Getting support during a fitness to practise investigation
We understand that being subject to a fitness to practise investigation can be extremely stressful. It can feel overwhelming—but you do not have to go through it alone.
Our role is to regulate nursing and midwifery professionals. One of the ways we do this is by investigating concerns.
If someone raises a concern about someone's skills, behaviour and their right to be on our register, this will go through what we call the fitness to practise process.
This process allows us to understand as quickly as possible whether a registered professional presents a risk to the public.
As a regulator, our role isn't to punish people for things that have happened, but to make sure that nurses, midwives and nursing associates meet the standards they need to practise safely.
We follow a process set out in rules and this helps to ensure a fair and safe process for everyone.
Because it’s a legal process, having clear information, practical advice, and professional support can make a real difference. It’s important that you seek guidance from regulated legal professionals as early as possible in the process.
A significant majority of fitness to practise cases we receive conclude without action on a nursing or midwifery professionals' registration.
If you are a member of a union or professional body
If you’re a member of a union or representative body, as soon as we let you know that we’ve received a concern about your practice you should contact them immediately.
Half the time, nurses, midwives and nursing associates will get to an outcome earlier and have a better outcome if they're represented.
Your union or professional body can:
- Give you legal and objective advice and expert representation during the investigation and hearing stages.
- Advise you on how to respond to the concerns raised.
- Offer additional wellbeing and emotional support throughout the process.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
Unison
Unite
If you are not a member of a union or professional body
Even if you’re not part of a union or representative organisation, you do not have to be alone. Support is available— we encourage you to get help from regulated legal professionals with experience in regulation.
Because fitness to practise is a legal process and adversarial, it can be daunting.
If we let you know that we are looking at your fitness to practise, do not delay. We encourage you to seek advice from a regulated legal professional as soon as possible. They can give you advice and support to respond to the concerns raised effectively, confidently and objectively and this can help to conclude the process as quickly as possible.
The following can help you find qualified, regulated legal professionals in your area.
Citizens Advice provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. They can provide advice on topics including benefits, work, debt and money, consumer rights, family and housing, law and the courts, immigration and health matters.
Visit: your local Citizens Advice branch
Chat online: Citizens Advice web chat service
Phone
England: 0800 144 8848
Scotland: 0800 028 1456
Wales: 03444 772 020
Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 144 8884
Website
England and Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland: Advice NI or Gov.uk for other sources of support in Northern Ireland.
Run by the Law Society, Find a Solicitor is a free service for anyone looking for information about organisations or people providing legal services in England and Wales that are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Use 'quick search' to find the nearest legal adviser who can help you with your legal issue. You can choose a legal issue from the list and enter your location (postcode, town or city).
Pro Bono advice
There are organisations that provide access to free advice and representation.
Advocate match members of the public who need free legal help with barristers who are willing to donate their time and expertise in deserving cases for those who are unable to obtain legal aid and cannot afford to pay.
The Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre provides free practical support and advice to nursing and dental professionals under investigation by the Nursing Midwifery Council and the General Dental Council.
The Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre is a student-led service that provides assistance to those who do not have union representation and cannot afford private legal support. The students are supervised and assisted by lawyers with fitness to practise experience.
Phone: 020 7882 3931
Email: legal-advice-centre@qmul.ac.uk
Other sources of support
There are other organisations working to provide practical advice and representation, as well as peer and wellbeing support.
Equality 4 Black Nurses (E4BN) was established by a nurse who experienced institutional racism first hand and established E4BN as source of support for others.
E4BN offers support with employment issues, support with regulatory issues as well as providing peer support, access to therapy and training.
NMCWatch supports nurses, midwives, and other healthcare professionals, going through fitness to practise investigations by their regulator or employer.
NMCWatch has involvement from a group of nurses and midwives who have been through the fitness to practise process and offer peer-to-peer support with a buddy programme and representation for those who don't have representation.
The advice and support may be provided for a fee. This should be established with NMCWatch.
Email: support@nmcwatch.org.uk
Sequentus provides legal advice, case preparation and representation at hearings for nurses, midwives and nursing associates and other healthcare professionals facing fitness to practise proceedings by their regulator.
Sequentus has experience of fitness to practise cases, with a dedicated team of qualified lawyers and trainees who may be help to advise you through the fitness to practise process.
The advice and support may be provided for a fee. This should be established with Sequentus.
Phone: 0203 151 8015
Email: khaled.hd@sequentus.org
Important notes
- These organisations are independent from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). We do not endorse them.
- Some of these organisations charge fees. Please check directly with them.
- This is not a complete list, and you may find support elsewhere.
- While we signpost to these organisations for information purposes, the NMC does not guarantee the quality of their support or legal advice.
