FOI_26-157 Fitness to Practice procedures
Date of response: 07 August 2026
We have now considered your request of 11 July 2026 for the following information:
Please provide the recorded information your institution holds that answers the questions below. Where a question is answered by an existing policy, procedure, or guidance document, a copy of or link to that document would be welcome. Unless stated otherwise, please treat each question as relating to the policies and procedures currently in force as at the date of this request.
These questions concern students on programmes subject to Fitness to Practise (FtP) requirements.
They relate to cases involving harassment, hate, and sexual misconduct, whether those cases are handled under the FtP procedure or under another institutional procedure (for example, a general student disciplinary or misconduct procedure), and to the reporting and responding students involved.
In these questions: “FtP” means Fitness to Practise; “H/H/SM” means harassment, hate, and sexual misconduct; and “specialist support” will usually mean an ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Adviser) or SVLO (Sexual Violence Liaison Officer).
Question 1. Under any relevant policy or procedure, what specialist support (if any) is offered to reporting students and to responding students in cases involving harassment, hate, or sexual misconduct (H/H/SM) dealt with under the Fitness to Practise (FtP) process?
Our response:
The University does not have staff who are trained specifically as SVLOs or ISVAs. The Student Life team in Student Journey and Support services perform a comparative role and offer support to both reporters and responders where we are made aware of an allegation of the nature noted in your request.
Question 2. Where an allegation of H/H/SM is made against a student on a programme subject to FtP requirements, under which procedure or procedures can that allegation be investigated (for example, the FtP procedure, a general student disciplinary procedure, or another misconduct procedure)? Can these procedures run separately from one another, each with its own finding or sanction? Please provide the relevant policies.
Our response:
Allegations against students registered on programmes with FTP requirements in six Schools (BIO, CPP, EDU, HSC, MED and SWK) may be investigated by:
1. Student Conduct and Complaints team in Student and Academic Services - Academic Registry (ACR), for consideration under General Regulations for Students – specifically Reg 10;
2. The FTP Lead in the relevant School, for consideration under General Reg 14, using Procedure for Dealing With Allegations of Professional Misconduct or Unsuitability (Fitness to Practise)
These procedures run separately and findings go to different decision-makers. As they cover different General regulations of the University, it is possible to have different conclusions and outcomes.
Question 3. What recorded criteria, thresholds, or guidance determine which procedure such an allegation is investigated under, and which role, team, or function makes that decision?
Our response:
There are no recorded criteria, thresholds or guidance to determine whether to investigate and which procedure(s) should be used. All recorded concerns relating to students registered on programmes with FTP requirements in the six Schools mentioned above will go to the Disciplinary Triage Group (DTG) for consideration (General Regulations for Students - Reg 10) and the FTP in the relevant School (General Reg 14.)
Question 4. Where such an allegation is investigated under a procedure other than FtP, what recorded provision (if any) requires input from individuals with clinical or professionalism expertise when assessing whether the case raises a professional concern, and what provision governs referring the case into the FtP procedure?
Our response:
Where the allegation is investigation under Gen Reg 10, it is not necessary to have input from individuals with clinical or professionalism expertise unless they were direct eyewitnesses or could provide information on the student’s general behaviour. General Regulations for students – Regulation 10 covers general student conduct and operates independently of FTP procedures.
Question 5. Where such an allegation is investigated under a procedure other than FtP, what recorded information (if any) is retained about the case on the student’s FtP or professionalism record, and is that information available if the student’s fitness to practise is considered at a later point (for example, when declarations are made at graduation)?
Our response:
Information relating to the student’s conduct under General Reg 10 may or may not be retained on files relating to their FTP or professionalism, as this depends on whether the FTP Lead deems this to be appropriate. The outcome in relation to General Reg 10 are always disclosed to the student.
Question 6. Where a student discloses or reports H/H/SM by a member of staff while on placement, what specialist support (if any) is offered to that student under the FtP process?
Our response:
This depends on the circumstances of the case. If it concerns a student apprentice in Social Work or Nursing, for example, the employer would have separate FTP processes and support mechanisms, which would be discussed with the University to ensure coherence and coverage.
Question 7. In H/H/SM cases, do your FtP procedures allow any details of the outcome to be shared with the reporting party? Please provide the relevant provision.
Our response:
The University’s FTP procedures do not explicitly state whether any details would be shared with the reporting party. GDPR principles apply as normal.
Question 8. Which role, team, or function is responsible for investigating H/H/SM cases under the FtP procedure?
Our response:
The FTP Lead holds responsibility for investigations under FtP Procedures.
Question 9. Please provide any recorded information you hold about the training or qualifications required for those who investigate H/H/SM cases under the FtP procedure.
Our response:
We do not hold information on qualifications or training completed by FTP Leads, other than training on sexual misconduct/sexual harassment in accordance with requirements set out by the Office of Students (OfS) under condition E6.
Question 10. What recorded guidance or process does the FtP procedure provide for those receiving a first disclosure of H/H/SM?
Our response:
All disclosures of incidents concerning professional conduct are processed under the following guidance.
disciplinary-procedures-2627.pdf
All concerns are raised with FtP lead, or can be reported via our online reporting tool Report and Support.