In Council: 13 July 2010

Public and patient engagement strategy

The Council considered the fundamental principles of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in the context of osteopathic regulation and agreed these principles as a basis for developing a GOsC PPI strategy with reference to the activities featured in the Corporate Plan 2010-2013.

Engaging with the profession on regulatory issues

The Council approved the establishment of a working group to advise on the development of a strategy for engagement with the osteopathic profession on the regulatory activities included in the Corporate Plan 2010-2013. The working group is required to make a final report to the Council in six months.

Annual Reports (2009-2010) from GOsC Committees

The Council was presented with annual reports on the activities of the Audit Committee, the Finance & General Purposes Committee and the Remuneration Committee during 2009-2010.

Financial Audit 2009-2010

The Council received a report from the auditors who conducted the annual financial audit of the GOsC. The audited accounts will be featured in the Annual Report and Accounts 2009-2010, which will be submitted to Parliament at the beginning of October.

Remuneration/expenses for members of the governance structure

The Council considered a range of options put forward by the Remuneration Committee in relation to remuneration and expenses. An increase of 2% in annual fees was agreed by the Council, which is in line with the recommendation of the Senior Salaries Review Body – the benchmark chosen by the Council for this purpose. The increase would take effect from 1 April 2010.

The Council also agreed to amend the level of expenses as follows: subsistence for evening meal was increased by £10 to £30 the allowance for staying with friends and family was reduced by £10 to £30 the allowance for overnight accommodation within London would be adjusted to read ‘up to a maximum’ of £150 members would be required to provide a full justification for claiming first class rail travel and would be guided to buy tickets as far in advance as possible to achieve savings.

These changes would take effect from 13 July 2010.

GOsC performance review report

The Council noted the CHRE’s performance review report ‘Enhancing public protection through improved regulation – July 2010’, which confirmed that the GOsC was meeting its statutory duties and also highlighted a number of examples of good practice on the part of the GOsC.

International promotion of regulation

The Council received a presentation on the GOsC’s international promotion of regulation and its key priorities over the next year, which include: the development of European osteopathic standards; establishing reciprocal registration arrangements with Australia and New Zealand; and the launch of a World Health Organization Safety and Training Benchmark on osteopathy.

Revalidation

The Council noted the progress made in the development of the revalidation assessment criteria and other related matters for the proposed scheme. It also received an update on the progress of the evaluation and impact assessment of the scheme being carried out by KPMG.

Osteopathic Practice Standards and Code of Practice

The Council approved the publication of a consultation document which brings together a revised version of the Osteopathic Practice Standards and the Code of Practice.

Student fitness to practise

The Council noted a report on the first meeting of the Student Fitness to Practise Working Group and subsequent proposals for the development of a policy and guidance.

Adverse Events project

The Council received a presentation on the findings of the Adverse Events research project, ‘Complaints and claims against osteopaths: a baseline study of the frequency of complaints 2004-2008 and a qualitative exploration of patients’ complaints’.

The report will now be considered by the Education and Fitness to Practise Policy Committees and the findings will be published later this year.

Fitness to practise committees’ reports

The Council received a report from the Chair of the Investigating Committee and a report from the Chair of the Professional Conduct Committee.

Stakeholder engagement

As a statutory regulator, the GOsC has a specific duty to engage actively with all relevant stakeholders. This ensures the GOsC has proper regard for the interests of registrants and osteopathic patients. The GOsC is committed also to working with those concerned with the education, training and employment of osteopaths, and with the regulation of healthcare professions and provision of health services, in the interests of promoting patient safety and high standards of osteopathic practice.

The Council receives an overview of stakeholder engagement activities at each of its meetings and a copy of the report can be obtained from the GOsC’s Communications Department on 020 7357 6655 x242 or by emailing info@osteopathy.org.uk.

Minutes of this meeting

The full minutes of this meeting will be available on this website at www.osteopathy.org.uk/about-us/the-organisation/meetings/ following the next Council meeting on 14 October 2010.