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

10.17 In next year’s performance review, we will want to see the outcomes of the
following areas of ongoing work:
The outcome of the work that is already under way to address the
weaknesses described above.
The outcome of the root and branch review of the fitness to practise process
which is currently in progress (including a review of all the GCC’s
documentation, processes and legislation).
The redevelopment of the GCC’s website to enable fitness to practise
complaints to be made online.
The introduction of feedback forms for all parties to the fitness to practise
process (currently only complainants’ feedback is sought following a
Professional Conduct Committee hearing).
The development of support processes for witnesses. We would recommend
that the GCC considers the work undertaken by other regulators in relation to
this area of work.
11. The General Dental Council (GDC)
Overall assessment
11.1 During 2011/2012 the GDC has continued with its programme of modernisation
across each of its regulatory functions. It has made a number of changes to its
established processes, as well as introducing new processes, policies and systems
to enable it to become a more effective regulator. The extent of the change
programme has been particularly apparent in the fitness to practise function. We
have yet to see evidence that these changes have improved the outcomes
achieved by the fitness to practise function, but we do consider that the GDC’s
activities should deliver significant benefits. We will look for evidence of the
improvements achieved during our next audit of the initial stages of the GDC’s
fitness to practise process, which is due to be completed in June 2012.
11.2 We will shortly publish our advice to the Secretary of State for Health following our
investigation into the allegations made by the former Chair of the GDC following her
resignation. We will set out our advice on whether the GDC has failed to deliver its
statutory functions as a result of the failings alleged by the former Chair and
whether there are any individuals on the Council whose actions should be brought
to the attention of the Appointments Commission. Our full report will be available on
our website 10 .
11.3 The GDC has met all except two of the Standards of Good Regulation during
2011/2012. The standards that have not been met relate to its fitness to practise
function: specifically the timeliness of case progression, and the quality of fitness to
practise decisions. We consider that evidence provided by the GDC indicates that
the timeliness of its case progression is slowly improving, but that its performance
does not yet reach the standard that we expect. Our audit of the initial stages of the
10 www.chre.org.uk
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