Enclosed Revalidation - Osteopathy .uk

GOsC newsAssessing the proposedrevalidation scheme Assessing the proposed revalidation schemeIn the last issue of The Osteopath (April/May, pages 4 and 5), we introduced you to theKPMG team who are undertaking an assessment of the proposed revalidation schemefor osteopaths. The team will be looking at the costs, benefits, financial and regulatoryrisks, and the equality impact of the draft scheme, which will help with the preparationof a comprehensive pilot to test and evaluate the scheme in 2011.The team presented their plan to the GOsC Council inApril and received approval to proceed. Theassessment will be qualitative and quantitative innature – to understand the costs and benefits ofrevalidation and to gain more information about risk. Regional Osteopathic Societies special interest groups, such as the SutherlandSociety, the Osteopathic Sports Care Association,and the Society of Osteopaths in Animal Practice the British Osteopathic AssociationTalking to osteopaths, patients and other stakeholderswill form a vital part of this assessment. To understandthe impact of the scheme from the perspective of theprofession and other interested groups, the KPMG teamare keen to speak to representatives from the followinggroups of stakeholders: other healthcare regulators Osteopathic Educational Institutions and otheremployers of osteopaths osteopathic insurers/defence unions National Council for Osteopathic Research osteopaths representing a range of practice settings,i.e. full and part-time, rural and urban, private andNHS, educationists and researchers, etc. the international osteopathic community patients and the public. students of osteopathyApril 2010Stage 1a: MobilisationApril – June2010Councilsign-offStage 1b: Establishing the baselineApril – October 2010Stage 2: Pre-pilot design and impact assessmentRevalidationProject BoardData gathering/survey1-2-1 Interviews1-2-1 InterviewsGeneral OsteopathicCouncil key deliverablesA. Report on how osteopathspractiseB. Report on work undertaken byother regulatorspage 6 the osteopath magazine June/July 2010C. Report onimpact assessmentmethodologyFocus GroupsD. Report on anticipated costs, benefits, financialand regulatory risks and informationspecification

GOsC newsIn order to reach a broad cross-section of theprofession and gather as many views as possible, theKPMG team plan to use a number of research methods,including: the gathering and analysis of existing data a survey focus groupsAssessing the proposed revalidation scheme one-to-one interviews.Current plans are based on the timeline below, whichoutlines the proposed engagement from now until2012. However, as the pilots will ultimately inform thedevelopment of the revalidation scheme, the researchmethods used and timings may vary. To ensure thisprocess is not unnecessarily time-consuming for theprofession, KPMG will build upon data and viewsalready expressed by you during past consultationexercises.A series of events in the months ahead will outline thework undertaken on revalidation and will seek yourviews and feedback on the proposed scheme. In duecourse, we will also start recruiting volunteers to takepart in the pilots and contribute to the shaping of thescheme.Further information on these events and therecruitment process will be available as soon as thedates are finalised. Do keep checking the o zone forupdates, as well as our newly launched revalidationpage on our public website ice/revalidation/), whichfeatures all papers relating to the proposed scheme.2011Stage 3: Pilot evaluation2012Stage 4: Finalevaluation1-2-1 InterviewsCouncilsign-offTo share your views with uson the draft revalidation schemeor to volunteer for the upcomingpilots, contact the ProfessionalStandards Departmenton 020 7357 6655 ext 235or email:revalidation@osteopathy.org.uk.1-2-1 InterviewsE. Report evaluating thepilots and updated impactassessmentF. Final report withfull evaluation andimpact assessmentthe osteopath magazine June/July 2010 page 7

GOsC newsIn CouncilJane Quinnell, Clerk to Council14 April 2010 – 67th meeting of the General Osteopathic Council In CouncilRECIPROCAL REGISTRATIONARRANGEMENTS WITHAUSTRALIA ANDNEW ZEALANDThe Council was updated on the progressof GOsC talks with the osteopathicregulatory bodies in Australia and NewZealand to identify and agreearrangements for registering individualsfrom all three countries on terms thatenable each regulator to meet theirstatutory duties, whilst removingunnecessary obstacles in the way ofmigrating osteopaths.The Council agreed to direct the Chair tosign a Memorandum of Understanding,setting out the commitment of the threeregulators to work together (see page 13for further information).BUSINESS PLAN ANDBUDGET FOR 2010/11The Council received and approved thedraft Business Plan and Budget for2010/11. Regular reports on itsimplementation will be made to theCouncil at each meeting.TRANSPARENCY OF COSTSFollowing a recommendation by theRemuneration Committee, the Councilagreed to publish annually the followinginformation in respect of non-executivesand the Chief Executive: Annual fee of Chair of the Council; Annual fee of Council members; Annual fee of Chair of the FinanceCommittee (Treasurer), AuditCommittee and Education Committee; Daily rates paid to non-Councilcommittee members;page 8 the osteopath magazine June/July 2010 Amounts paid in expenses to individualCouncil members and committeemembers; andPATIENT EXPECTATIONSRESEARCH Total employment costs of the ChiefExecutive – salary, pension and NationalInsurance.A report was presented to the Council onthe progress of the research projectcommissioned by the GOsC into patientexpectations of osteopathic care. At thedate of the meeting, 1,606 questionnaireshad been returned and the data was beinginputted ready for analysis. A full reportwill then be submitted to the GOsC.Although this is later than expected, theCouncil accepted the need to allow a littleextra time for receipt of a sufficientnumber of completed questionnaires andto produce a comprehensive report.NATIONAL COUNCIL FOROSTEOPATHIC RESEARCH(NCOR)Annual Report 2008/09The Council noted NCOR’s Annual Reportfor 2008/09, which included an overview ofthe status of key projects, along withresearch reports from each of theOsteopathic Educational Institutions.Future relationship withNCORThe Council considered the ResearchStrategy Working Group’s review of theGOsC’s relationship with NCOR in light ofthe Council’s own research priorities. TheCouncil fully acknowledged the verysignificant contribution made by NCORsince its inception in 2003; in particular,the potential of both the StandardisedData Collection and Adverse Eventsprojects and the very valuable role NCORplays in acting as an information resourcefor the media, the public and theprofession. Although the Council felt theGOsC’s financial support of NCOR to datehad been justified, it concluded that itcould not continue to support NCORindefinitely and that the time was right tosignal an end date for this.The Council therefore decided thatfunding should continue until the expiry ofthe current Chair’s term in 2012 to avoid anabrupt withdrawal of funding. The GOsCand NCOR will continue to agree thenature of work to be undertaken untilthen. Funding for NCOR’s operational costsfor the year 2010/11 was also agreed.REVALIDATIONThe Council noted the progress of therevalidation work programme and receiveda presentation from KPMG on theirproposals for undertaking an evaluationand impact assessment of the draftrevalidation scheme (see pages 6 and 7).Council also received an update on thework of the Revalidation Standards andAssessment Working Group and therecruitment of external experts to developassessment criteria for revalidation (seepages 4 and 5 for further information).FITNESS TO PRACTISECOMMITTEES REPORTSThe Chairs of the Investigating Committeeand Professional Conduct Committeepresented reports which covered the firstyear of the committees appointed inApril 2009.Investigating Committee(IC)The 33 complaints considered by the ICduring the year raised a wide range ofissues concerning allegations ofunacceptable professional conduct andprofessional incompetence, including casehistory taking; diagnosis and treatment;

GOsC newsThe Council agreed to the appointment oftwo more osteopath members to theInvestigating Committee: Miles Crook andYvonne McNiven. To pay the attendance fee to panelmembers for all days booked for ahearing, even if a case concludes infewer than the scheduled number ofdays.Professional ConductCommittee (PCC)The Council noted the summary of the 10full hearings and six other hearings by thePCC, covering issues of communication(including failure to obtain valid consent,explaining intended treatment, andinadequate responses to complaints);inadequate practise (including patientmodesty, case history taking, failure tojustify continued treatment and excessivetreatment); and inadequate recordkeeping. The Committee raised a generalobservation that some osteopaths maybecome ‘routinised’ in their practice and,as a result, were not recognising thathabitual practise may fall short of thestandard expected of an osteopath.Fitness to Practise PolicyCommitteeThe Council agreed to the establishmentof a Fitness to Practice Policy Committee toact as a forum for consideration of fitnessto practise policy matters.Remuneration in fitness topractise mattersCancellation of hearingsThe Council agreed a policy for thereimbursement of panelists and legalassessors where their attendance was nolonger required because a hearing had To pay the attendance fee to panelmembers where notice of cancellationis given seven days or fewer before ahearing, with the seven-day interval toinclude weekends. To reimburse expenses incurred bypanel members before the cancellationof a hearing where such expensescannot be recovered by the panelmember.The Council receives an overview ofstakeholder engagement activities at eachof its meetings and a copy of the reportcan be obtained from the GOsC’sCommunications Department on020 7357 6655 ext 242 or by emailing:info@osteopathy.org.uk.APPRAISALS OF MEMBERSOF THE GOVERNANCESTRUCTUREFollowing the development of a newappraisal scheme and completion of theirfirst year, all members of the governancestructure are currently undertaking theirfirst appraisals. To pay the legal assessors oneadditional day’s payment where a casecompletes before the allotted time.Reading time for InvestigatingCommittee (IC) panelistsThe Council agreed a policy for payment ofa 75 flat fee to IC panelists for readingmaterial in connection with casework, inaddition to the daily rate of 300. ICpanelists will be required to make a claimfor this flat fee as it will not be paidautomatically.STAKEHOLDERENGAGEMENTAs a statutory regulator, the GOsC has aspecific duty to engage actively with allrelevant stakeholders. This ensures theGOsC has proper regard for the interests ofregistrants and osteopathic patients. TheGOsC is committed also to working withthose concerned with the education,training and employment of osteopaths,and with the regulation of healthcareprofessions and provision of healthservices, in the interests of promotingpatient safety and high standards ofosteopathic practice.Future Council meetings 13 July 201014 October 201018 January 201112 April 2011Meetings begin at 10am atOsteopathy House and agendas forthe public session are available onthe GOsC public website(www.osteopathy.org.uk) or fromJane Quinnell, approximately 7 to 10days before the meeting. Publicsessions of Council meetings are opento members of the public, includingosteopaths.For further information, contactJane Quinnell on 01580 720 213 oremail: janeq@osteopathy.org.uk.the osteopath magazine June/July 2010 page 9In Councilbeen cancelled at short notice or ahearing had ‘run short’: post-treatment evaluation; referraldecisions; communication; recordkeeping; consent; and complaintshandling. A small number of casesinvolved concerns about the registrant’shealth, practising without insurance, andallegations involving possible breaches ofsexual boundaries.

GOsC newsGOsC seeks new Chief Executive & Registrar Evlynne Gilvarry, Chief Executive & Registrar, will be leaving later this year to takeup the post of Chief Executive & Registrar at the General Dental Council.GOsC seeks new Chief Executive & RegistrarCommentingon Evlynne’sdeparture,Professor AdrianEddleston, Chairof the GOsC,said: “Evlynnehas made amajor contribution to the work of theCouncil, and together with all the staff here,has ensured that we are a forward looking,innovative and fair regulator. We will missher skills and experience.”Evlynne Gilvarry said: “It has been veryrewarding to work with the staff and theCouncil of the GOsC and its keystakeholders. I look forward to continuingthe important work in hand over the nextfew months and to facilitating a smoothhandover in due course.”Ms Gilvarry will leave the GOsC inOctober 2010. An advertisement torecruit her successor was placed in theSunday Times on 23 May and was alsoavailable on our public website andthe o zone. The closing date forapplications was 11 June, with finalinterviews likely to take place towardsthe end of July.For further information, contactAmanda Chadwick, Human ResourcesManager, on 020 7357 6655 ext 252 oremail: amandac@osteopathy.org.uk. Regional Communications NetworkRegional Communications NetworkRepresentatives of the Regional Osteopathic Societiesacross the UK attended a meeting at Osteopathy Houseon Friday 21 May to share views and information onkey regulatory developments affecting osteopathicpractice.These meetings provide aninvaluable forum for the GOsC toengage with representatives of theprofession at an early stage infuture policy development,exploring how these plans couldwork in practice.Representatives heard from theKPMG team who will be carryingout an independent analysis ofrevalidation (see pages 6 and 7),and were introduced to CaitrianGuthrie, Assessment Expert TeamLeader, who will be drafting theassessment criteria for the scheme,along with the other members ofthe Team (see pages 4 and 5).Other discussion topics includedthe Vetting and Barring Schemeand ISA registration, reciprocalarrangements with Australia andNew Zealand and the merger ofthe Osteopathic PracticeStandards and Code of Practice.Briefing papers on all of thesubstantive items on the agendaare available on the o zone.Representatives who attended themeeting are encouraged to reportback to members of regionalgroups to inform discussion atlocal osteopathic meetings andgenerate feedback to the GOsC.If you are currently not a memberof a Regional Society, you can findmore information on how to joinby visiting the o zone.For further information on thebriefing papers or any of theissues discussed at themeeting, contact us at:info@osteopathy.org.ukor call 020 7357 6655 ext 242.page 10 the osteopath magazine June/July 2010Friday 21 May 2010AGENDA1Taking the draft revalidation scheme forwardIntroducing KPMGAssessment Expert Team: role and timescalesPlanned pilots for 20112International regulationDeveloping European osteopathic standardsReciprocal arrangements with Australia andNew ZealandWorld Health Organization standards3GOsC research strategyOPEn project updateAdverse Events researchInternational Journal of Osteopathic MedicineFuture of NCOR funding4Issues updateAdvertising standardsBusiness and Corporate PlansScope of Practice5E-GOsC: enhancing online communicationsYour new o zoneE-bulletins: feedback and suggestions6Combining the Osteopathic Practice Standardsand Code of Practice7Vetting and Barring Scheme: ISA registration

Individuals who did not apply for registration withthe GOsC in the initial two-year transition period(1998–2000) now have just six months to jointhe Register. Applications will be accepted until31 December 2010.Under new powers sought by theGOsC, those who would like to beconsidered for registration mustmeet the following criteria. Theindividual must: have obtained a qualification inosteopathy in the UnitedKingdom before 9 May 2000; have a good reason for nothaving made a successfulapplication for registrationduring the transition period;and be capable of the competentand safe practice of osteopathy.Each application for registrationwill be assessed in threestages.The applicant must: provide evidence that theyhave gained anosteopathic qualificationin the UK; submit written evidence ofpractice, detailing pastexperience and strategiesfor dealing with specificsituations; andApplications must be received by31 December 2010, but theprocessing of applications maycontinue until an outcome isreached.For further information on howto apply, or to download anapplication form, r-uk/qualified-9may-2009/.Due to the relatively low number ofosteopathic students, and the smallproportion of students whose fitness topractise is called into question, it is difficultfor Osteopathic Educational Institutions(OEIs) to build up a body of expertisewithin their own schools. The new Groupwill support the pooling of that expertiseand will consider the need for guidance tosupport the OEIs. This may includedeveloping guidance on the meaningof student fitness to practise;how students should be supported;how allegations of misconduct andincompetence against students shouldbe investigated and adjudicated upon;and the appropriateness of any sanctionsthat may be imposed as a result.The Group will also look at the need forfurther guidance for students onprofessionalism, fitness to practise and theirobligation to ensure patient and publicprotection.In addition, we have published a statementoutlining the limited circumstances inwhich a UK osteopath graduate can havetheir registration application reconsideredon the grounds of conduct or health. Youcan read the full statement on our publicwebsite ).For further information on any of theseareas of our work, contact Fiona Browne,Head of Professional Standards,on 020 7357 6655 ext 239 or email:fbrowne@osteopathy.org.uk.the osteopath magazine June/July 2010 page 11Spotlight on student fitness to practise have not practised as anosteopath in the UnitedKingdom on or after 9 May2000;The GOsC aims to complete theapplication process within fourmonths. However, this isdependent on how long it takesfor an applicant to submit all ofthe required information.The GOsC has recently beenlooking at the issues surroundingthe fitness to practise ofstudents. As part of this work, wehave established a StudentFitness to Practise WorkingGroup, which met for the firsttime in May. have practised as an osteopathbefore 9 May 2000; demonstrate the managementof two new patients in a clinicalsetting.Spotlight onstudent fitnessto practiseGOsC news Six months to register under new powersSix months to registerunder new powers

GOsC newsThe Osteopath goes interactive The Osteopath goes interactiveThe Osteopath magazine is now available as a digital editionon the GOsC public website and the o zone(www.osteopathy.org.uk). Readers can view each issueas an interactive publication, with links to relevantwebsites and email addresses for further information,and are able to turn pages like a hard copy, search forspecific content, and zoom in and out of pages forenhanced clarity.Accessing the new digital editions is just as easy asdownloading the original online version of themagazine. Simply click the interactive icon on ‘TheOsteopath’ page under ‘Resou

ppopat@osteopathy.org.uk Jane Quinnell (01580 720 213) Governance Manager janeq@osteopathy.org.uk Matthew Redford (ext 231) Head of Finance & Administration matthewr@osteopathy.org.uk Anna Ripley (ext 224) Regulation Assistant annar@osteopathy.org.uk Abdul Saadeddin (ext 251) Facilities Manager abduls@osteopathy.org.uk Marcia Scott (ext 246)