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FtP library
  • Understanding Fitness to Practise
    • Aims and principles for fitness to practise
    • Allegations we consider
      • Allegations we consider - overview
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    • Taking account of context
      • Taking account of context - overview
      • 1: We’ll approach cases on the basis that most people referred to us are normally safe
      • 2: We’ll seek to build an accurate picture about the nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s practising history
      • 3: We’ll always carefully consider evidence of discrimination, victimisation, bullying or harassment
      • 4: Where risks are caused by system and process failures, we’ll concentrate on the action we can take to help resolve the underlying issues
      • 5: In cases where a nurse, midwife or nursing associate was required to use their professional judgement we’ll respond proportionately
      • 6: Evidence of steps the nurse, midwife or nursing associate has taken to address serious concerns caused by a gap in knowledge or training or personal context factors
      • 7: We’ll always look into whether group norms or culture influenced an individual’s behaviour before taking action
      • 8: Where an incident has occurred because of cultural problems, we’ll concentrate on taking action to minimise the risk of the same thing happening again
      • What context factors we think are important to know about when considering a case
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      • Insight and strengthened practice - overview
      • Can the concern be addressed?
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    • Determining the regulatory concern
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    • Cases that may involve incorrect or fraudulent entry
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    • Interim order reviews
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Downloads

Fitness to Practise library

Our guidance library for decision makers is a helpful resource of up to date information around our fitness to practise process. Search the fitness to practise library

Our framework for delivering our Fitness to Practise hearings and meetings sets out our expected approach to the case management of our events. It's relevant to Investigating Committee and Fitness to Practise Committee hearings and meetings.

Understanding Fitness to Practise

42 guides

Understanding Fitness to Practise
42 guides

Screening

7 guides

Screening
7 guides

Interim Orders

5 guides

Interim Orders
5 guides

Investigations

6 guides

Investigations
6 guides

Case Examiners

7 guides

Case Examiners
7 guides

Preparing for the FtP Committee

14 guides

Preparing for the FtP Committee
14 guides

Case management

17 guides

Case management
17 guides

FtP Committee decision making

9 guides

FtP Committee decision making
9 guides

Sanctions

11 guides

Sanctions
11 guides

Reviews

12 guides

Reviews
12 guides

Appeals and restoration

4 guides

Appeals and restoration
4 guides

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  • Last updated: 30/06/2025

Recently updated FtP guidance

Concerns outside professional practice Updated on 03/08/2026
Decisions of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Disclosure Scotland Updated on 03/08/2026
Discrimination, bullying, harassment and victimisation Updated on 31/07/2026
Sexual Misconduct Updated on 31/07/2026
Making decisions on dishonesty charges and the professional duty of candour Updated on 31/07/2026

Getting the most from this FtP library

As a decision maker 
You will use this use this library for guidance in the cases you are involved in.

As a nurse or midwife
You may be involved in a hearing and interested in how we make decisions.

As a member of the public
You may be interested in how we make decisions in our fitness to practise process and how it protects the public.

If your hearing started before 28 July 2017
The guidance in this library applies to hearings starting after 28 July 2017. Guidance for hearings that started before 28 July 2017 can be found in our guidance archive.

Guidance archive

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