Concerns Standards

The organisation ensures that the process for raising a concern is accessible to all, makes clear the types of concerns that should be referred to them, and supports timely local resolution of cases where appropriate. 

So that serious concerns about the conduct and competence of registrants can be brought to the organisation’s attention by anyone, and less serious concerns can be addressed locally or through other means where appropriate. This will support effective use of time and resources by employers, regulators and registers, whilst prioritising the protection of the public. 

• Anyone is able to access information about how to raise a concern about a registrant to the organisation, the sorts of concerns they can take action against, and the process for dealing with them. 
• Anyone is able to raise a concern to the organisation about a registrant’s practice or behaviour. 
• Regulators and registers are encouraging concerns about registrants to be resolved by the right organisation at the most appropriate level. 
• Employers and other organisations making referrals have clarity about the types of concerns that should be referred to a regulator or register, and those they should seek to resolve themselves.

The organisation considers, investigates and resolves concerns about registrants as quickly as is possible for a fair and safe resolution of the case.

So that concerns are addressed in a timely way in order that patients, service users and the public are protected at the earliest opportunity, fairness is maximised and the impact on wellbeing is minimised for all parties.
 

• Concerns are resolved without unreasonable or unjustified delay for registrants, complainants and witnesses.

The organisation’s policies and process for considering, investigating and resolving concerns about registrants are fair, proportionate, consistent and transparent, while protecting the public and maintaining public confidence.
 

So that all fitness to practise decisions regardless of where they fit in the process are adequately protecting the public without unfairly disadvantaging the registrant, and that this is clear and understandable to others.

• The processes for examining, investigating and resolving concerns about registrants are fair and protect the public.
• The decisions about concerns are fair to all parties involved and protect the public.
• The organisation clearly explains how and why it makes decisions when examining, investigating and resolving cases.

The organisation identifies and manages risks in all cases which suggest a registrant poses a serious risk to public safety and confidence and takes timely action to restrict practice where necessary (such as interim measures).

So that patients and service users are protected as soon as possible where there is a serious risk of harm from unsafe practice or poor conduct by a registrant.

• The organisation is able to continuously assess and review the level of risk in a case.
• The organisation takes quick and appropriate action to restrict the practice of registrants in the period between receiving the concern and concluding the case, where they assess that there is a serious risk to the safety of patients or service users (for example seeking interim measures where applicable).

The organisation provides complainants, witnesses, and registrants involved in a complaint with the support they need throughout the case and keeps them informed about case progression in a sensitive and timely way.

So that complainants, witnesses, and registrants can engage fully with the fitness to practise process, any negative impacts are minimised and the best possible evidence can be secured for the process.

• Complainants, witnesses, and registrants are kept updated throughout the lifetime of the case.
• Complainants, witnesses, and registrants are treated with dignity, respect and sensitivity.
• The process minimises further harm to the health, including mental health and wellbeing, of all parties.