Fitness to practise process flowchart

This flowchart summarises what happens during our fitness to practise process.

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1. Initial concern

We receive the concern.

2. Triage stage

The triage team do the triage test. There are 2 possible outcomes at this stage:

1. If the concern does not meet the triage test, then we close the concern.
2. If the concern does meet the triage test, the triage team refer the case to investigations.

3. Investigations stage

The investigators investigate the case and prepare it for the case examiners. They will then refer the case to the case examiners.

4. Case examiner stage

First, the case examiners will do the realistic prospect. This means they test whether there is a realistic prospect of the adjudicators finding impairment at a hearing. There are 2 possible outcomes to this test:

1. no realistic prospect of finding impairment
2. realistic prospect of finding impairment

If there is no realistic prospect

In this scenario, the case examiners can close the concern. There are 3 final outcomes at this stage:

• no further action
• advice
• warning

If there is realistic prospect

In this scenario, the case examiners can do one of two things. They can (do either of the following):

• refer the case to a hearing
• propose disposal without a hearing (accepted disposal)

Refer to a hearing

The case progresses to step 5 (hearing stage).

Propose disposal without a hearing

Some cases may be suitable for disposal without a hearing.

The case examiners can propose any of the following outcomes to the social worker:

• no further action
• advice
• warning
• suspension
• conditions of practice
• removal

This outcome is called a 'final order'.

If the social worker agrees to the the proposal (and to the final order), the case examiners can close the case. This is called accepted disposal.

If the social worker does not agree to the proposal, the case progresses to step 5 (hearing stage).

5. Hearing stage

At a hearing, adjudicators will make a final decision about the case. They will do this by deciding whether the social worker is (or was) impaired. We call this a 'finding impairment'. There are 2 possible outcomes to a hearing:

1. impairment
2. no impairment

No impairment

Where no impairment is found, there are 3 possible outcomes:

• no further action
• advice
• warning

The adjudicators will close the case. 

Impairment

Where the adjudicators find impairment, the outcome will be (one of the following):

• no further action
• advice
• warning
• suspension
• conditions of practice
• removal

This outcome is called a 'final order'.

The adjudicators will close the case.

7. Case review stage

We refer some cases to the case review team for ongoing management. This depends on the final order.

The final orders we refer to the case review team are (both of the following):

1. suspension
2. conditions of practice

This is the case whether the final order was made through accepted disposal (step 4), or at a hearing (step 5).