Pioneering fitness to practise event well-received

The Special Group for Independent Practitioners, along with the Division of Forensic Psychology with support from the BPS Practice Board, developed and delivered a webinar on Fitness to Practise on 31 May 2024. Feedback was positive and eighty-seven people registered for the event. 

The session provided an exploration of Fitness to Practise issues and brought together regulators (Health and Care Professions Council & Professional Standards Authority), a trade union, an insurance company, a legal expert and psychologists who had personal experience of fitness to practise processes. 

One of the aims was to highlight the support available to practitioner psychologists registered with the HCPC should a BPS member become the subject of a complaint. 

Support from the BPS

The webinar started with an overview of the work of the BPS/HCPC Liaison Group, which as part of its remit can in some circumstances assist with members' fitness to practise issues. SGIP provides a representative to attend this group, Paul John Griffith. 

Further information can be found on the BPS website.

HCPC support 

The HCPC now has a Fitness to Practise Support Service for registrants undergoing fitness to practise proceedings. The service is independent of the HCPC and offers confidential emotional and practical support.

Further details.

Other organisations which can offer support

Speakers from Unite the Union and Towergate Insurance described the type of support they are able to provide. 

Legal support 

Andrea James (Keystone Law) gave a good overview of the fitness to practise process from a legal perspective. She also described key issues to be aware of while preparing and responding to complaints. Her clients have included a range of healthcare professionals including paramedics, doctors, pharmacists and, to a lesser extent, psychologists.