2 May 2019
20 February 2019
In response to queries from members who work in the UK and hold a European Union passport, the RCSLT has collated the following guidance regarding the UK’s exit from the EU (Brexit):
Work status and visa requirements
Members who do not currently hold UK citizenship may be required to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to remain in the UK. Further information, including individualised guidance on whether you will need to apply, is available on the GOV.UK website.
Members who have qualified in an EU country and are seeking guidance about the recognition of their qualification in the UK should seek further advice from the regulator for speech and language therapy in their country of citizenship, as each individual country will have their own arrangements concerning the recognition of qualifications. The Health and Care Professions Council’s (HCPC)
Health Regulation Worldwide database is a useful resource for finding information on international healthcare regulators (see www.healthregulation.org).
HCPC registration
Members who have queries regarding their registration with the HCPC should contact the HCPC directly via www.hcpc-uk.org/contact-us.
RCSLT membership status
As eligibility for the different categories of RCSLT membership is not determined by nationality or citizenship, membership status with the RCSLT will remain the same. If a member has applied to and has been approved for the EU Settlement Scheme, their membership with the RCSLT will remain unchanged.
Insurance
If a member is currently working in the UK but is resident elsewhere in the EU, any insurance cover included as part of your RCSLT membership may be subject to change following Brexit. In the event of a ‘No deal’ scenario, your professional indemnity cover will cease from the renewal of our annual policies on 1 September 2019. We will be writing separately to the small group of certified members who have given us a non-UK residential address to explain the position in more detail.
Thickener products
The RCSLT is part of a group convened by NHS Improvement and Department of Health and Social Care to discuss patient safety issues with regard to Brexit, including the availability of thickener products. More information about this will be published as it becomes available.
Further guidance
Further information on Brexit preparations can be found on the GOV.UK website, including:
- Exiting the European Union.
- EU Exit Operational Readiness Guidance.
- Continuing to live in the UK after it leaves the EU.
- Citizens’ rights: UK and Irish nationals in the Common Travel Area.
Please contact us if you have any general queries regarding Brexit. For queries regarding existing membership with the RCSLT, please email membership@rcslt.org.
This statement will be updated as and when more information is available.