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Understanding the Fitness to Practise policy
Understand the professional standards and expectations of your course.
Working Together Respectfully
We recognise that casework and complaints processes can sometimes be challenging. To support constructive engagement and help ensure a safe and respectful environment for everyone involved, we have published our Working Together Respectfully Guidance. This guidance explains the standards of behaviour we expect, our commitment to respectful communication, and how to request reasonable adjustments.
Read the Working Together Respectfully Guidance (PDF)
What is fitness to practise?
The Fitness to Practise Policy applies to students in professional or regulated programmes where specific standards of conduct, character, and competence are essential.
Read the Fitness to Practise Policy
Programmes typically covered:
- Healthcare (Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry)
- Education
- Social Work
- Psychology
- Other Professional Disciplines
Purpose of the policy
Fitness to Practise is not intended to punish students. The purpose of the process is to protect service users, patients, the public and the reputation of the profession, while supporting students to develop the standards required for professional registration and practice.
Potential concerns that may trigger review
It is not possible to provide a complete list of scenarios which may call into question a student’s fitness to practise, but concerns might include:
- Misconduct
- Criminal behaviour or conviction
- Persistent unprofessional attitudes
- Behaviors that could compromise public safety
- Adverse physical and mental health (including drug or alcohol abuse) without insight and with failure to engage or comply with treatment;
- Unsafe or dangerous practice, incompetence or requiring too much supervision
Health Concerns
Health conditions do not automatically raise Fitness to Practise concerns. However, concerns may arise where there is a significant impact on safe professional practice, lack of insight, failure to follow advice, failure to engage with support, or continuing risks that cannot be managed through reasonable adjustments.
The Fitness to Practise Procedure
We aim to handle each situation fairly and proportionally. This means our response will:
- Be appropriate to the specific concerns raised
- Consider the student's individual circumstances
- Recognise the complexity of the issues involved
Fitness to Practise concerns may arise alongside other University procedures, including:
- Student Conduct;
- Academic Misconduct;
- Fitness to Study.
The University will determine the most appropriate route for considering concerns and may decide that procedures should run separately, consecutively or concurrently where appropriate.
We will explain to students which procedures are being used and why.
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:
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A finding that your fitness to practise is not impaired and no further action is required.
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A finding that your fitness to practise is not impaired, but that additional support, guidance, warnings or undertakings are appropriate.
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A finding that your fitness to practise is not impaired, but that referral to the Fitness to Study process is appropriate.
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A finding that your fitness to practise is impaired, in which case the Panel may:
- impose conditions;
- require undertakings;
- suspend you from the programme; or
- exclude you from the programme.
When deciding an outcome, the Panel will consider matters such as insight, remediation, professional standards, public protection and confidence in the profession.
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.
Appeals that do not fall within the permitted appeal grounds may be rejected. In some circumstances, concerns about how a case was handled may be more appropriately considered under the Student Complaints Procedure.
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.
Your rights and responsibilities
Your rights
- Fair and transparent process
- Opportunity to present your case
- Confidentiality
- Support and guidance
- Right to appeal decisions
Your responsibilities
- Maintain professional standards at all times
- Engage honestly with the process
- Seek support when facing challenges
- Demonstrate commitment to professional development
Supporting you
We are committed to supporting you throughout the process. We understand that these situations can be challenging for everyone involved, and we are here to ensure that you are treated with care and respect and receive fair treatment, guidance and support.
If you have any concerns about your fitness to practise, or that of one of your classmates, you could speak to the following staff:
- Personal academic tutor or Course Leader
- Student Services
- Student Wellbeing
Remember that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Don’t wait to ask for help if you are struggling.
Practical advice
- Understand your professional code of conduct
- Seek help early if you're struggling
- Be honest and transparent
- Maintain professional boundaries
- Reflect on and learn from feedback
FAQs
Students on professional programmes are expected to demonstrate behaviours that maintain public confidence in their future profession.
In some circumstances, concerns arising outside academic study, such as criminal convictions, dishonest behaviour or inappropriate social media use, may raise Fitness to Practise concerns because of their potential impact on professional registration or public confidence.
Fitness to Practise is concerned with professional standards, public protection and suitability for professional registration.
Fitness to Study is concerned with a student's ability to engage safely and effectively with their studies and university life.
In some situations, both procedures may be relevant.
No.
Many students with health conditions successfully complete professional programmes.
The University will usually consider issues such as insight, engagement with treatment, reasonable adjustments and whether any risks can be appropriately managed.
Yes.
Certain forms of Academic Misconduct, particularly dishonesty, falsification of records or professional documentation, may raise separate Fitness to Practise concerns because they can affect trustworthiness and professional suitability.
No.
Most concerns are resolved without exclusion.
The University will consider the seriousness of the concern, available evidence, the student's insight, remediation and the requirements of the relevant professional body before determining an outcome.
Usually, yes.
However, in some circumstances precautionary measures may be required to protect service users, patients, placement settings, the public or the University community while a case is being considered.
Policies and regulations
Our key policy document, the Fitness to Practise Policy and Procedure, explains the professional standards and behaviours expected of students on programmes that lead to professional registration or practice, and the process the University follows when concerns are raised about a student's fitness to practise.
It is important to understand that the purpose of the Fitness to Practise process is not to determine academic performance or to punish wrongdoing. The focus is on professional standards, public protection, maintaining confidence in the profession and supporting students to meet the requirements of professional registration and practice.
We review and update the Fitness to Practise Policy and Procedure regularly to ensure it remains fair, effective and aligned with current legislation, professional body requirements and sector good practice. The version in force at the time a Fitness to Practise matter is considered will normally apply, unless we tell you otherwise.
In rare circumstances, we may need to make temporary changes to the policy or procedure to ensure Fitness to Practise concerns are managed fairly, consistently and in a way that protects students, the public and the reputation of the professions concerned. If this happens, we will let you know about any changes that affect your case and explain the reasons for them.
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