Fitness to Practise

If you receive a notification that your Fitness to Practice has been brought into question, please contact Student Advice as soon as possible. We can provide you with independent advice and support throughout the process. We can also advise if you have concerns about any circumstances you believe may call into question your Fitness to Practise or that of others.

If you are enrolled on a course which leads to professional registration, the University is required to ensure that you are fit to practise for the full duration of your course. It is expected that all students on a programme leading to professional qualification or registration will act with integrity, honesty, with respect for others and their property, and in compliance with the relevant code of professional standards. This requirement is an ongoing responsibility throughout your programme and applies not only to your health and conduct in university and on placement, but in your personal life too.

You must:

Ensure your behaviour is professional on placement, in University and in your personal life;
Ensure you remain mentally and physically fit and seek support if your health deteriorates or impacts on your ability to study or engage with placement activities.

Very importantly, you are expected to be open and honest at all times and so must immediately report any circumstances which may adversely impact your (or anyone else's) fitness to practise to your School. These might be health issues, any police involvement resulting from your behaviour or alleged behaviour, other statutory body investigation or other issues of probity or breach of professional body standards. Failure to be open and honest can be seen as a far more serious issue than the original concern.

Failure to be open and honest can be seen as a far more serious issue than the original concern.

Useful links

Professional Standards

Every registered programme will have professional standards that you must adhere to at all times as a student.

These should be available through Learning Central, and are usually sent in any emails where Fitness to Practice concerns are raised.

FAQs

What can be considered a Fitness to Practise concern?

The following are examples of circumstances that might trigger an investigation:

Substance, alcohol, or drug misuse;
A criminal offence including any caution, reprimand, or ongoing investigation by the police or relevant statutory body;
Failure to inform the University of a criminal offence, reprimand, or investigation by the police or a relevant professional or statutory body;
Any physical, verbal, racial or sexual abuse, discrimination, harassment or bullying of any other student, member of the public, or member of the University community;
Falsification of documents or clinical information, personal or academic-related information;
Publication of inappropriate information, comments, or images, including on social media platforms;
Repeated unprofessional behaviour which has not been addressed by the student in accordance with the outcome of any informal action;
Physical or mental health conditions which cause a concern regarding fitness to practise, for example where there has been a failure to follow medical or support service advice, including where reasonable adjustments have been provided;
Breaching confidentiality;
Breaching the expected conduct and behaviour specified by the relevant professional body.

I have an existing health condition – should I report this?

You may already have a condition that worsens or changes, or you may develop a health condition during your Programme. You must ensure the University is aware of any conditions that may affect your fitness to practise.

If you report a change or a new condition the University will usually refer you to Occupational Health services to ensure all appropriate support and reasonable adjustments can be put in place.

If your condition has an impact on your fitness to practise, then this will need to be considered using the Fitness to Practise Procedure. The investigation may include liaising with your doctor or healthcare team to be able to make an accurate and detailed assessment of your health and to ensure you are getting appropriate help and support.

I have been suspended from study – what does this mean?

Depending on how serious the health/conduct issue is, the University may suspend you from placement or the programme during an investigation. If the concern relates to a criminal matter the University will usually wait for the conclusion of the case before investigating.

You can be suspended at any point in the Fitness to Practise procedure, from the University and/or from your programme. Where the risk is only in relation to patients, clients, or members of the public, you can be suspended from placement or clinical settings only. This is not supposed to be a penalty but a precautionary measure taken to avoid the risk of harm.

You can request a review of the decision to suspend you:

within 14 days of the decision; or
where there is a change of circumstances and/or new information relevant to your case.

If you have been suspended, please contact Student Advice as soon as possible so that we can advise you on your options, and support you through the process.

I’m having issues on placement – can you help?

Student Advice can help you with a range of issues while you are placement. We specialise in things like academic advice on issues such as Fitness to Practice, and concerns or worries you may have about your placement. We offer a confidential service that is independent from the University.

You don't need to be in Cardiff to use the Student Advice service. Our team advise via email so you can contact us even when you’re away.

What decision can a School Committee make?

A School Committee may take 1 or more of the following decisions:

Dismiss the concern;
Issue an informal warning;
Issue a formal warning for a specified length of time to be kept on your file and to be taken into account in any future proceedings;
Require you to attend internal or external support sessions;
Require you to write a reflective account supported by a member of staff;
Require you to develop and complete an action plan supported by a member of staff;
Require you to be monitored by the Occupational Health Service and continue on the programme with support;
Require you to take an interruption of study for a specified period of time;
Refer to the University Committee.

What decision can a University Committee make?

A case will be referred to a University Committee if the concern is very serious or if there has been a previous Fitness to Practise decision. A University Committee can impose any of the actions available to a School Committee, and:

Suspend you for a specified period of time;
Require you to resit part(s) of your programme of study, where this is possible within the regulations;
Require you to engage with specified supportive measures for the remainder of your programme of study;
Any action which the Committee considers to be appropriate to give you an opportunity to successfully complete the programme;
Withdraw you from your programme of study and allow a transfer to a non-professional programme of study (subject to the admission requirements of that alternative programme of study);
Exclude you from the programme and the University.

Can I challenge the decision of a Committee?

If a Committee has decided that a breach of fitness to practise conduct has occurred, you may request a review of the decision in accordance with the University Review Procedure.

We would encourage you to seek independent guidance from Student Advice before submitting a review of a Fitness to Practice outcome.

I am being investigated through the Fitness to Practice Procedure – what happens if I withdraw from study?

Depending on the concern, the University may continue with the Investigation even if you withdraw from your programme of study.

Contact Student Advice for independent and impartial advice on your options.

Contact Student Advice

[email protected]
+44 (0)2920 781410