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  • Competence Review
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Competence Review

If concerns are raised about your competence as a registered medical radiation technologist, the Board is compelled to make enquiries into your competence and consider whether a review of competence is necessary.

A competence review is not disciplinary in nature.  Rather, it is designed to protect the public by making an assessment in a collegial manner and to be educative with a focus on assisting you to improve your standard of practise.

Competence reviews undertaken by the Board will be fair, constructive, supportive and educative.

If, as a registered medical radiation technologist, you do not demonstrate acceptable levels of competence or behave appropriately in accordance with ethical, legal, and practise guidelines you are likely to be subjected to an investigation under the Board's Competence Review policy.

Upon receipt of any written notice or recommendation, the Board will make enquiries as to whether a competence review is necessary.

In accordance with the Act, any of the following situations may alert the Board to consider whether a medical radiation technologist should undergo a competence review:

• A health practitioner notifies the Board that he/she has reason to believe that a medical radiation technologist may pose a risk of harm to the public by practising below the required standard of competence (s34[1]);
• The Health and Disability Commissioner or Director of Proceedings notifies the Board that he/she has reason to believe a medical radiation technologist may pose a risk of harm to the public by practising below the required standard of competence (s34[2]);
• An employer notifies the Board that an employee has resigned or been dismissed for reasons relating to competence (s34[3]);
• A Professional Conduct Committee makes a recommendation under s80(2)(a) or s79(b) insofar as that recommendation relates to competence (s36[2]);
• The Board has discretion to review the practice of a medical radiation technologist at any time whether or not there is cause for concern or a notice has been received (s36)

Competence review queries are to be directed to the Registrar of the Medical Radiation Technologists Board and will be managed through the Board's Continuing Competence Committee.

The Continuing Competence Committee may at any time delegate its obligation to continue investigating the competence matter under consideration to a Board-appointed Competence Review Panel.

WHAT HAPPENS TO ME IF THE BOARD DECIDES I NEED TO UNDERGO A COMPETENCE REVIEW?

The Board may appoint a Competence Review Panel (the Panel) that has a minimum of two members and a maximum of three.  Members of the Panel consist of registered medical radiation technologists who are clinically competent, have good interpersonal skills and have some knowledge of performance and educational assessment relevant to your scope of practice.

From time to time, depending on the circumstances, a consumer or a lay person of the Board may be co-opted onto the Panel.

The Panel is provided with written terms of reference that detail why the competence review is to be undertaken, the particular areas of concern on which the review is to focus (unless there are indicators of a general competence problem); and the activities that should be carried out (as a minimum) to assess your competence; and reporting requirements back to the Board.  A copy of these terms of reference are also provided to you.  The investigation undertaken by the panel is limited to the aspects as detailed in the terms of reference.

The competence review may include an on-site assessment to observe you in your practice site to ensure that your practise of medical radiation technology is carried out at a competent level.  Your practise is assessed against the competencies adopted by the Medical Radiation Technology Board as being required for practise in the relevant scope of practice in medical radiation technology. 

The competence review begins with a discussion between the Panel and yourself.  It ends with the Panel informing you what they have found during their investigations and give you an opportunity to respond. 

You will always be informed of your right to have a support person present.

Within 21 days of completing the competence review the Panel reports in writing to the Board as to whether or not you meet the required standard of competence, professional guidelines, and/or legislative requirements.

Should the Panel determine you do not meet the required standard it specifies the area(s) in which it considers you are deficient, suggesting how the deficiency/deficiencies might be overcome, and indicating whether you have acknowledged the deficiency.

All notes and other documentation generated by the Panel during the course of the review are returned to the Board for secure storage and/or destruction.

Should the Board decide you have failed to meet the required standard of competence it must make one of the following orders:

• You undertake a competency based programme (section 40 [3]);
• That one or more conditions be included in your scope of practice;
• You undertake an examination or assessment;
• You must work under supervision (section 38[1]).

You will be given an opportunity to make comments on any proposed order made as the result of your competence review.