CHRE Performance review report 2011-12 - Professional Standards ...

10.3 We acknowledge that the GCC has been taking steps to strengthen its framework
for reporting to its Council, in order to enhance the Council’s oversight of the
effectiveness of the GCC’s work. However, we think that the GCC needs to do
further work to improve its key performance indicators, and we encourage it to
review the KPIs that are used by other regulators 7 .
10.4 We should also note that during 2011/2012 despite the inevitable challenges
arising from a change in permanent CEs, the GCC managed to conclude the
remainder of the large volume of cases that were initiated in 2009 and 2010
following receipt of complaints about the contents of a large number of
chiropractors’ websites.
Guidance and standards
10.5 During 2011/2012 the GCC made no changes to either its Code of Practice (CoP)
or its Standard of Proficiency (SoP). These documents are reviewed every five
years, and the current versions became effective in June 2010. The GCC also did
not issue any additional guidance during 2011/2012. On the basis that the GCC
has continued in 2011/2012 to undertake the activities we have described in
previous performance review reports, we consider that the GCC has maintained its
performance and that it meets the Standards of Good Regulation for guidance and
standards.
10.6 We look forward to seeing the outcomes of the guidance and standards work for
which plans have been put in place by the GCC during 2011/2012 - to review its
existing supplementary guidance on advertising chiropractic services; and to
publish referral criteria, standard operating and audit procedures specific for the
chiropractic profession in relation to the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure)
Regulations 2000.
Education and training
10.7 We consider that the GCC has continued to meet the Standards of Good
Regulation for education and training by continuing to undertake the activities we
have described in previous performance review reports, as well as by:
Ensuring the capture of any learning arising from the first use (in May 2011) of
the revised Degree Recognition Criteria in the recognition of a MSc
(Chiropractic) course. Feedback provided by the visitor panel and the
education provider led to minor amendments being made to the criteria.
Reviewing the decision that was taken in 2010/2011 not to proceed with the
development of a scheme which would be used by the GCC to assure itself of
its registrants’ continuing fitness to practise 8 . The GCC has confirmed that it
does now plan to introduce a continuing fitness to practise scheme, which will
provide assurance that its registrants remain fit to practise, and which will fulfil
7 We note that the GCC has introduced more challenging performance targets in the fitness to
practise area from March 2012.
8 We have previously referred to schemes which aim to assure a registrant’s continuing fitness to
practise as revalidation schemes.
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