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Raising Concerns

Raising concerns promptly helps us maintain safe, supportive and high-quality practice learning environments.

This page outlines how learners, UEA staff and practice partners can report concerns, including patient-safety and safeguarding issues, or any aspect of the practice learning experience. Use the guidance below to follow the correct process for your role.

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Clinical Staff

In this section - what counts as a concern, reporting safeguarding concerns, concerns vs. concerning behaviour, how to raise a concern and what happens next.

Raising a concern about a practice learning placement

What counts as a concern?

Clinical staff should raise a concern when something may affect:

  • Patient or service-user safety

  • The quality of the learning environment

  • Professional behaviour

  • Safeguarding or public protection

  • The wellbeing of staff or learners

  • Access to appropriate clinical equipment or training

  • Fraud or malpractice

Examples include:

  • Breaches of health & safety rules

  • Bullying, harassment or unprofessional conduct

  • Equality, diversity or inclusion concerns

  • Safeguarding issues (exploitation, radicalisation, abuse)

  • Lack of supervision or access to learning opportunities

  • Equipment misuse or lack of training

If the issue involves immediate safeguarding or patient safety, you must also report it to:
person on phone

Concerns vs. concerning behaviour

Not all issues require a formal report.

  • Concerning behaviour or performance (e.g. skill gaps, attitude, communication issues) should usually be addressed through the learner’s assessment process and supported action plans.

  • If the behaviour escalates or relates to safety, professionalism or conduct → submit a concern form.

Healthcare staff discussion

How to raise a concern (clinical staff)

  1. Discuss locally with the Practice Educator, Supervisor/Assessor, Clinical Lead or another senior team member.

  2. If the issue cannot be addressed locally, contact the learner’s Link Lecturer, Visiting Tutor or Personal Adviser.

  3. If unresolved, submit the HSC Raising Concerns & Reporting Incidents Form (MS Form).

  4. The Director of Practice Learning will:

    • Escalate the concern to senior management in the practice provider

    • Log the concern on the School of Health Sciences register

What happens next?

  • You will normally be informed of planned actions and the outcome.

  • If you believe your concern has not been handled adequately, you may raise this with the Director of Practice Learning.

Advice for Learners

In this section - when you should raise a concern, dealing with safeguarding or immediate safety issues and how to raise a concern.

No description

When should I raise a concern?

You can raise a concern about any aspect of your placement that affects patient or service-user safety, the quality of your learning experience, professional behaviour, equality and diversity, access to supervision or equipment, staff wellbeing that impacts safe practice, or any safeguarding issue.

Examples include:

  • Feeling unsafe or witnessing unsafe practice

  • Bullying, harassment or discrimination

  • Lack of supervision or repeated missed support

  • Being asked to undertake tasks beyond your competence

  • Poor practice environment or unprofessional behaviour

  • Fraud, equipment misuse or training issues

Safeguarding or immediate safety issues

If the issue involves immediate safeguarding or patient safety, report immediately to both:

Paramedic Science students in an emergency / accident scenario off campus

How to raise a concern (learners)

  1. Speak to someone in practice, ideally at the time of the incident:

    • Practice Educator

    • Supervisor/Assessor

    • Clinical Lead

    • Senior member of staff

  2. If you cannot raise it in practice, speak to:

    • Your Link Lecturer

    • Visiting Tutor

    • Personal Adviser

  3. If the concern remains unresolved, submit the HSC Raising Concerns & Reporting Incidents Form (MS Form).

  4. The Director of Practice Learning will:

    • Escalate the concern to senior management in the organisation

    • Log it in the School’s register

Crisis Reporting for Learners on Placement

What will I be told?

  • You’ll normally receive information about next steps and outcomes.

  • You may be asked to provide a statement if the placement provider investigates.

  • Academic staff will support you throughout.

If you feel your concern was not handled appropriately, you may raise this with the Director of Practice Learning.

Fitness to Practice Advice (Staff and Learners)

In this section - what is a fitness to practice concern, how to raise a fitness to practice concern, the official process and when not to use the fitness to practice process.

HSC male and female nurse examining monitor

What is a Fitness to Practise concern?

A Fitness to Practise (FtP) concern relates to any issue involving a learner’s conduct, health, competence, professionalism or behaviour that could affect public protection.

These concerns may involve:

  • Serious unprofessional behaviour

  • Dishonesty

  • Repeated or escalating issues despite support

  • Significant health or wellbeing issues affecting safe practice

  • Breaches of confidentiality

  • Incidents posing risk to patients, staff or the public

How to raise a Fitness to Practice concern

  1. Complete the Raising an Issue of Concern Regarding a Student/Learner form.

  2. Submit it to: HSC.studentconcern@uea.ac.uk

  3. The Academic Lead for Fitness to Practise will review (“triage”) the concern and decide next steps.

  4. Actions may include:

    • No concern found

    • Reflective activity

    • Referral to Student Services

    • Formal warning

    • Appointment of an Investigating Officer

    • Referral to the Student Senate Disciplinary Committee

You will not normally receive the outcome of an FtP case, due to data protection.

Fitness to Practise Process

These documents outline the current FtP process.

Process for Fitness to Practise – HSC
Raising a Professionalism Concern About a Student (HSC Form)

When not to use FtP

Issues relating to learning outcomes, competence or skill development should usually be addressed through the assessment process, action plans and regular supervision.

If unsure, staff can seek advice from:

  • Link Lecturer / Visiting Tutor

  • Course Director

  • Academic Lead for Fitness to Practise

Safeguarding

UEA Safeguarding guidance and reporting routes:
https://my.uea.ac.uk/divisions/governance-and-assurance/safeguarding

Freedom to Speak Up

Links to national and local Freedom to Speak Up resources (embed URLs/buttons as needed).

Other Useful Policies and Contacts

  • Local placement provider safeguarding pages

  • Reporting pathways for patient safety

  • UEA reporting and support services

  • Professional regulator guidance where relevant (NMC/HCPC)

Midwifery students learning with model of pregnant person

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HSC Practice Learning

Raising Concerns - Groups and Centres