The Code Scoping Review

The GCC Code is integral to ensuring high quality professional practice.  It sets out for patients the quality of care they are entitled to receive from chiropractors.  For chiropractors, they are the benchmarks of conduct and practice they will be measured against if a complaint is made to the GCC.

The current Code, the fifth edition, was published on 30 June 2015 and came into effect on 30 June 2016, as the Act requires the Council to give a year’s advance notice of changes to the Standards of Proficiency.

The current Code amalgamated for the first time the Code of Practice and the Standard of Proficiency into a more streamlined, single document and removed the supporting guidance. Guidance underpinning the Code is published separately and can be updated and produced more frequently as required.

In March 2023 the GCC published new Education Standards, having carried out a scoping review in 2021 and review in 2022. 

The Code Scoping Review

In the latter part of 2023 the GCC carried out a scoping review of The Code to evaluate whether it remains fit for purpose, is up to date, maintains best practice and responds to developments in the profession and wider healthcare sector. The purpose of the scoping review was to gather evidence to inform a subsequent review of the Code and any revisions to it, should they be required.

The resulting report considered the views of multiple stakeholders (including patients, registrants, the four professional associations and the Royal College of Chiropractors); compared The Code with similar documents from other regulators; and looked at internal reports and data held by the GCC.

The report concluded that while no substantive alterations are required, there is scope to improve the link between the values and principles of The Code with the regulatory goals and the outcomes.

The report also identified some gaps – most of which have already been identified in the new Education Standards. The significant areas for development include:

• Patient-centred care
• Best interests’ decision-making
• Safety and quality of care
• EDI considerations (including a greater duty to challenge and act)
• Position of power, trust and professional boundaries
• Prevention, health promotion and population health
• Collaborative health care, professional relationships and workplace practice
• Performance improvement and adaptive practice (including reflective practice and implementing evidence into practice)
• Communication, digital technologies and social networking/media sharing networks

The General Chiropractic Council accepted the report at the December meeting and agreed to review The Code as part of the 2024 business plan.