The General Dental Council (GDC) has clarified its position in relation to the change in the law following the introduction of the Government's new Vetting and Barring Scheme.
From July 2010 any dental professionals who are changing jobs or starting work for the first time will need to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). This authority was created to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults through the Vetting and Barring Scheme.
Within the meaning of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, the delivery of dental care is a 'regulated activity'; therefore all those delivering that care must be registered with the ISA in the long term. Registrants already employed and not changing jobs will be included in the scheme over time, with everyone needing to be included by 2015.
The GDC now has a legal obligation to share information about GDC registrants with the ISA and is waiting to be advised as to exactly what information it will have to share. This is likely to be anything which could indicate that a registrant poses a risk to children or vulnerable adults.
