What to do when confronted with being reported to SSSC or any Registered body.

Has an allegation or complaint been made against you and you have been disciplined or dismissed then it is likely that you will be referred to your professional registration body for investigation.

A Committee of the registration body will then consider whether or not, as a result of the allegation or complaint:

• your fitness to practice is impaired

• you are suitable to remain on your professional register

with or without restriction

• you are no longer suitable to remain on your professional

register.

 

1.

 

Act quickly!

2.

 

If your professional body informs you that you are under investigation for any allegations or

 

3.

 

Give your local UNISON representative a copy of any documents that your professional body has sent to you about their investigations.

4.

 

Give your local UNISON representative a copy of any documents you have about the complaints/allegations, including copies of the notes of any relevant meetings or disciplinary hearings.

5.

 

Make a note of anyone who might,in future, be able to give you information about the incident that led to the complaint (eg a witness statement).

6.

 

Make a note of any information that might assist your case in the future (eg list medical or any client records relevant to the incident that led to the allegation or complaint).

7.

 

Your professional body will ask you to respond to the allegations or complaints by a certain date and they will use your response to help them decide whether there is a ‘case to answer’ against you, which will require further investigation and, possibly, a hearing – do not submit your response without UNISON guidance.

8.

 

Your professional body may ask you to attend a short notice hearing where they will consider whether they should impose an Interim Order (ie suspension or conditions of practice); if they do, you must contact your UNISON branch at once to ask for UNISON representation at the Interim Orders hearing. This will usually be a case officer based at UNISON head office.

Note

In certain circumstances a referral may be made even before the internal disciplinary procedure has been completed. Separately you may be referred to the ISA which operates the Vetting & Barring Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or to Disclosure Scotland which operates the Protection of Vulnerable Groups scheme (see section below).

Your UNISON branch representative will:

1.

 

Ask you to complete a UNISON case form or update your case form if you have previously

 

2.

 

Refer the matter urgently to the regional office for assistance.

 

Your UNISON regional

representative will

:

1.

 

Ask you and the registration body for all documents about the complaint, including any evidence supporting you and the allegations against you.

2.

 

Interview you to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case.

3.

 

Help you to write your response to any investigations into the allegations or complaints;

 

If your registration body decides to hold a conduct, competence or health hearing:

The regional representative who assisted you with your written response to the investigating

committee will refer your case to a specialist case officer at UNISON’s head office who will then contact you.

1.

 

Don’t agree any hearing dates without the agreement of your UNISON head office representative.

2.

 

Tell the registration body the name of the UNISON officer who is representing you at the hearing.

3.

 

Inform your UNISON representative immediately that there will be a hearing.

4.

 

Agree to the terms of UNISON representation (see UNISON case referral form).

5.

 

Maintain your UNISON subscriptions for membership at the appropriate level.

6.

 

Attend meetings with your UNISON representative to discuss your case and how it

 

 

 

will be managed throughout the registration body process.

and help you to identify relevant documents to attach to your written response.

completed one.

complaints, or if you think that you might be referred for investigation in the future – tell your UNISON branch immediately. CALL 0141 331 4451 and you will be directed to your most appropriate Steward.

If you are under investigation

by your professional body,

or are likely to be you should: