Professional Suitability Committee

DipSW Applicants.
  1. Applicants to the DipSW will be required to complete a declaration form for any and all criminal offences in respect of which they have admitted guilt or been found guilty (including all motoring offences). Declaration of such an offence(s) will not automatically debar them from entry to professional training. A conviction or charge that involves exploitation of vulnerable people would give cause for serious concern.

  2. When an applicant makes a declaration of an offence then it will be the responsibility of the DipSW route's lead tutor to advise the Consortium office of the details. A report should be provided in written form, and as with section 3 of the main document, the writer(s) of the report will be regarded as the referrer(s). The matter will be discussed with the Chair or Vice-chair of the Professional Suitability Committee. Similar to section 3 of the main document, they will make a decision to; a) take no further action and advise the next Hearing accordingly; or b) arrange for the applicant to be interviewed by two members of the Professional Suitability Committee; or c) arrange for the matter to come before a Hearing of the Professional Suitability Committee.

  3. Where option b) is taken then the procedure will be in accord with that set out under paragraphs 3.1.2 and 3.1.3 in the main document. In cases where option c) is taken (or where following option b, it is felt that a hearing is required) then the procedure will be in accord with that set out in the main document, under sections 3.2, 5 and 6.1.

  4. In view of the need to protect vulnerable members of the public any decision made by a hearing regarding a DipSW applicant should be on the basis of the balance of probability.

    The decisions open to a hearing will be:

    1. that there are insufficient grounds to demonstrate that the applicant is unsuitable for professional social work and that s/he may therefore commence the course;

      or,

    2. that there are sufficient grounds to conclude that the applicant is unsuitable for professional social work and that s/he should therefore be prohibited from commencing the DipSW Programme.
  5. An applicant will have the right of appeal with respect to a decision to prohibit her/him from commencing the DipSW Programme. The applicant may appeal on the following grounds only:

    1. that the procedure for making such a decision was not properly carried out;

      and/or

    2. that the applicant has further evidence relevant to the decision of the hearing that could not reasonably have been expected to be available to the hearing.

  6. The procedure for dealing with an appeal will then be as set out in Section 7 in the main document. If a new hearing of the Professional Suitability Committee is subsequently required then it should take place in accord with the procedures set out in this Appendix.

  7. Confidentiality and access to information will be in accordance with Section 8 in the main document.


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