The Professional Standards Authority (the Authority) has published its annual performance review of the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). We review each of the statutory health and social care regulators each year to assess whether they are meeting our Standards of Good Regulation. At the time of assessment, the GOsC’s register covers approximately 5,400 osteopaths practising in the United Kingdom.
We have assessed the GOsC’s performance against our Standards of Good Regulation and are pleased to report that for this review period, the GOsC has met all of the Standards of Good Regulation. The judgements we make against each Standard incorporate a range of evidence to form an overall picture of performance. Meeting a Standard means that, based on the information we have reviewed, we are satisfied that a regulator is performing well in that area. It does not however mean that there are no areas for improvement, and we note any concerns in our report.
More information about how we reached our decision is set out in our Performance Review – GOsC 2019/20 or read a summary in our snapshot.
Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care
Contact:
Christine Braithwaite, Director Standards and Policy
Reception: 020 7389 8030
E: Christine.Braithwaite@professionalstandards.org.uk
Notes to the Editor
- The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK.
- We assess their performance and report to Parliament. We also conduct audits and investigations and can appeal fitness to practise cases to the courts if we consider that sanctions are insufficient to protect the public and it is in the public interest.
- The Standards of Good Regulation are designed to ensure that the regulators are protecting the public but also promoting confidence in health and care professionals and themselves. The Standards cover the regulators’ four core functions: setting and promoting guidance and standards for the profession; setting standards for and quality assuring the provision of education and training; maintaining a register of professionals; and taking action where a professional’s fitness to practise may be impaired.
- We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
- We share good practice and knowledge, conduct research and introduce new ideas to our sector. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally and provide advice on issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
- We do this to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of users of health and social care services and the public. We are an independent body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
- Our values are – integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and teamwork – and we strive to ensure that they are at the core of our work.
- The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) regulates the practice of osteopathy in the United Kingdom. Its work includes: setting and maintaining standards of osteopathic practice and conduct; maintaining a register of qualified professionals; assuring the quality of osteopathic education and training; and taking action to restrict or remove from practice individual registrants who are considered not fit to practise. As at 31 December 2019, the GOsC was responsible for a register of 5,457 osteopaths. The fee for registration is £320 for the first year, £430 for the second year and £570 for each subsequent year.
- More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk