Regulation of Health and Social Care Professionals Consultation

Inspection
6.27 Most of the regulators are given powers, or required, to appoint visitors to visit
approved education providers or those seeking approval. For example, the
General Optical Council is placed under a duty to keep itself informed of the
nature of the instruction given by any approved training establishment and for this
purpose may appoint visitors. 19 How these powers or duties are implemented
varies between the regulators. For example, the General Medical Council
operates a policy of a five year cycle of visits for organisations and in addition
targeted checks, for example where concerns are raised, and random checks.
Visiting teams normally consist of a medically qualified member, a lay member, a
student or trainee and a member of staff from the Council.
6.28 In most cases, institutions are required to comply with any reasonable request for
information made by the regulator, and if the institution refuses then the regulator
may consider refusing or withdrawing approval from the relevant course or
programme. 20 Some regulators are also given express powers to appoint
inspectors to attend exams. 21 Visitors are prohibited from interfering with the
operation of the education institution but empowered to issue a report on any
relevant matters. 22
6.29 The General Dental Council’s powers to appoint visitors are subject to any
direction that may be given by the Privy Council. Furthermore, the Privy Council
has a power to issue directions in relation to visits being carried out to dental
schools and post graduate institutions and copies of the monitoring report must
be sent to the Privy Council. 23
Post-registration qualifications
6.30 Some of the Councils have powers to oversee post-registration qualification. This
includes setting standards for the delivery of foundation and speciality training for
registrants. For example, the General Medical Council is given powers to approve
programmes and establish standards and requirements for the two year
foundation programme that all registrants must undertake, plus the optional three
year training to become a General Practitioner or longer to become a specialist
consultant. 24 The legislative framework for the Council sets different approaches
for undergraduate and postgraduate training. Thus, in relation to undergraduate
training the Council sets outcomes and the system of quality assurance is based
on recognition of institutions, but for postgraduate training the Council approves
curricula and assessment systems. Furthermore, at undergraduate level the
medical school is either recognised or not, but in postgraduate education, there is
more flexibility in that the Council can grant conditional approval for a training
programme or post.
19 Opticians Act 1989, s 13.
20 For example, Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001, SI 2002 No 253, art 17.
21 For example, Dentists Act 1984, s 10.
22 For example, Medical Act 1983, ss 6 and 7. See also, General Medical Council, The
Trainee Doctor : Foundation and Speciality, including GP Training (2011).
23 Dentists Act 1984, s 9.
24 Medical Act 1983, ss 10A and 35H.
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