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DESIGNATED BODY2025V2.0SERVICES Message
INTRODUCTIONKate LewisDirector, RGNThank you for enquiring about ACI’s Designated Body Services. Whether you are an organisationlooking to become a Designated Body for the first time; or you are and existing Designated Bodylooking to engage a new Responsible Officer and support team, we can help. We have puttogether this brief guide to try and answer your questions about ACI and how our supportservices are structured. We are only ever a phone call or email away, so if you have any questions about anything pleasedo get in touch and we will be happy to assist you. We aim to complete the process as fast as possible, but we do need to ensure that yourapplication is ready to proceed first so we may ask for information or documents from you. Wemay feel a face to face meeting, either by video call or in person is appropriate. For newapplications to become a Designated Body, once submitted the time it takes the NHSE to processyour application can vary and may take several months.
ABOUTACIYour success is our business – we are committed to your success. We have specialist teamsto manage each division of the business with dedication and commitment to our customers’needs. Working in partnership with you at each step of the way.Our success is based on providing quality solutions that satisfy our customers’ needs andthose of the industry regulators, whilst remaining flexible in a fast-changing workingenvironment. Our transparent pricing means that you only pay for the services you use, at thepoint you use them.
DESIGNATEDBODY SERVICESThe Medical Profession (Responsible Officers) Regulations 2010 and the MedicalProfession (Responsible Officers) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, is the legislationwhich sets out the criteria which defines what a designated body is, the types oforganisations that could / should become a designated body and the regulationsthey need to adhere too, once they achieve designated body status. There areclearly defined categories that organisations should consider if they fall in to.Once an organisation appoints a Responsible Officer and is accepted as adesignated body then there are many regulations that must be followed. Our experienced management team can help you identify a Responsible Officerand support you during your application to become a Designated Body / appointa new Responsible Officer. If you are currently a Designated Body looking tochange service provision, we can ensure a smooth transition from your previousprovider.
REVALIDATIONEvery licensed doctor who wishes to practice in the UK, must take part in revalidation to show theyare up to date and fit to practice. ACI have an experienced administration team supporting revalidation for the designated bodieswe provide support to. We manage the co-ordination and contacting of your connected doctors,meaning you do not need to. We start contacting your doctors 12 months before revalidation to ensure that they have therequired information to ensure that a recommendation can be submitted by their responsibleofficer. Multi-Source feedback is often an area that can be left to the last minute, so we send outearly reminders to your connected doctors to ensure that they start this nice and early as it canoften take time, particularly for locum doctors. Our experienced and knowledgeable revalidation administrator is available to support yourconnected doctors throughout the revalidation process to ensure a timely recommendation issubmitted by their responsible officer.
APPRAISAL Doctors are usually required to complete whole of scope annual appraisals.Annual appraisals are the cornerstone of revalidation. As well as supportingdoctors who are connected to the designated bodies we represent, we canprovide overflow / outsourced appraisals for other organisations and we alsooffer appraisals to independent doctors including assistance with their annualGMC submission. We have a loyal and experienced pool of appraisers and only ever use GMClicenced and registered doctors, the majority of whom are consultants withmany years’ experience. Our appraisers attend a quarterly peer support meetingfor sharing best practice and an annual training day to ensure skills are up todate. Appraisal outputs are subject to a mixture of quarterly quality audits andan annual formal ASPAT audit. External quality assurance also takes place. ACI partner with L2P who provide a modern and streamlined online portal foryour connected doctors to manage and populate their appraisals and take theadministrative stress out of their annual appraisal. Many agencies and trusts useL2P as their appraisal software and so often if a doctor changes role they cansimply take their appraisal portfolio and grant access to their new designatedbody. In 2024, 98% of appraisees said they would have the same appraiser again and96% rated the administration support good or very good.
GOOD GOVERNANCEAs part of our support for designated bodies we provide full casemanagement and tracking of all doctors governance. It is essential thatgovernance is dealt with efficiently and sensitively and in a way that ensurespatient safety is prioritised.We provide the administration support for your doctors’ with open governancecases, such as complaints, investigations, or performance issues. We have adedicated governance administrator who will log all actions taken and liaisewith the doctor, the responsible officer, case investigators, GMC if required andthe named person in your organisation responsible for governance to ensurethat the case is resolved in a fair and timely manner, and that you are fullyinformed and supported throughout the process. We also have amanagement team who ensure that cases are progressing and act as anescalation point if needed. We help you understand and comply with the policies and procedures thatare required to ensure that you are meeting the requirements of theregulation. A full suite of polices can be provided by us to be adopted by yourorganisation if needed. We also provide you with training and advice on howto maintain and improve your professional standards and compliance withthe regulations.
MANAGEMENT SUPPORTWe provide all the management support you would expect to ensure that your governancesystems run smoothly and protect patient safety. Our Responsible Officers and the RevalidationManager meet quarterly with their GMC ELA to ensure that cases are progressed and thresholdguidance is appropriate. Our management team will help you prepare for and attend at any NHSE quality review to ensureyou are supported at all times. We conduct an annual limited audit on behalf of your Responsible Officer, to help you benchmarkyour systems and assure your Responsible Officer that you are adhering to the Regulations. Our quarterly dashboard and annual board report will help you identify trends and take any actionwhere appraisal and revalidation standards are not being met. The annual board report is to besubmitted to NHSE as part of their quality assurance process.
WHY USEACI?Simple, transparent pricing - pay for what you use, when you use itInnovative online appraisal portal (L2P)Reduce your administration burdenExperienced and friendly administration support teamQualified, experienced appraisers who are all doctors licenced topractice in the UKConvenient appraisal times - 7 days a week, morning, afternoon orevening98% satisfaction rating for our appraisal processExperts in supporting your organisation as a designated bodyManagement supportA full range of compliance products to suit your needsComplementary services in training and occupational health
DIRECTORYACI SERVICESMandatory Training (aligned to the Core Skills Framework)Distance LearningOnline TrainingPractical Training Delivered via Live WebinarTrain the Trainer CoursesFace to Face TrainingAt your venueAt a venue arranged by usAt our training academy in ChepstowPMVA Training (accredited trainers with Timian Learning and Development Ltdto provide Bild ACT and RRN approved)Basic / Immediate Life Support (Live Webinar)Occupational Health Fitness to Work Certificates (SEQOHS)Pregnancy Risk AssessmentsClinical InterviewsNursesDoctorsAHPsHCAsNurse Clinical ComplaintsNurse Appraisals and RevalidationsAHP/ HCA Appraisals
FURTHER READING & REFERENCESPlease find below a list of documents that have been referenced / quoted in thisguidance or may be useful for you to review. The Medical Profession (Responsible Officers) Regulations 2010 (legislation.gov.uk)Employment standards and regulation | NHS EmployersHave an annual whole practice appraisal - revalidation - GMC (gmc-uk.org)https://www.england.nhs.uk/professional-standards/medical-revalidation/emp-bod-hr/
YOUR PARTNERS INCOMPLIANCE01291 570970www.acitrainingandconsultancy.co.ukdoctors@acitrainingandconsultancy.co.ukEuro House, Bulwark Road Chepstow. NP16 5JNCopyright ACI. May not be reproduced without the permission of ACI