We know that registrants are often worried that someone may raise a concern about them with our Fitness to Practise team for withdrawing care after experiencing abuse or discrimination by a service user.
Registrants should feel confident that our Fitness to Practise process considers the broader context of the complaint and begins with triage and threshold stages. We investigate all cases objectively and independently and do not take the side of either you or the person who raised the concerns.
Fewer than 1% of the professionals we regulate have a concern raised about them.
In the unlikely event that you’ve had a concern raised about you, you can access support through your union, professional body, and/or the independent registrant support service, CiC.
Should any concerns be raised with us about a registrant’s decision to refuse to treat, we will consider those concerns in light of the specific circumstances and context in which the registrant was working.
How we make FTP decisions
- Our triage process determines if the case relates to something we can investigate.
- Our Threshold Policy sets out the criteria we take into account in each case. We have a thorough investigation process where we collect as much information as possible about the concern. You will have several opportunities to provide your account of the incident, including any relevant evidence you would like to submit.
- We close a significant number of cases at our triage and threshold stages. More information and data on our FTP process, including the number of cases that are closed at the triage and threshold stages, can be found in our Fitness to Practice data and reports.
- Our decisionmakers properly evaluate each case on its own merit, considering all of the relevant circumstances including the context surrounding the concerns raised.
- We have robust guidance for our panels which sets out the factors they need to consider depending on the stage of the case and the nature of the concern. This will include their consideration of mitigating and aggravating factors on a case-by-case basis.
How we assemble panels
- An independent panel is responsible for reviewing and making decisions on cases.
- Each panel is made up of three members: a chair, someone from the same profession as the registrant and a lay person who is not from any of the professions we regulate.
- We encourage panel applicants from all backgrounds and have an equality and diversity statement in our information for applicants and on the advert. We regularly monitor the EDI trends of our panel recruitment.
- All decision makers (including panels) are required to complete regular EDI training which includes unconscious bias training.
- An independent legal assessor attends each of our hearings. While they are not involved in the decision-making process, their role is to ensure the hearing is run fairly and that the panel acts within accordance with the law at all times.
You can learn more about what to expect if a concern has been raised about you and you can access any of our FTP fact sheets which further explain the process.
- Equality Advisory and Support Service
- Contact us | Acas
- We're Mind, the mental health charity | Mind
- CST – Protecting Our Jewish Community
- Jami is the mental health service for the Jewish community - Jami UK
- Tell Mama: Report in Anti-Muslim Hate or Islamophobia
- Homepage - Stop Hate UK
- Discrimination and rights | Age UK
- Helpline & Email Support – LGBT Foundation
- SARI - Stand Against Racism & Inequality
- NHS England » Staff networks
- NHS Lothian and NESStaff Networks
- Workforce Wellbeing - HEIW
- Health and social care | Northern Ireland
