Spotlight on osteopathy students’ fitness to practise

We have recently been looking at the issues surrounding the fitness to practise of students. As part of this work, we have established a Student Fitness to Practise Working Group, which met for the first time in May.

Due to the relatively low number of osteopathic students, and the small proportion of students whose fitness to practise is called into question, it is difficult for osteopathic educational institutions (OEIs) to build up a body of expertise within their own schools. The new working group will support the pooling of that expertise and will consider the need for guidance to support the OEIs. This may include developing guidance on the meaning of student fitness to practise, how students should be supported, how allegations of misconduct and incompetence against students should be investigated and adjudicated upon, and the appropriateness of any sanctions that may be imposed as a result.

The group will also look at the need for further guidance to students on professionalism, fitness to practise and their obligation to ensure patient and public protection.

We have published a statement outlining the limited circumstances in which a UK osteopath graduate can have their registration application reconsidered on the grounds of conduct or health.