Regulation of Advanced Levels of Practice
All osteopaths working at advanced levels in the NHS (for example as specialists or consultants) are already fully regulated and must meet all regulatory standards which are relevant to their scope of practice.
The GOsC does not set or limit the scope of practice of osteopaths but it is essential for osteopaths to use their professional judgement to work within their scope to ensure they practise safely, lawfully and effectively.
We’ve worked in collaboration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to publish two resources to support registrants working at or towards advanced levels of practice in a range of sectors and settings, to understand how regulatory standards apply to their scope of practice.
These resources are:
- A Shared Update from the GOsC and HCPC clarifying the existing position on the regulation of advanced levels of practice, reinforces how registrants working at these levels can continue to meet their existing standards across a range of job titles, sectors and settings.
- A reflective template that registrants can use to help them define and explain their individual scope of practice as they advance in their career, recognising that scope of practice is unique to each person within their regulatory framework and the context in which they work.
Read the Shared Update on the regulation of advanced levels of practice
Download the reflective template
Who are these resources useful for?
- Osteopaths and HCPC registrants aspiring to or working at advanced levels of practice
- line managers of registrants aspiring to or working at advanced levels of practice, across sectors
- operational and strategic managers such as Advanced Practice Leads in NHS Trusts, Chief Allied Health Professional (AHP) Leads, Chief Nurses, Chief Healthcare Scientist (HCS) Leads
- colleagues in multiprofessional teams seeking to understand the nature of advanced levels of practice for osteopaths and HCPC registrants
- registrants and other colleagues working in Higher Education Institutes supporting the development of the workforce
