Fitness to Practise Partner Training Programme

Social Work England is seeking an experienced training provider to deliver our Fitness to Practise Partner Training Programme. The ideal provider will have a minimum of five years' post-qualification experience in health and social care regulation, with a strong background in delivering high-quality training and expert guidance.

The purpose of the programme is to support panel members and legal advisers in making fair, informed, and robust fitness to practise decisions. The training will serve both as an induction for new partners and an annual refresher for existing ones.

The programme must cover, but is not limited to, the following key areas:

• An overview of the Fitness to Practise Rules 2019 (as amended) and the Social Workers Regulations 2018 (as amended)

• An overview of:

o the fitness to practise process, including the pre-hearing stages

o interim order process

o registration appeals

o restoration applications

o the different hearing and meeting event types

• Understanding and applying reasonable adjustments and special measures

• Identifying and managing perceived and actual bias in hearings

• Understanding and applying the concept of impairment of fitness to practise

• A review of relevant regulatory case law

• Approaches to effective case management of cases involving unrepresented social workers

• Handling hearsay applications and evidence appropriately

• Addressing abuse of process arguments

• Developing clear, well-reasoned panel decisions and drafting

• Balancing public and private decisions, including the appropriate handling of sensitive information

• Build on key skills such as effective time management and managing conflict.

It is anticipated that the training will be delivered at least annually, with an initial contract period of three years, plus the option to extend for two additional one-year periods.

The anticipated total contract value is £425,000.