Fitness to Practise

Concerns are raised by staff, placement providers, or peers - you will be informed about the concern as soon as possible. 

Staff will undertake a preliminary assessment of the issue and where it is appropriate, there will be an informal discussion and we will seek to resolve the concern at this stage. We may agree an action plan with you, including advice or specific actions, such as:

• Advice on appropriate conduct
• Completion of a reflective piece of writing
• A supportive meeting schedule 
• Accessing support and resources
• Undertaking training

If the issue cannot be resolved informally, an investigation is likely to be needed. The investigator will be appropriately qualified and have no previous involvement in your case. 

You will have the chance to provide your own perspective, context and evidence.

The Investigator will produce a report to the fitness to practise panel based on their investigations, which outlines the process followed, the information gathered, and their conclusions. You will receive a copy of this report.

Once the investigation is complete, the Student Casework team will convene a Panel to consider the evidence and make a decision. 

You will be invited to attend the Panel and to answer or ask questions about the evidence being considered. You can bring a supporter to this meeting. 

The panel consists of independent University staff who will carefully review all the information from the investigation stage and then make a decision on the appropriate outcome, which may include:

• A finding that your fitness to practise is not impaired and no further action is required
• A finding that your fitness to practise is not impaired but it is recommended that you take some further actions / a Fitness to Study Panel is required
• A finding that your fitness to practise is impaired, in which case the Panel may impose conditions, suspend or exclude you from the programme

You will receive a written Decision Notice which will explain your right to appeal the decision.

Any return to study from a period of suspension agreed under this Policy will need to be agreed by a Return to Study Panel. 

If you wish to return to your studies from suspension, you must notify the Student Casework team at least 2 calendar months before the planned return. 

You will be asked to provide evidence and complete a self-assessment document and the Student Casework team will then convene a Return to Study Panel, following the same procedures as for a Fitness to Practise Panel (above).   

If the Panel decides you are fit to return to your studies, it will also consider any support you may need to facilitate this. 

 You have the right to appeal the outcome of either the Fitness to Practise or Return to Study Panel, within 10 working days of receiving the Decision Notice. 

The grounds for appeal are as follows:  

i. There has been a procedural irregularity in the conduct of the fitness process; 

ii. new material evidence is available which was not previously reasonably available, and can be expected to potentially have led the Panel to have made a different decision; 

iii. The decision made was unreasonable when the circumstances of the case and the treatment of other students in similar positions are considered. 

If your appeal doesn't fit these reasons, the University will likely treat it as a complaint instead. 

Submit an appeal

The University will advise you (usually within 10 working days) if there are grounds to convene an appeal Panel to reconsider the decision. At the end of the Appeal stage, the University will issue a Completion of Procedures letter.

If you feel your appeal has not been properly handled, you can apply to an independent body, once the University has issued the Completion of Procedures letter. The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) handles individual complaints once a student has exhausted the internal procedures of their university.