GDC consults on fitness to practise guidance

The General Dental Council (GDC) has launched a 12-week public consultation on proposed changes to its guidance for case examiners to support a fair, consistent, and transparent process.

The consultation is part of ongoing efforts to reduce the fear of fitness to practise (FtP).

The GDC said it recognises that investigations can take too long, feel overly complex and lead to a fear of the process, and this review is part of a sustained programme of work to address that.

The proposed updates are designed to bring the guidance up to date, improve clarity and support proportionate decision-making. They also aim to improve transparency about how case examiner decisions are made.

Some of the updates reflect revisions already made to the GDC’s practice committee guidance, recognising the similarities between the two stages and ensuring a consistent approach across the process.

“Case examiners sit at a critical point in our fitness to practise process,” the GDC said.

“Working in pairs, one registered dental professional and one lay person, they consider allegations of impaired fitness to practise during an investigation and decide whether a case should proceed to a practice committee hearing.

“The proposals will directly affect those who are involved in FtP proceedings and their representatives.”

Key changes proposed include:

• Further guidance on allegations of sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment, which emphasises the seriousness of these concerns
• Changes to the publication of warnings, including standardising the publication period to 12 months
• An updated undertakings bank that reflects the distinct nature and purpose of undertakings
• A streamlined approach for single patient clinical concerns, expanded to include less serious conduct concerns arising in the same case. This has halved the time taken to complete the initial assessment stage, from 30 to 16 weeks
• Improved practical support for registrants, informants and witnesses, including hearing support co-ordinators and enhanced support for vulnerable witnesses at hearings
• Regular training for our caseworkers and managers, delivered by a specialist mental health charity, to help staff identify participants who may be in distress and signpost them to support at an earlier stage

The guidance, which has been reviewed to remove technical language wherever possible, may be read not only by case examiners, but by registrants, their legal representatives and those who raise concerns with the GDC.

The consultation closes at 23:59 on 18 June.

The GDC states: “We encourage all those with an interest in, or knowledge of, the fitness to practise process to review the proposed changes and submit their views via our online form.”

Tom Whiting, chief executive and registrar at the GDC, added: “Our vision is to be a trusted and effective regulator that supports dental professionals to provide safe and effective care for their patients.

“A key part of that is ensuring our fitness to practise processes are fair, efficient and proportionate and that we improve transparency, which is one of our values.

“It matters that the guidance used to make these decisions is up to date, clear and supports decision-makers to act consistently at every stage.

“This consultation gives the sector an opportunity to review the proposed revisions and I would encourage anyone with an interest in this area to read the consultation materials and share their views.”

This consultation sits within the GDC’s broader programme of improvements to FtP. Recent changes already in place include: