GPhC revalidation Flashcards
What is revalidation
Brought in after the shipman enquiry, hcps need to demonstrate that throughout the length of their careers they remian up to date and fit to practivce
When was revalidation first introduced and what was the timeline which it followed
2018
2015/16 - testing and research
2016/17 - piloting and evaluation
2017/18 - consultation and preparation
2018 - implementation and evaluation
What are the 3 mainstays of the revalidation framework
4 CPD records (planned & unplanned)
Peer discussion
Reflective account
What are the 3 questions you need to answer in a planned cpd record
Planned learning
What are you planning to learn?
How are you planning to learn it?
Give an example of how this learning has benefited the people using your services
What are the 2 questions you need to answer in an unplanned cpd record
Unplanned learning
Describe an unplanned event or activity that enabled you to learn something new or refresh your knowledge or skills
Give an example of how this learning benefited the people using your services
How many cpd records must be planned
At least 2 must be planned
What does the peer discussion part involve
GPhC want pharmacy professionals to identify someone (another pharmacist) with whom they will speak about their practice and record the benefit it has for the people using their services.
In person, over phone or using another form of communication
Relationship needs to be trusted, respected, open and honest, and feel like a ‘safe space’ where learning can arise from things that have gone well and not so well.
How do the GPhC review peer discussions
If selected for review, GPhC would only want to confirm that peer discussion took place, not ask for details of what was discussed
What records are kept for peer discussions
The name, contact details and the role of your peer on this occasion
Describe how the peer discussion changed your practice for the benefit of the people using your services
Why did you chose this peer?
How has this peer discussion helped you to reflect on and make improvements to your practice?
Give a real example of any beneficial outcomes for the people using your services as a result of making changes to your practice.
Do include any feedback about your practice that you have had from other people.
You do not have to include information on the subject(s) discussed if you feel the contents are confidential.
What is a reflective account
GPhC want pharmacy professionals to write a reflective account based on GPhC standards for pharmacy professionals to help demonstrate that this reflection is happening
What must be included in a reflective account
Learning surrounding scpecific GPhC stadards which can change every year. We must also work the answe around the following questions:
Tell briefly about your area of work (the setting of your practice and your main roles)
Tell briefly who the typical users of your service(s) are.
Tell how you meet the standards for pharmacy professionals we have selected
Give a real example(s) taken from your practice to illustrate how you meet the standards we have selected
When is a pharmacist fit to practice
GPhC considers a pharmacy professional fit to practise when they
can shows they have the skills, knowledge, character and health to do their job safely and effectively,
maintain the reputation of the profession
What does the GPhC describe fitness to practice mean and what does this mean practically
GPhC describes fitness to practise as a person’s suitability to be on the register without restrictions
In practical terms, this means:
maintaining appropriate standards of proficiency
ensuring you are of good health and good character
ensuring you are adhering to principles of good practice set out in various GPhC standards, guidance and advice
What impares a pharmacists fitness to practice
Misconduct
demonstration towards a patient or customer by a pharmacist (PT) of attitudes or behaviour from which that person can reasonably expect to be protected
Deficient professional performance (incl. competence)
Adverse physical or mental health which
impairs ability to practise safely and effectively, or
otherwise impairs ability to carry out the duties of a pharmacist (PT) in a safe and effective manner
Failure to comply with a reasonable requirement imposed (people with previous issues with fitness to practice) by assessor(s) in connection with carrying out a professional performance assessment
Conviction for criminal offence – British Isles & elsewhere;
Fixed penalty (not speeding fines);
Police caution in the British Islands;
Determination by a UK (or elsewhere) regulatory body for health or social care profession that person’s FtP is impaired;
Including in a barred list (Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act)
How are concerns about FtP raised
Complaints come from a variety of different sources
Patients and the public Other healthcare professionals Primary care/ NHS organisations Other regulatory and enforcement authorities Inspection visits
When should the investigating committee be refered to
When the info in question brings into doubt issues with:
Conduct, performance
- presents actual or potential risk to patient or public safety
- undermines, or is likely to undermine, confidence in pharmacy professions
- serious or persistent failure to meet any of the standards for pharmacy professionals
- honesty or integrity can no longer be relied upon
Health
adverse physical or mental health which presents a risk to pharmacy professional’s ability to practise safely or effectively
Public interest
and it is in the public interest to refer
How does the GPhC investigate concerns
Stages
- Concern raised
- Initial inquiries and investigation
- Investigation
- Fitness to practice committee
What does an investigation involve
Speaking to complainant and any witnesses
Speaking to pharmacist (or PT)
Visiting registered pharmacy premises where alleged incident(s) took place
May need to get witness statements from patients or other members of public
May formally interview pharmacists, their employees or owners of pharmacies
May seize evidence
What is the decision making process around the ftp process
consider the conduct, performance and health aspects
Public interest considerations
Decision on outcome
What are the 3 statutory committees acting within the gphc
- Investigating Committee
Screening committee
Meets in private and does not hear oral evidence
Required to consider all cases referred to it and decide if allegation ought to be considered by FtP committee - Fitness to Practise Committee
Required to consider all cases referred to it
Following referral, it must determine whether or not person’s FtP is impaired - Appeals Committee
For ‘appealable decisions’
What do the investigating committee do
Refer to FtP committee
or
Investigating Committee may give:-
Warning => recorded in register
Advice to person concerned, and
Advice to any other person or other body involved in its investigation of the allegation
Registrar must inform person and person(s) who made allegation of decision and actions
What must you do if a ftp allegation is alleged against you
Registrant must supply details (within 14 days)* of:
Employer
Person/ organisation with which has arrangements to provide pharmacy services
Registrar must notify
Secretary of State (etc.) of investigation of registrant’s FtP
And:
Employer
Person/ organisation with which has arrangements to provide pharmacy services
*Failure = misconduct
What is a professional performance assessment
GPhC can make rules about circumstances when an assessment of standard of a registrant’s professional performance by assessor(s) may be required
GPhC may make provisions re
Composition of assessment teams
Their functions & procedures
Assessor(s) may require production of, and inspect and take copies of, any records relating to registrant’s professional practice
Records must be produced within 14 days!
Otherwise may seek court order
What can the ftpc do if ftp is found to be impaired
Give advice to any other person or body involved in investigation of allegation on any issue arising out of, or related to, allegation
Issue a warning (recorded in Register)
Impose conditions (no methadone dispensing etc) (recorded in Register) not > 3 years
Suspend from practising
not > 12 months
Remove from Register
What are the rules around suspensions
Following review, FtP committee can give direction that:-
Entry may be removed from Register
Suspension of entry may be extended for a further period up to 12 months
Entry may be suspended indefinitely, if suspension has been in force for at least 2 years
In case of indefinite suspension, terminate suspension
On expiry/ termination of suspension, entry may be conditional on complying with requirements – for up to 3 years
What is conditional register entry
Following review, FtP committee can give direction that:-
Period for complying with requirements may be extended for max of 3 years
Requirements may be added to, removed or varied
Entry may instead be suspended (e.g. where person has failed to comply with requirements) for max of 12 months
Entry may be removed from Register, if person has failed to comply with requirements
When is an interim order used
When over the course of the FTP decision process there is reason to be concerned about public safety under the care of the pharmacist.
Interim suspension order – registrant
Max 18 months suspension of register entry
Order for interim conditional entry – registrant
Max 18 months conditional re complying with requirements
Interim suspension order – registered premises – pharmacy owner
Max 18 months suspension of register entry
The above must be reviewed
Within 6 months
Further review every 6 months (can request further after min 3 months)
May review if further evidence available
What alterations can be made to interim orders
Fitness to Practise Committee may—
Revoke interim order
Add to, remove or vary condition(s) imposed by interim order
If satisfied that to do so is necessary for protection of members of public or otherwise in public interest:
- Replace order for interim conditional entry with interim suspension order
- Replace interim suspension order with order for interim conditional entry
What are the rules surrounding the restoration of names to Register following FtP matters
Application cannot be made
- Until at least 5 years after removal
- Within 12 months of an earlier application
Applicant must provide evidence of FtP (as directed by FtP committee)
Restoration may be conditional – max 3 years
If restoration refused – FtP can direct that no further applications can be made
Inform in writing:
- Decision & reasons
- Right of appeal
When can FtP decisions be appealed
Direction to remove entry of a person from one or more parts of Register
Direction for suspension or for conditional entry
Direction to vary conditions imposed by a direction for conditional entry
Direction that a person may make no further applications under that article in respect of one or more parts of the Register
What is involved in the appeal process and what are its possible outcomes
Appeal to relevant court* and council
*High Court
Within 28 days
Possible outcomes:
- Dismiss appeal
- Allow appeal and quash direction
- Substitute for direction with another direction FtP Committee could have given
- Remit or refer the case to the Registrar or the Fitness to Practise Committee
and may make such order as to costs as relevant court thinks fit
Taking effect of FtP directions
Where appealable FtP decision is taken in respect of a direction, that direction does not take effect:-
Until period for bringing an appeal in respect of direction has expired; or
Where appeal is brought within appeal period, until date on which appeal is completed
BUT: can be earlier/ immediately if FtP Committee satisfied that to do so is necessary for protection of public or is in interests of registrant
