GOsC meets all standards of good regulation

The annual Performance Review Report 2015/16 concludes that the GOsC continues to demonstrate its effectiveness as a regulator. Key achievements over the last year highlighted by the PSA include:

• Further progress in developing its continuing professional development scheme for osteopaths. Keeping skills and knowledge up to date is a mandatory requirement for osteopaths and these further improvements to the scheme aim to enhance the quality of osteopathic care and patient safety.
• Development of new guidance on Drafting Determinations and on Imposing Interim Suspension Orders to support the work of the GOsC fitness to practise committees that investigate complaints relating to osteopathic practice.
• Improving support for witnesses giving evidence in fitness to practise hearings, including a guidance leaflet and video.
• Promotion of the ‘duty of candour’, including workshops with practising osteopaths and members of the GOsC governance structure, as well as engagement activities with patients and the public.

Tim Walker, the GOsC’s Chief Executive, said:

“We welcome the PSA’s report and the recognition of what the GOsC has achieved over the last year. This is the sixth year in a row that the GOsC has met all the PSA’s standards of good regulation, and highlights the important work we do to protect the public and promote confidence in the osteopathic profession.”

ENDS

For further information contact:
The GOsC Press Office
Tel: 020 7357 6655 x245
Email: pressoffice@osteopathy.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) has a statutory duty to regulate the practice of osteopathy in the UK. Osteopaths must be registered with the GOsC in order to practise in the UK.

2. We work with the public and the profession to promote patient safety by:

• registering qualified professionals
• setting, maintaining and developing standards of osteopathic practice and conduct
• assuring the quality of osteopathic education
• ensuring continuing professional development
• helping patients with concerns or complaints about an osteopath.

3. The 2016 statutory Register of osteopaths provides a geographical index of all practising osteopaths, and is available to the general public and to healthcare providers online at: www.osteopathy.org.uk

4. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care is the body charged by Parliament with overseeing the work of the nine healthcare regulators.

5. The nine health and social care regulators are:

• General Chiropractic Council
• General Dental Council
• General Medical Council
• General Optical Council
• General Osteopathic Council
• General Pharmaceutical Council
• Health and Care Professions Council
• Nursing and Midwifery Council
• Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.

6. In common with all the health professions’ regulators, the performance of the GOsC is reviewed annually by the PSA to check it is effectively protecting the public and maintaining confidence in the osteopathic profession. All regulators’ performance is measured against a set of standards that cover different areas of work including guidance and standards, education and training, registration and complaints handling.

7. The GOsC’s full performance review report is available at: http://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/docs/default-source/publications/performance-reviews/performance-review-gosc-2015-16.pdf?sfvrsn=12