The GCC and The Code

The code: F1-6

Communicate properly and effectively with patients, colleagues and other healthcare professionals.

What are the 4 statutory committees part of the council?

Education Health Investigating Professional conduct

What are the 5 'teams' part of the 'staff'?

Education Registration Regulation Resources Standards

The code: D1-4

Establish and maintain a clear professional relationship with patients.

Top tips

- Communicate - Write it in the patient notes - Treat patient as you wish to be treated - The mum test

Why do we need regulation?

- To protect the public - To ensure standards of practise, conduct and education - To ensure the development of our profession

What is the health committee?

The Health Committee is made up of chiropractic and lay panellists. The panellists are independent, but are required to take account of the GCC's guidance. • The Health Committee considers complaints against chiropractors referred to it by the Investigating Committee. The Committee can decide whether to determine a complaint by a public hearing, or by private written submissions of evidence. If it is found that a complaint against a chiropractor is well founded, the Committee will take one of the following steps: • Impose a conditions of practice order • Suspend the chiropractor's registration

What is the investigating committee?

The Investigating Committee is made up of chiropractic and lay panellists. The panellists are independent, but are required to take account of the GCC's guidance. • Investigates all complaints made against chiropractors who are registered in the UK, determining whether they have a case to answer. The Committee can order a chiropractor's registration to be suspended in cases where this is necessary to protect the public.

What is the professional conduct committee?

The Professional Conduct Committee considers complaints against chiropractors referred to it by the Investigating Committee. The Committee can decide whether to determine a complaint by a public hearing, or by private written submissions of evidence. If it is found that a complaint against a chiropractor is well founded, the Committee will take one of the following steps: • Admonish the chiropractor • Impose a conditions of practice order • Order the Registrar to suspend the chiropractor's registration for a specified period • Order the Registrar to remove the chiropractor's name from the register

What is the education committee?

The main role of the Education Committee is to guarantee high standards of chiropractic education and training. The committee ensures that these standards are maintained and regularly reviewed, thus playing a key role in ensuring the statutory duties of the GCC are complied with. • The Education Committee is also tasked to visit educational establishments who wish to deliver chiropractic degree education and review and submit their findings to the GCC Council for onward consideration by the Privy Council.

What is the test of competence committee?

The role of the Test of Competence Committee is to assess the applications for international chiropractors applying to join the GCC register.

IC decides if there is a 'case to answer'. If yes, they formulate an Allegation consisting of various Particulars. • PCC decides in a preliminary hearing if Allegation requires a meeting or a hearing. What happens at a hearing?

• GCC presents their case (Patient, witnesses, experts) • Respondent presents their case (Chiropractor, experts) • PCC make a decision on facts & decide if the proven facts amount to UPC • Mitigation • Sanction Right of appeal may occur afterwards

The parties present at a hearing

• Professional Conduct Committee • Legal Assessor • Counsel for the GCC & Expert Witness • Respondent, his/her counsel & Expert Witness • Complainant • Stenographer • Hearing usher

Who are the council?

The GCC is led by a Council that is responsible for ensuring that the GCC carries out its core functions. The Council is made up of seven chiropractors and seven non-chiropractors.

When was the GCC set up?

The GCC was set up under the Chiropractors Act 1994

Patient and Public Expectations of Chiropractors - The 8 Principals:

A. Put the health interests of patients first. B. Act with honesty and integrity and maintain the highest standards of professional and personal conduct. C. Provide a good standard of clinical care and practice. D. Establish and maintain a clear professional relationship with patients. E. Obtain informed consent. F. Communicate properly and effectively with patients, colleagues and other healthcare professionals. G. Maintain, develop and work within your professional knowledge and skills. H. Maintain and protect patient information.

Once an individual is registered as a chiropractor, they must:

Act in accordance with The Code developed and published by the GCC - these are binding requirements of chiropractors. 2. Maintain and update their knowledge and skills by undertaking Continuing Professional Development (CPD) every year. The GCC monitors this, and a chiropractor who does not meet this requirement can be removed from the register.

The code: B1-9

Act with honesty and integrity and maintain the highest standards of professional and personal conduct

Who must be registered with the GCC?

Anybody that calls themselves a chiropractor in the UK must be registered with the GCC, otherwise they are committing a criminal offence. • To register as a chiropractor, an individual has to satisfy the educational requirements for registration and show they are of good health and character.

What are the 2 non-statutory committees part of the council?

Audit Remuneration committee

If found guilty of the Allegation of either Unacceptable Professional Conduct or Professional Incompetence the PCC must impose a sanction: (4 options)

1. Admonish the chiropractor 2. Impose a 'Conditions of Practice' order 3. Suspend the chiropractor's registration 4. Order the Registrar to remove ('strike off') the chiropractor from the Register.

The main learning points from cases heard by the PCC both in 2019 and in previous years are as follows:

1. The provision of information to the public 2. Acting with honesty and integrity 3. Maintaining sexual boundaries 4. Maintaining patient records 5. Patient management and care 6. Professional indemnity insurance 7. IR(ME)R 8. Professional behaviour

Route of disciplinary hearing

Initial complaint -> Investigating committee -> Health committee or professional conduct committee

The code: H1-7

Maintain and protect patients information

The code: G1-6

Maintain, develop and work within your professional knowledge and skills.

The code: E1-7

Obtain informed consent.

Student fitness to practise: Guidance for students and education providers

Principals on students acting as role models for other students of the same or different sexes • Supervision and delegation in chiropractic undergraduate education: Where does the responsibility lie if complaints are made? • Becoming a chiropractor - A guide for disabled people

What is the role of the GCC? (3 main duties)

Protecting the public by regulating chiropractors. 2. Setting the standards of chiropractic education, conduct and practice. 3. Ensuring the development of the profession.

The code: C1-9

Provide a good standard of clinical care and practice

The code: A1-7

Put the health interests of patients first