially the Registration Fee is £20. This will increase once the process is established. Register early!

How much will it cost to maintain my registration?
Initially £20 per annum

Will it be self-funding?
UKCHIP sponsors have provided initial funding. Once it is more established the aim is to be self-funding from registration income.

Will it be individuals or organisations that will seek registration?
UKCHIP is concerned with individual professionalism. It is not a corporate issue so all registrations will be individual. It is possible that some employing organisations will provide funds for its employees to register but the responsibility remains with the individual.
Why would I as an individual consider registration?
There is a wide range of reasons to register, but the main ones are: to show you consider yourself a professional; to show your employer you need to be treated as a professional; and to support the profession as it grows in stature.

What engagement has taken place with employers to seek their views on requiring registration?
At present we cannot ask for employer's responses, as we do not have UKCHIP established with a community. The NHS has suggested they will endorse UKCHIP membership but final commitment from employers will not happen until we are able to show the full range of UKCHIP standards.

Will NHS employers require applicants to be registered with UKCHIP?
The ultimate aim of UKCHIP is that all staff working in health informatics will eventually be required by statute to be registered with UKCHIP. This will ensure a demonstrable level of professionalism and competence within the health informatics field, and will protect patients from poor practice in relation to information.

Already we are seeing requirements for people working in the NHS to be UKCHIP registered, as seen within the NHS Information Authority's Information Governance Toolkit.

Does the National Programme for IT relate in any way to UKCHIP?
There is the strong suggestion that people working within the National Programme for IT will be asked to prove competency with information through UKCHIP registration.

Who is supporting UKCHIP?

Is the NHS supportive of UKCHIP?
Very much so. The NHS Information Authority is one of the major sponsors. They have officially stated their support. They have hinted that the NHS will mandate UKCHIP registration, but this is not yet the case.

What other bodies have shown an interest in UKCHIP?
British Medical Informatics Society (BMIS)
Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM)
Institute of Health Records and Information Management (IHRIM) Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA)

The Healthcare Commission has also expressed an interest, as they are interested in improving the quality of staff responsible for patient record systems.

What is the link between CILIP and UKCHIP?
CILIP has supported UKCHIP from the beginning. It is expected that the CILIP Framework for Continuing Professional Development will be accredited by UKCHIP, as will the chartership process. HLG is considering promoting HLG courses that we run, and HLG affiliate membership, to UKCHIP members.

Updated: 30 June 2005