An unusual couple of days
Only because of some interesting cases. Last week, I helped a Practitioner Psychologist gain restoration to the HCPC register, after 6 years away from their profession. They had been struck off for breaching professional boundaries by entering into a sexual relationship with a client, a big no-no no matter what your profession may be. I took on this client almost exactly a year ago, and advised as to the preparation of their case at every stage - then last week I represented them at the hearing of their HCPC restoration application. Gratifyingly, they were restored without conditions and so subject to satisfying the HCPC’s administrative formalities (such as paying the registration fee), they will soon be back in practise as a practitioner psychologist!
I have dealt with quite a few practitioner psychologists over the years, and today my client, in a preliminary hearing at the HCPC, was again one of their number. It was an unusual case, involving an allegation of inappropriate social media posts relating to the pandemic. After a review of the evidence, the HCPC took the view that the case ought to be discontinued because it was not serious enough. They told my client this, and said they would be applying to a panel for the case to be discontinued. They even served the application and supporting documents on my client. A few months later, my client received a message out of the blue, telling them the HCPC had “made an error” and had decided not to pursue discontinuance after all. My client was represented by their union, but decided that a change of representation was needed at that time. I had the matter listed for a preliminary hearing, to consider an application for the proceedings to be stopped on the grounds of abuse of process. Today, with some last minute shifting of position by the HCPC, the panel in fact did consider the original application for discontinuance and went on to stop the proceedings - the right result, but my client should not have had to wait for it for 14 months!
Again today, I received an email confirming that another HCPC client, this time an overseas physiotherapist, had been successful in their case with the HCPC. This client had made the mistake of submitting a false language test result with their registration application. When challenged by the HCPC, they admitted the forgery and took and passed the language test legitimately.
However, they were not able to satisfy the registration panel that they were of sufficient good character to be admitted to the register, even after three attempts to do so.
They enlisted my help, and after acting on my advice and with my assistance, they managed to persuade the panel that they were of good character - they will be admitted to the register in due course!
I’ve got two more hearings in July and then it is time for a break - August looks good for now: unless more help is needed, of course!