For the second consecutive year, the GOC met all 18 of the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) standards of good regulation in its 2022-23 performance review.
The report found that the GOC had sustained improvements in the time it took to progress cases through its fitness to practise system, as well as recognising further work it would undertake to build on improvements made.
Strong progress was made by the GOC against its equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan 2022-24, including the use of its data and other evidence to make further positive impacts.
These included publishing a joint statement with stakeholders on zero tolerance to bullying, harassment, abuse and discrimination following the findings of its registrant survey.
The GOC was also commended for implementing its updated education and training requirements (ETR), quality assuring adaptations for more than half of existing providers and commissioning the Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education (SPOKE) to establish a knowledge hub.
Chair of Council, Dr Anne Wright CBE, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome the PSA’s latest review, which is a culmination of the hard work and dedication of our GOC staff and members to ensure we met all 18 standards for the second year running.
‘The report is testament to our commitment to maintain the positive changes made in relation to the timeliness of fitness to practise investigations and we will continue to make further improvements.’
Chief executive and registrar, Leonie Milliner, added: ‘Meeting all the PSA’s Standards for Good Regulation for a second year provides significant assurance to patients, public and registrants that we are discharging our regulatory responsibilities effectively. We will continue to build on this positive performance review in our ambition to become a world-class regulator.’