Consensual panel determination
We use consensual panel determination to resolve cases by agreement or ‘consent’. It avoids unnecessary full hearings and means that witnesses do not have to attend. It also means that cases are concluded quicker.
When a nurse, midwife or nursing assocaite indicates that they would like to resolve their case by consent, they must accept the facts of the allegation and that their fitness to practise is impaired. We will then agree what the appropriate level of sanction is with the nurse, midwife or nursing associate.
If we are able to agree on the sanction, we will then prepare a provisional written agreement, using our statement of case as a basic starting point.
The agreement will set out the agreed facts, agreed reasoning on impaired fitness to practise, and the agreed sanction, with reasons.
It is signed by us and the nurse, midwife or nursing associate. We will then list the case for a hearing or meeting for a panel to consider the agreement. The panel makes the final decision about the outcome of the case.
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- Last Updated: 31/08/2018
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.
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FtP library
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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
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Screening
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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
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The four stages of our screening decision
- Interim Orders
- Investigations
- Case Examiners
- Preparing for the FtP Committee
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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
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Reviews
- Reviewing case examiner decisions
- Interim order reviews
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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