Remediation in GDC Cases

Dentists Legal Service provide legal advice and representation to dental registrants who need to undertake remediation for the General Dental Council (GDC) as part of a fitness to practise investigation or other GDC process.

The GDC will scrutinise the steps that a GDC registrant has taken and evaluate the quality, detail, analysis, sincerity, and relevance of their remediation.

Remediation in GDC Cases Explained

A registrant with the GDC needs to analyse the concerns that have been raised against them in order to identify each element that will require remediation.

What is Remediation?

Remediation means learning from any past mistakes or negligent acts and omissions by taking formal steps to evidence improvement and study.

How Dentists Legal Service Can Help Registrants

We will take you through the history of events and identify the shortcomings that need to be addressed in a given scenario. Even where a GDC registrant denies that they have conducted themselves as alleged, it is crucial to undertake remediation all the same. This reassures the regulator that the registrant is taking matters seriously. It reassures the GDC that the registrant is not averse to looking at their own conduct and examining it closely. On occasions, a GDC fitness to practise case can be closed where a registrant has undertaken appropriate remediation.

Types of Remediation

Procedural Competence

Where there is a competence issue, it may be necessary for the registrant to halt performing a particular procedure temporarily. To then consider a period of study under the tuition of a suitably qualified person or organisation, followed by observing another capable registrant undertake the procedure on several occasions, and then discussing the findings. The registrant undertaking remediation would then perform the procedure a number of times under supervision, before being signed off as competent again. There may be a period of supervision and auditing in the period that follows. The GDC has guidelines on how concerns should be managed.

Dishonesty

Dishonesty is much more difficult to remediate because honesty and integrity are hard to measure in any assessment. A person who has been dishonest will have to earn the trust of their colleagues, the profession, patients, the public and the GDC regulator over a longer period of time.

Other than from day-to-day good practice that is performed with probity, a registrant will need to attend courses and hold discussions about professionalism with others. This approach to remediation is in distinction to a procedural competence concern that can be assessed over a shorter period. A GDC registrant (including a dentist) who faces an allegation of dishonesty will have to undertake a considerable amount of evidence-based remediation to prove themselves worthy again. For those who deny dishonesty, they should still take steps to demonstrate an engagement with the subject matter, in case they are later doubted or found to have acted dishonestly. The GDC registrant must demonstrate that the risk of repetition is low.

Behavioural Concerns

A GDC registrant who is alleged to have misbehaved in the workplace or outside of work will need to examine what has occurred and then take remedial steps to ensure that there is no repetition. In doing so, they need to engage deeply with the subject matter and study and read widely so that they can look at their own behaviour and make changes. In some instances, a psychologist may be of assistance to make changes in one’s life. Behavioural concerns might be attitudinal, sexual, harassing, or related to the failure to maintain boundaries. In some instances, behaviours might have come about due to ill-health, and the registrant would be expected to manage their own health condition with the input of their GP, consultant or other clinicians and therapists. Even where a GDC registrant denies the alleged conduct, it will still be essential to be seen to engage and show learning.

Bespoke Support

There are specialists who can provide guidance on remediation. We can introduce you to people who may be able to assist you.

Writing About Remediation

It is important to write about the steps of remediation that have been undertaken, and reflect on the learning points. A personal development plan (PDP) can also assist in setting achievable goals. This can be reassuring to the GDC.

Showing Insight

Once remediation has been carried out, and on an ongoing basis, a GDC registrant will need to undertake reflective writing to be able to evidence insight into the problem and the remedies. We can advise registrants on the process of reflection and on how to demonstrate insight.

Our Services

We provide a number of advisory services to GDC registered dentists and other GDC registered professionals. We can advise in consultations and make recommendations. We can assist you in identifying suitable evidence to present to the General Dental Council to help demonstrate that one’s fitness to practise is not currently impaired.

Contacting Us

If you are a dentist or other dental registrant with the GDC who seeks legal advice or assistance in relation to a GDC Remediation matter, give us a call in strict confidence and without obligation on: 0370 977 0021. Or use our Contact Us Form

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