12

Fitness to practise

This competency is about the doctor’s awareness of when his/her own performance, conduct or health, or that of others might put patients at risk and the action taken to protect patients.

Insufficient Evidence

From the available evidence, the doctor’s performance cannot be placed on a higher point of this developmental scale.

Needs Further Development

Understands and maintains awareness of the GMC duties of a doctor.

Competent

Observes the accepted codes of practice in order to minimise the risk of disciplinary action or litigation.

Excellent

Encourages scrutiny and justifies professional behaviour to colleagues.

Attends to professional demands whilst showing awareness of the importance of addressing personal needs.

Achieves a balance between professional and personal demands that protects professional obligations and preserves health.

Anticipates situations that might damage the work/life balance and seeks to minimise the adverse effects.

Attends to physical or mental illness or habit that might interfere seriously with the competent delivery of patient care.

Proactive in taking steps to maintain personal health.

Promotes an organisational culture in which the health of its members is valued and supported.

Notifies when his/her own or a colleague’s performance, conduct or health might be putting patients at risk.

Promptly, discreetly and impartially ascertains the facts of the case, takes advice from colleagues and, if appropriate, engages in a referral procedure.

Provides positive support to colleagues who have made mistakes or whose performance gives cause for concern.

Responds to complaints appropriately.

Where personal performance is an issue, seeks advice and engages in remedial action.

Uses mechanisms to learn from performance issues and to prevent them from occurring in the organisation.