Sharing outcomes of student fitness to practise committees

Background

This report makes recommendations on handling outcomes of student fitness to practise committees, following a finding in the 2008/2009 Performance Review report. We consider that it is in the interests of public protection to share an individual student’s fitness to practise sanctions with a regulator.

Summary

Focusing on patient safety and public protection, we consider the following questions in this report:

1. What information do the regulators collect on the applicant’s education history?

2. If the regulators received every outcome of student fitness to practise cases what should/could they do with that information and would public protection be enhanced?

3. What would be the barriers to introducing such a feedback mechanism?

The report recommends that the student and the education provider should declare information about student fitness to practise sanctions to the regulator. It is for regulators to decide how and when they seek this information prior to registration. Regulators should collect data about student fitness to practise in their role in quality assuring the provision of pre-registration education and training. This should be used to improve standards of education and training and to improve the provision of guidance to students about professional conduct and competence. Regulators should work with education providers to share good practice in the management of student fitness to practise issues.