FAQs - Responsible Officers
Questions on this page
1. What is a Responsible Officer?
2. Who can be a Responsible Officer?
3. Who will provide training and support for the Responsible Officers?
4. How do I find out who my Responsible Officer is?
1. What is a Responsible Officer?
The role of Responsible Officer is a new role, designated in legislation which is available on the UK legislation website. Each doctor will be linked to a Responsible Officer, who will make a recommendation to the GMC, usually every five years, about whether that doctor should be revalidated. The Responsible Officer will also be responsible for ensuring that systems of clinical governance and appraisal in their organisation are working and are appropriate for revalidation.
The Department of Health (England) produced guidance about the Responsible Officer role. The guidance and further information about the Responsible Officer role is available on the Department of Health (England) website.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) has published the regulations and guidance that apply to Responsible Officers in Northern Ireland. These can be viewed on the DHSSPS website.
2. Who can be a Responsible Officer?
The Responsible Officer regulations explain who can carry out the role of Responsible Officer. In general, a Responsible Officer must be a senior licensed doctor who, at the time of their appointment to the role, must have been practising medicine throughout the previous five years.
In many cases the Responsible Officer role may be an extension of the current roles and responsibilities of the Medical Director. Further information about eligibility for the Responsible Officer role can be found in the Responsible Officer guidance published by the Department of Health (England) and Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS), Northern Ireland.
All organisations designated in the Responsible Officer legislation are required to appoint a Responsible Officer. The list of types of designated organisations is listed in the Responsible Officer regulations.
Guidance and further information about the Responsible Officer role is available on the Department of Health (England) website and the DHSSPS website.
3. Who will provide training and support for the Responsible Officers?
Responsibility for the training of Responsible Officers lies with the four UK health departments. Throughout the UK, the four health departments and the NHS Revalidation Support Team in England are in the process of developing training and support networks for Responsible Officers.
For further information and guidance on training and support for Responsible Officers, please see:
4. How do I find out who my Responsible Officer is?
The Responsible Officer regulations describe how doctors can link to a Responsible Officer. To help doctors identify their Responsible Officer, the Department of Health (England) and Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) have produced guidance to accompany the legislation, which includes a flow chart outlining the ways in which doctors can link to a Responsible Officer. This may be a useful resource for doctors who do not work for a designated organisation.
The regulations also state that licensed doctors should relate to one and only one Responsible Officer. We anticipate that, for the majority of doctors, the Responsible Officer will be based in the organisation in which they undertake the majority of their practice.
Doctors who have queries about finding their Responsible Officer should contact the DHSSPS or the Department of Health (England) for more information. Doctors may also wish to contact the organisations that employ or contract their services to confirm arrangements for linking with a Responsible Officer based in those organisations.
Guidance and further information about the Responsible Officer role is available on the Department of Health (England) website and the DHSSPS website.