GOsC support for development projects

The GOsC Council agreed at its meeting in June that it would be willing to provide financial support for development projects that have been identified by the profession as a priority.

The GOsC is working with a cross-professional group – including the British Osteopathic Association (BOA), the Council of Osteopathic Educational Institutions (COEI), the National Council for Osteopathic Research (NCOR), the Osteopathic Alliance (OA) – on a range of projects aimed at supporting the development of the profession. These projects are in eight areas: evidence; service standards; advanced practice; regional support; mentoring; career development; leadership; and international collaboration.

The GOsC Council will provide financial support for projects that meet the following criteria: 

• Developmental: the outcome would mean a clear development in osteopathic education, training or practice that aims to deliver a measurable and continuous improvement to the quality or safety of osteopathic healthcare. 
• Public and patient benefit: the initiative clearly benefits patients or the public by enhancing the quality and safety of osteopathic care. 
• Cross-professional applicability: the project benefits the whole profession and not just a particular group or groups of practitioners. 
• Collaboration: initiatives should involve multiple partners rather than a single organisation, and the contribution of those involved (financial or in-kind) should be clearly defined. 
• Clarity of outcome: projects will only be considered for support if they include a clear plan for how the project outcomes are to be achieved and disseminated across the osteopathic profession.

At the moment, funding will only be available for projects that are being taken forward by the organisations listed above. Support for other projects may be possible in the future, but this will depend on the success of the initial projects and the funds available.

We are unable to provide support for initiatives that only promote commercial or sectoral interests of osteopathic service provision. This would be considered promotional activity and this is not allowed under the Osteopaths Act.

It is hoped that by the GOsC providing some funding, these projects will progress more quickly and the benefits to patients and the profession can be realised.

The funding will come from the GOsC’s reserves. These are currently at a healthy level due to costs saving measures over the past two years.

The individual projects are being taken forward by small working groups, including members drawn from the BOA, COEI, GOsC, NCOR and OA.

For more information about the development projects and their funding, please contact the GOsC.

If you want to know more about how each organisation is involved, please contact them directly:

British Osteopathic Association (BOA)
Email: boa@osteopathy.org

Council of Osteopathic Educational Institutions (COEI)
Email: adrianbarnes@eso.ac.uk

General Osteopathic Council (GOsC)
Email: future@osteopathy.org.uk 

National Council for Osteopathic Research (NCOR)
Email: www.ncor.org.uk/contact-us 

Osteopathic Alliance (OA)
Email: enquiries@osteopathicalliance.org