Why do we have guidance on charges?

When we draft charges, we need to be consistent and transparent.

It’s important that we are consistent and transparent when we draft charges in fitness to practise cases. This helps us make sure that:

• All of the people involved in our process are aware of the approach we’ll take when we formulate charges about allegations of impaired fitness to practise; people such as:
  • case examiners
  • practice committee panels
  • the nurse or midwife facing an allegation
  • patients, families and loved ones, and members of the public
• We adopt a proportionate approach when we draft charges.