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?
| FTP Committee |
| Warning A Warning marks that a registrant’s behaviour is unacceptable and must not happen again, and it can be imposed on a registrant’s registration for a period of up to five years. A registrant is able to continue working whilst a Warning is in place. Conditions of Practice Order A Conditions of Practice Order means that a condition is placed on a registrant’s registration about their practice and/or particular area of performance. A registrant will stay on the Register and be able to continue working. Suspension Order A Suspension Order means that a registrant is suspended from the Register and is unable to work in any role where registration is required. Removal Order A Removal Order means that a registrant is removed from the Register and is not able to work in any social care or social work post which requires registration, and cannot apply to be restored to the Register for a period of five years. |
| Consensual Disposal |
| Warning A Warning marks that a registrant’s behaviour is unacceptable and must not happen again, and it can be imposed on a registrant’s registration for a period of up to five years. A registrant is able to continue working whilst a Warning is in place. Undertakings Undertakings are an agreement between the Social Care Council and the registrant about the registrant’s future practice. They can include restrictions on the their practice and/or a commitment to do training. Undertakings are for an unspecified period and can stay in place indefinitely. A registrant is able to continue working whilst subject to Undertakings. Removal by Agreement Removal by Agreement is the most serious sanction through a consensual disposal process, and is likely to be appropriate where the Social Care Council considers a registrant’s behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with being a social worker or social care worker. The Social Care Council will only grant removal by agreement, if a registrant admits the allegation and that their fitness to practise is impaired. It means that a registrant is removed from the Register and is unable to work in any social care or social work post which requires registration. |
The table below summarises the time scales for publication for each of the available sanctions, in line with our Disclosure and Publication Policy:
| Determination | Timescale for Access Online |
| Warning | Until Expiry |
| Conditions of Practice Order | Until Expiry |
| Suspension Order | Until Expiry |
| Removal Order | Five years from the date of imposition |
| Successful Appeals | One month |
| Facts not Found or Misconduct not Found | One month |
| Undertakings | Until Expiry |
| Removal by Agreement | Five years from the date of imposition |
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.