Telephone conferences
Where the nurse, midwife or nursing associate is represented we will consider whether to arrange a telephone conference with the representative to discuss the proposed hearing bundle and resolve any legal difficulties.
We will provide a copy of our hearing bundle to the representative and arrange a time for the conference approximately five to six weeks before the hearing. The telephone conference may cover the following areas:
- the content of hearing bundle
- which witnesses are required
- issues in dispute
- hearing length.
After the telephone conference and once a final version of the hearing bundle has been agreed with the representative, we will send it to the panel in advance of the hearing. This has the benefit of reducing the time during the hearing that the panel needs to read the papers.
We understand that long hearings can be difficult for parties to attend, so by narrowing down which issues are in dispute, reducing which witnesses are required and having the panel read the papers in advance, we can reduce the length of the hearing and avoid inconvenience to parties that are not required to attend.
If any issues cannot be resolved at the telephone conference, we may also consider whether to arrange for a preliminary meeting to assist with the smooth running of a hearing.
- Download
- Email Page
- Last Updated: 28/07/2017
The guidance in our library, needs to be read alongside our NMC Guidance during the Covid-19 emergency period. We have new rules that are in force during the period of the coronavirus emergency that are relevant to how it applies.
Want to download and print whole sections of this FtP library? Visit the downloads page.
Related guides
FtP library
-
Understanding Fitness to Practise
- Aims and principles for fitness to practise
- Allegations we consider
- How we determine seriousness
- Why we screen cases
- When we use interim orders
- Investigations
- Examining cases
- How we manage cases
- Meetings and hearings
- Resolving cases by agreement
- What sanctions are and when we might use them
- Remediation and insight
-
Screening
-
The four stages of our screening decision
- The four stages of our screening decision - overview
- Stage one: Determine if the concern is serious enough to affect fitness to practise
- Stage two: Check it meets our formal requirements
- Stage three: Check whether we can obtain credible evidence
- Stage four: Check for evidence of remediation
- Cases not referred for further investigation
- Determining the regulatory concern
- Screening incorrect or fraudulent entry cases
-
The four stages of our screening decision
- Interim Orders
- Investigations
- Case Examiners
- Preparing for the FtP Committee
-
Case management
- Hearing fitness to practise allegations together
- Telephone conferences
- Preliminary meetings
- Dealing with cases at hearings or meetings
- Voluntary removal
- Cancelling hearings
- Constitution of panels
- Proceeding with hearings when the nurse, midwife or nursing associate is absent
- Case management during hearings
- Hearings in private and in public
- When we postpone or adjourn hearings
- FtP Committee decision making
- Sanctions
-
Reviews
- Reviewing case examiner decisions
- Interim order reviews
-
Substantive order reviews
- Substantive order reviews - overview
- Standard reviews before expiry
- Early review
- Exceptional cases: changing orders with immediate effect at a standard review
- Review of striking-off orders
- New allegations
- Reviewing orders when there may have been a breach
- Reviews where an interim order is in place
- Allowing orders to expire when a nurse or midwife’s registration will lapse
- Appeals and restoration