Fitness to Practise decisions

There are two ways Fitness to Practise (FtP) decisions are made.

They can be made by the FtP Committee or by consensual disposal.

The FtP Committee is made up of independent panel members who make decisions on the allegations, based on the evidence presented, at private and public hearings, whereas consensual disposal decisions are made by the Social Care Council outside of a hearing environment and usually with the agreement of a registrant.

Cases will normally only be resolved by consensual disposal where a registrant is willing to admit the allegation in full, there is no public interest in the case being heard by the FtP Committee and where there is a likelihood that the FtP Committee would impose a sanction similar to the one deemed appropriate under consensual disposal.

For further details on consensual disposal, see the Consensual Disposal Guidance.

Media enquiries

All media enquiries should be directed to our communications team by emailing: comms@niscc.hscni.net.

How to search for decisions

If you would like to search for particular outcomes, you can filter by registrant name, part of the Public Facing Register (social worker, social care worker or social work student) and/or by decision or order type.

What sanctions can a Social Care Council impose?

The table below summarises the time scales for publication for each of the available sanctions, in line with our Disclosure and Publication Policy:

Further information is also available in Active Interim Orders and Upcoming Hearings. If you have a concern relating to a hearing, please contact the Fitness to Practise Team in confidence: ftp@niscc.hscni.net.