Fitness to Practise and University - What you need to know?

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Studying for a degree and working hard towards a professional qualification only to find your future in jeopardy?

Are you facing Disciplinary or Fitness to Practise Proceedings at university? The Criminal Defence Team at Johnson Astills are experts in this area and can provide you with strong and supportive representation, if you find yourself facing any type of disciplinary or fitness to practise proceedings at University.

If you find yourself facing a Disciplinary Hearing at University then our linked article, ‘did you know if you’re a student and receive a criminal conviction it could affect your studies’ https://johnsonastills.com/did-you-know-if-youre-a-student-and-receive-a-criminal-conviction-it-could-affect-your-studies will give you all the information you need to ensure you are properly represented.

If you are working towards a professional qualification then your case could be referred to a Fitness to Practice hearing.

A fitness to Practice Hearing will be heard by a Committee who will decide if you are a proper person to work within that profession and they do have the power to impose sanctions preventing this.

Possible findings include:

No impairment of fitness to practise
A written warning
That the student’s continuation on the programme be made conditional upon the student:

Being closely supervised
Seeking professional help and guidance, as specified by the Committee
Meeting specified academic and/or professional standards as specified by the Committee
Any other action considered appropriate by the Committee to enable the student’s successful completion of the programme

Exclusion from the programme for a specified period until the student has:

Sought professional help and guidance, as specified by the Committee
Met specified academic and/or professional standards as specified by the Committee

That the student’s enrolment on the programme should end.

You have the right to be represented at both a Disciplinary Board Hearing and a Fitness to Practise Hearing, here at Johnson Astills, our expert advocates will ensure you achieve the best possible outcome in all the circumstances.

We recently represented a student who had been involved in criminal proceedings which resulted in a criminal conviction. This led to a Disciplinary Board Hearing and then a hearing before the Fitness to Practise Committee. We were successful in persuading the Committee that the student should be allowed to continue his professional studies despite that conviction.

The student was advised and represented throughout by the Criminal Defence Team at Johnson Astills.

Should you require any assistance or advice on procedure or representations please contact a member of the Criminal Defence Team at Johnson Astills on 0116 255 4855 or crimeteam@johnsonastills.com