More successful hearings

Last week I had an interim order hearing. This was a case where a panel had previously imposed a three month interim conditions of practice order. A three month interim order is unheard of, by the way. Social Work England applied to the High Court for an 18 month extension to the order, and despite our opposition, the judge granted a 6 month extension. Two months after the extension was granted, SWE carried out a review of the order, at the hearing last week.

This time, we were successful in arguing that the interim order should not be continued, because my client had done everything they could to remedy their failings, and the panel revoked the interim order entirely.

The case is a testament to the spirit of perseverance. Even though my client took a knock through the High Court extending the order, we persisted, they continued doing as I had advised and we were able to get the order removed. An excellent result.

That was last week.

This week, a two day hearing at the HCPC concerning my client’s conviction for a public order offence turned into a one day hearing. How? Because at the hearing, after hearing evidence from my client and submissions from me, the panel accepted that my client’s fitness to practice was not impaired. So the second day, set aside to deal with sanction was not needed.

Had the case gone onto the consideration of sanction, our approach would have been to press for a caution. But as I always say, you should take each and every opportunity to get out of the case early. So I made strong submissions that because of all of the remedial work my client had carried out, on my advice, no finding of impaired fitness to practice was necessary.

We were successful and my client’s long history of exemplary conduct as a regulated professional continues without any negative regulatory findings.

Next week, another hearing, this time for 4 days. I’ll let you know how I get on.