All concerns go through the same fitness to practise process, regardless of who we receive them from.
When making decisions about character, we are considering whether your behaviour in the past means you can practise in a way which does not put the public at risk or affect public confidence in you or your profession.
When someone declares a conviction or caution, we may re-examine the nature of the evidence but we will not retry the case or impose punishment for a second time.
We will consider only the factors relevant to your case and consider all the information we receive on a case-by-case basis, looking at the particular circumstances around the event. This means that we can only provide guidance on how we will consider the information and we cannot provide answers about what the outcome of the case will be.
When looking at issues around your character, we may consider:
- the number and nature of offence(s) or event(s);
- the seriousness of the offence(s) or event(s);
- when and where the offence(s) or event(s) took place;
- any information you have given to help explain the circumstances;
- your character and conduct since the offence(s) or event(s);
- the likelihood of repetition;
- the relevance of the matter to the practise of the relevant profession; and
- the wider public interest, including confidence in the profession concerned and the regulatory process.
We may consider additional factors to help us decide the seriousness or significance of the issues.
The types of convictions which might result in an applicant not being allowed to register or to a registrant being struck off the Register usually relate to offences of a sexual nature, violence or dishonesty.
We will consider rejecting an application for registration, or removing you from the Register if you are already registered, if you are convicted of a criminal offence or accept a police caution that involves one of the following types of behaviour:
- Violence
- Abuse
- Sexual misconduct
- Supplying drugs illegally
- Child pornography
- Offences involving dishonesty
- Offences for which you received a prison sentence
More information and guidance about how we consider fitness to practise concerns is available on the fitness to practise section of our website.
If we do not think that the issues raised will affect your fitness to practise, we will write to you and let you know. We will not take any further action.
We always advise applicants and registrants who are providing information on their health and character to prepare all of their information in advance. Having as much relevant documentation to hand as early as possible will help avoid delays in your registration or renewal.