1. Support available to placement personnel Fitness to Practice Dr Isabel Anton-Solanas 22 nd March 2013

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3. Aims of this session 3 To identify situations where a student’s Fitness to Practice is cause for concern To outline the standards that need to be met for a student to demonstrate their Fitness to Practice To determine the action that is to be taken should there be a cause for concern

4. Definition

5. Definition of Fitness to Practice Any programme of study with a practice component, which leads to professional registration, is governed by a requirement that students demonstrate their “Fitness to Practice” through: Completion of theory and practice assessment and course work. Standards of behaviour, health and professional conduct relevant to future employment. 5

6. Duties of the University In accordance with… –Procedures for academic progression –Codes of professional conduct –Professional body requirements 6 …The University must endeavour to ensure that the behaviour, health and professional conduct of students does not constitute a risk to themselves or others

7. Areas of concern

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9. Least frequent areas of concern Criminal conviction or caution Child pornography Theft Financial fraud Possession of illegal substances Child abuse or any other abuse Physical violence Fixed Penalty Notices Drug or alcohol misuse Drunk driving Alcohol consumption that affects clinical work or the work environment Dealing, possessing or misusing drugs 9

10. Least frequent areas of concern Aggressive, violent or threatening behaviour Assault Physical violence Bullying Abuse Dishonesty or fraud Falsifying research Financial fraud Fraudulent CVs or other documents Misrepresentation of qualifications 10

11. Most frequent areas of concern Cheating or plagiarism In examinations, logbooks or portfolios Passing off others’ work as own Forging a supervisor’s name on assessments 11

12. Most frequent areas of concern 12 Academic progression Failure to meet academic standards Failure to meet practice standards Poor health that impacts on capacity to engage fully despite reasonable adjustment

13. Most frequent areas of concern 13 Health concerns Failure to seek medical treatment or other support Refusal to follow medical advice Treatment-resistant condition Ongoing poor health which limits engagement/capacity to respond to feedback/retention of information

14. Most frequent areas of concern 14 Unprofessional behaviour of confidentiality or attitudes Breach of confidentiality Misleading patients about their care or treatment Culpable involvement in a failure to obtain consent Sexual, racial or other forms of harassment Failure to keep appropriate boundaries in behaviour Persistent rudeness to patients/colleagues/others Lack of ability to work towards and demonstrate the Standards of the Profession Lack of ability to keep knowledge/skills up-to-date Lack of appreciation of personal limits of knowledge and skills

15. Most frequent areas of concern 15 Unprofessional behaviour of confidentiality or attitudes Uncommitted to work Neglect of administrative tasks Major problems with effective communication in a clinical context (with patients, relatives and other healthcare professionals) Failure to accept and follow educational advice Inappropriate or unprofessional behaviour Major problems with attendance, punctuality, organisational skills or dishonesty Demonstration of inappropriate attitudes/bias on the grounds of race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability and social background

16. Raising Fitness to Practice concerns

17. Who? How? When? Who? –Anyone concerned about the behaviour, health and/or professional conduct of a student. When? –At any time. How? –In writing to the University (Locality Visitor/PALL). –Cause for Concern Form. 17

18. Cause for Concern Form 18

19. Emergency suspension

20. A proportionate response If the student remains in practice conditions may be imposed The Practice Educator will be notified by the Faculty in person or by telephone at the earliest opportunity 20 Withdrawal of a student from practice in response to the possible risk to themselves and others

21. Determining severity 21 1 Has a student’s behaviour harmed others, or put others at risk of harm? 2 Has the student shown a deliberate or reckless disregard of professional and clinical responsibility? 3 Is a student’s health or impairment compromising others’ safety? 4 Has a student abused a client’s trust or violated a client’s autonomy or other fundamental rights? 5 Has a student behaved dishonestly, fraudulently or in a way designed to mislead or harm others?

22. Fitness to Practice procedure

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24. Step by step… Cause for Concern form Initial discussion between PE and LV/PALL Critical incident investigation Gathering and documenting evidence Referral to Fitness to Practice panel Consideration of the evidence Outcome (warning / sanction) Appeal 24

25. Support available

26. ALPS 26

27. Briefing sessions 27 Prior to each placement to allow new practitioners working with our students to understand the philosophy of the programme and practice the assessment process prior to having their first students. The aim is to increase awareness and understanding of the programme content and use of clinical/practice assessment forms.

28. PALL: Isabel Anton-Solanas An academic with a commitment to Supporting Learning in Practice (SLIP) Monitor the status of audits and ensure their timely completion. Lead in the organisation and delivery of locality based practice learning activities. Scrutinise student practice evaluations and ensure they are responded to. Establish student placement lines and ensure every student has a suitable range of experiences. Work in partnership with Trusts and the SHA, in particular LELs and senior staff to ensure the provision of a quality practice experience for students. 28

29. Locality Contacts University Hospital Southampton St Mary’s Hospital (Newport) Hampshire Hospitals (Basingstoke & Winchester) Sil Wallach Queen Alexandra Hospital (Portsmouth) East Surrey Hospital (Redhill) St Richard’s Hospital (Chichester) Bashir Lwaleed Royal Bournemouth Hospital Poole Hospital Dorset County Hospital (Dorchester) David Voegeli John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford) Royal Berkshire Hospital (Reading) Milton Keynes Hospital Richard Bain 29

30. Locality contacts’ role and responsibilities Provide guidance and maintain contact between the Faculty, placement personnel and learner: –Locality contacts are available to respond, within reason, to learners' expressed needs for information and intervention. –Locality contacts target and visit specific learners, placement educators and practice placement when: Learners have specific needs identified. Placement educators clearly signal that the learner’s performance is below the standard required for the level of training reached. Placement educators need support, guidance, training and advice. There is a need to monitor and audit the practice-based learning experience. 30

31. Any questions?