The Code Conversation - developing a new Code

We published the results of our Code Scoping Review and announced our intentions to review the Code.

The current model of outline principles with a series of statements was felt to be the right model for the Code, but the scoping review recommended articulating the core values that chiropractors and patients hold. It was felt that the current principles should be retained, but should be reframed as the means of actioning the core values.

There were also two new principles proposed:

• Workplace behaviours around others (protecting chiropractors and colleagues from harm)
• Clinical safety (safeguarding and incident prevention in the clinic, rather than safety of treatment which is covered elsewhere)

In February we asked registrants to help us understand the values that they felt should underpin the Code (survey now closed, link provided for context).

We received responses from 59 chiropractors and, while there undoubtedly some variance, the top four responses were:

• Patient-centred care (80% of responses ranked it within their top 4 values)
• Honesty, integrity and transparency (77% in top 4)
• Safety and Quality (59% in top 4, 77% in top 5)
• Professionalism (58% in top 4, 71% in top 5)

At the beginning of March Nick Jones wrote a blog posing some “food for thought” for the profession. 

The blog was intentionally provocative, covering questions and concerns that are regularly raised by patients, chiropractors and other health practitioners with the GCC. The intention was to obtain a wider range of views than we normally receive that could inform the discussion and development of the New Code. The responses successfully delivered that, however we recognise (with hindsight) that the blog unsettled some within the profession, who were concerned it could signal the final direction of the Code, and we apologise for the anxiety this caused.

On 20 March Council agreed to the proposed Values and Principles, giving the go ahead to start developing the standards.

The Principles of the new Code

• Put the interests of patients first
• Ensure safety and quality in clinical practice*
• Act with honesty and integrity and maintain the highest standards of professional and personal conduct
• Provide a good standard of clinical care and professional practice
• Establish and maintain clear professional boundaries
• Obtain valid consent for all aspects of patient care
• Communicate professionally, properly and effectively
• Foster collaborative health care, effective professional relationships and supportive workplace practice*
• Maintain, develop and work within your professional knowledge and skills
• Maintain and protect patient information

*New standard for 2024

During April we will be analysing the responses to the March blog, alongside responses to other research (particularly patient research) we have carried out in the past and (where available) academic research.

We will be holding a discussion with Council members, we are inviting the four Professional Associations to meet with us and then, on May 1, we will hold two online facilitated discussions with registrants.

Following those meetings we will analyse the outcomes of those conversations and the research and discuss it with registrants at a further "in person" event at the GCC in London on 15 May.

Details of how to join the Registrant events were sent in the April edition of the GCC newsletter.

All this research and discussion will inform the development of the statements within the draft Code.

In preparation for the two webinars on May 1 we have published a briefing document that follows our analysis of the responses to the March blog. The document explains:

• the concerns and themes that led to each of the questions in the blog;
• what we learned from the responses;
• and how our thinking has evolved in response.

Here is the presentation that was used to set the scene at the events:

The draft code, alongside the outcomes of our research and a proposed approach for the formal consultation was taken to the Council Meeting on June 19 for consideration.

Council agreed with the proposed draft code, now called The Code of Professional Practice, being published for consultation.

The Code Consultation will run from 22 July 2024 until 27 September 2024.

All registrants and stakeholders wiull be invited to take part, however if you are not already someone we communicate with regularly, and would like to be added to the mailing list, please join our Code Consultation mailing list to be informed when the Code Consultation goes live.