Sometimes information received by the University's Safeguarding Team may also raise a potential Fitness to Practise or professional suitability concern.
For example, Safeguarding may receive information from:
- the police;
- a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO);
- Children's or Adult Social Care;
- a placement provider;
- another University;
- another professional or statutory organisation;
- a member of staff;
- another student;
- you directly.
In these circumstances, Safeguarding may first need to consider whether there is an immediate risk to you or somebody else.
The information may then need to be referred to the appropriate School or University process to determine whether professional suitability or Fitness to Practise needs to be considered.
A safeguarding referral and a Fitness to Practise process have different purposes.
Safeguarding considers safety, welfare and risk.
Fitness to Practise considers whether a concern affects your ability or suitability to continue training for a regulated or professional role.
Sometimes both may need to operate alongside each other.