help with fitness to practise for healthcare

We provide free assistance for healthcare professionals facing proceedings by their regulator where they do not have access to legal advice and representation.

Contact

Sam Wilson
Programme Director – FTP
sam [at] sequentus.org

If you or someone you know is facing professional conduct proceedings by one of the healthcare regulators, we may be able to help.

We can help with:

Understanding your legal position
Preparing documents and materials for a panel hearing
Representing you at a panel hearing
Reviewing panel findings and the application of the law
Reviewing whether your hearing could be considered to have been unfair
Helping you to understand why the panel found against you
Helping you to understand the appeal process and options that may be available to you.

Even if you have already received a notice from your regulator or proceedings have started, we can still support you.

regulators

We can help with cases brought by the following regulators:

Nursing and Midwifery Council
Heath and Care Professions Council
General Dental Council
General Medical Council
Social Work England
General Osteopathic Council
General Chiropractic Council

our services

CostS

Initial review

No matter how complex your case we will provide a detailed review and a document which sets out the legal and factual issues that need to be dealt with. We will also give you basic advice on the fitness to practise process that your regulator is likely to follow.

We do not charge for this service and you are not under any obligation to continue to work with us.

Case preparation / review for appeal

We provide comprehensive case preparation that includes dealing with the regulator on your behalf, compiling evidence and bundles and drafting any legal arguments that are necessary.

We charge a flat rate of £325 for each 6 month period in which we are engaged with your case.

Representation

Depending on the complexity of your case, we may be able to represent you at either an interim hearing or a final panel hearing whether this is in-person or at a virtual/online hearing.

We charge a flat rate of £225 per day or part thereof.

How we work

We are a not-for-profit organisation and work with a dedicated team of lawyers, trainees and law students who give their time freely in exchange for gaining valuable experience of regulatory cases. Our fees cover our overheads and expenses and our work is covered by professional indemnity insurance.

Working with Sequentus means

You get the benefit of a dedicated team of lawyers and aspiring lawyers working on your case
Our team also includes healthcare professionals who understand the pressures and stresses that come with FTP proceedings
Our fees are more accessible than instructing a traditional law firm
We will always be clear about how we can help you and whether we think you need additional support
We are completely flexible – you can use our services but then decide to represent yourself at a hearing or to instruct a barrister
We work with students from leading universities around the UK
We work remotely, so we can assist no matter where you are in the country

If you do not have legal cover through your union or professional indemnity insurance, or for whatever reason cannot afford to instruct a solicitor or barrister then we can help.

next step

Email a basic outline of your case to Sam Wilson, Director of FTP – sam [at] sequentus.org

We will respond to you within two working days.