New topics included as recommended CPD
New recommended continuing professional development (CPD) topics have been introduced into the legal registration requirement. These topics are ‘safeguarding children and young people’ and ‘safeguarding vulnerable adults’.
CPD is a legal requirement of registration with the General Dental Council (GDC), and failure to meet the 250 hour requirement (for dentists) or the 150 hour requirement (for dental care professionals) in a five year cycle can result in registrants’ removal from the register, leaving them unable to practise their profession.
The GDC has stated that its aim in adding these topics is to increase awareness about them so that dental professionals can feel confident and equipped to deal with any concerns that are raised about the abuse or neglect of people who are vulnerable.
The GDC’s Standards for the Dental Team states that
• 8.5.1 you must raise any concerns you may have about the possible abuse or neglect of children or vulnerable adults. You must know who to contact for further advice and how to refer concerns to an appropriate authority such as your local social services department.
• 8.5.2 you must find out about local procedures for the protection of children and vulnerable adults. You must follow these procedures if you suspect that a child or vulnerable adult might be at risk because of abuse or neglect.
Other recommended topics include legal and ethical issues, handling complaints, and ‘oral cancer: improving early detection’, as well as the additions of ‘safeguarding children and young people’ and ‘safeguarding vulnerable adults’.
The GDC has listed other ‘highly recommended’ topics as part of verifiable CPD. These include medical emergencies, disinfection, and decontamination, radiography and radiation protection. Recommended topics may be verifiable or non-verifiable CPD.
