Revalidation newsletter
25September 2015
Welcome to the seventh edition of the Scottish Government revalidation newsletter!
This newsletter brings you the most recent information in relation to developments for revalidation to keep you up to date with how we are progressing plans in Scotland,and what we are learning from one another, and information available via the NMC, to understand the potential impact for us all.
This newsletter will be a more brief edition than normal – the focus for the NMC over the last few weeks had been on attending the Programme Boards of the four UK countries so there is not much to report in terms of new NMC activity. The key datefor your diary is of course 8th October when the NMC Council meets to make its decision on whether to implement the model for revalidation. Luckily our next webex date is scheduled for the 9th October so we will be able to bring you the most up to date information available.
The Programme Board for Scotland met this week to consider two very important questions:
- Is the proposed model of revalidation acceptable and supported?
- Is Scotland, in terms of preparedness, ready to implement the model for revalidation?
All of the available evidence gained through KPMG, Ipsos Mori, meetings attended at the NMC and with colleagues from across the UK, was reviewed and triangulated against other sources such as the pilot outcomes for Scotland and across the other three UK countries. The Programme Board noted the very positive perception of revalidation that the pilots articulated; it was viewed as a suitable vehicle in support of the notion of increased professionalism.
With the evidence in mind, the Programme Board considered very carefully whether it could endorse the model as currently proposed by the NMC, and as a result it proposed some changes to the model.
The first of these is that there was no evidence presented to support variance in the number of CPD hours from 35 to 40. There has been no suggestion that 35 hours of CPD is insufficient; the increase of five hours has no emprirical basis; and most importantly no benefit was seen to be demonstrated for these additional hours. Instead, the evidence highlighted that the real benefit was seen to accrue from the feedback, reflection and professional conversation aspects of the proposed model. Therefore the Programme Board has proposed to the NMC that the current number of CPD hours remain as a minimum of 35, to be kept under review as a result of constant evaluation of the impact of revalidation, which should instead allow registrants to focus on those other aspects of revalidation which have been shown to bring most benefit.
This suggestion, and other minor changes suggested by the Programme Board will be considered by the NMC Council at its meeting on 8th October.
In relation to the second decision made by the Programme Board as to the readiness of Scotland to implement the model for revalidation, the level of communications, information availability and planning being undertaken by organisations led the Programme board to conclude that there is a general awareness of revalidation and that most employers are progressing plans to plan for and implement revalidation.
I am on holiday now until Tuesday 6th October and therefore unavailable to answer any further queries however if there is anything urgent please do contact Sharon Mooney, and I’ll look forward to speaking with you on the 9th October.
Kind regards,
Donna