This review was jointly funded and commissioned by the Chief Nursing Office in Scotland and the Health and Care Professions Council. It was carried out by researchers from the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit, in collaboration with the funding bodies.
The goal was to bring together evidence relating to the return to clinical or frontline practice of health and social care professionals following an extended period of absence (of longer than 3 months) not resulting from disciplinary or fitness to practise issues. In particular, evidence was sought about:
- the risks associated with return to practice; and
- approaches which could support return to safe and effective practice.