Session 3: How do people experience the Fitness to Practise process after raising a concern?
Introduction
When a concern has been raised the regulator takes several actions. They read the details of the concern. They may decide to take it forward but they may decide that there is not enough evidence or that the concerns are not serious enough. They may decide that they are not the best organisation to deal with the concern (e.g. a concern to another organisation may be more appropriate, such as the service provider or commissioner) and not proceed any further with the concern until it has been investigated by an employer. Once investigated, the regulator may also decide that the concern is not serious enough or there is not enough evidence to proceed to a public hearing, or if it is serious enough it may go to a full public hearing with a panel. If there is a concern about the safety of other people or the concern is very serious, the registrant may be suspended until further investigations have taken place.
The process can take months or years and is stressful for members of the public and registered professionals involved. There is a lot of time and effort involved for witnesses (e.g. finding and providing evidence, attending a hearing) and other people involved. This session is about how members of the public who have raised a concern about a professional to a health or social care regulator experience the process before a hearing, and their views of what could be improved.