Professional Suitability

Courses with professional accreditation check that students can work safely and follow the relevant professional codes.

If there are any doubts about the behaviour of a student, if a student may put others at risk or be at risk themselves, or if a student has not reached professional standards, they may be invited to a Pre-Professional Suitability Panel meeting. This can lead to a Professional Suitability Panel.

If a Professional Suitability case is being investigated by the police, the student will be suspended until the police investigation finishes.

Read the Group Professional Suitability and Fitness to Practise Procedure before your meeting or hearing in order to understand the processes, potential outcomes and appeals process.

Before the meeting:

If you’re on placement, you might have a meeting with a senior academic before your pre-PSP to discuss whether you can continue on placement, while the case is investigated.

If you are suspended or withdrawn you will be sent written proof of the decision, which will be reviewed every 10 working days.

Non Placement Meeting:

If you are not on placement, you will likely be invited to a Pre-Professional Suitability Panel (Pre-PSP) meeting.

Pre-Professional Suitability Panel (Pre-PSP) Meeting:

You will receive an invitation to a meeting with your Course Director. You’ll have the chance to explain your side of the story, show evidence, and ask questions. After the meeting, the Course Director will decide whether to take the case to a PSP hearing. You will get a written outcome of the decision, and any notes from the meeting. Most Pre-PSP meetings do go to a PSP hearing

Professional Suitability Panel Hearing:

you will be given at least three weeks to prepare for a PSP hearing. You will get an invitation, a summary of the case, an agenda for the meeting, and any evidence. Reply to the invitation at least one week before the meeting, including:

Whether you will attend.
If you will be accompanied and who by.
A statement if you wish to provide one
Any evidence you have to support your statement.
Any extenuating circumstances.
Any witness statements.
Names of any witnesses (but you are responsible for inviting them to the Panel).
Any legal representation. The Panel may make sure their own legal representative is present if you decide to be legally represented. This can cause delays.

You can ask for the meeting to be rescheduled if you are not available.

It’s a good idea to submit a statement as it gives the Panel the chance to hear your point of view before the meeting. It can make the meeting shorter and less stressful for you, as you’re likely to be asked fewer questions.

During the Meeting:

The Panel will present their case and any evidence. You will then present your case and your evidence. Witnesses can then be called by both sides if necessary. You can challenge the evidence, ask the witnesses questions, and ask if you don’t understand anything.

The Panel will then have a short break. Once the meeting restarts you will be given an outcome, which can be:

No case to answer.
Concerns that could be addressed with conditions and/or a formal written warning.
Student deemed not fit to practice and terminated from the course.

After the Meeting:

You can appeal the outcome if you are unhappy with it, on the basis of material irregularity or an administrative or procedural error.

The appeal must be made in writing to the Vice-Chancellor within ten working days of the student receiving the PSP Hearing Outcome Letter. The Vice-Chancellor will investigate the circumstances, and decide whether or not to grant the opportunity for appeal:

If the appeal is denied you will receive a Completion of Procedures (COP) letter. This will allow you to take the appeal to The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) if you’re unhappy with the outcome. They are an independent body that will decide whether the University has been reasonable and kept to its rules and regulations.

How Can Your Advice Service Help You?

If you are invited to a Professional Suitability meeting please contact us as soon as possible by completing our online enquiry form. Please include the invitation, any evidence you’ve been sent and the notes from your Pre-PSP if you have them. If your Panel has already happened and you want help with appealing the outcome, Include the outcome letter as well so we can support you through the Appeals process.