Fitness to Practise Policy and Procedure

Organisation: Lewisham Counselling and Counsellor Training Associates LLP (LC&CTA)
Policy Owner: Directors of LC&CTA
Reviewed by: Directors and Tutor Team
Review Frequency: Annually or sooner if required
Date Implemented: [Insert Date]

1. Policy Statement and Commitment

LC&CTA recognises that successful completion of counsellor training requires more than academic achievement. Students must demonstrate the personal, ethical and professional qualities required to practise safely and responsibly as a counsellor.

Fitness to practise refers to a student’s ability to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, behaviours, ethical awareness and professional suitability required to work safely with clients.

LC&CTA is committed to supporting students’ development whilst maintaining its responsibility to protect clients, placement providers, students and the wider counselling profession.

Where concerns arise regarding a student’s fitness to practise, LC&CTA will respond fairly, proportionately and through an evidence-based process.

2. Purpose of this Policy

The purpose of this policy is to:

• Establish clear processes for identifying and managing fitness-to-practise concerns;
• Ensure decisions are fair, transparent and consistent;
• Support students to reflect and develop where appropriate;
• Ensure students progressing into professional practice meet expected ethical and professional standards.

3. Scope

This policy applies to all LC&CTA students undertaking counselling training, including students undertaking placement practice.

Fitness-to-practise concerns may arise from:

• Academic work;
• Skills assessments;
• Tutor observations;
• Placement feedback;
• Supervision discussions;
• Client and supervision logs;
• Complaints;
• Safeguarding concerns;
• Professional conduct concerns.

4. Principles Underpinning Fitness to Practise Decisions

LC&CTA recognises that students are developing practitioners and that mistakes may form part of the learning process.

However, counselling training also carries a responsibility to ensure that students understand and demonstrate:

• Ethical awareness;
• Appropriate professional boundaries;
• Ability to reflect on their own practice;
• Willingness to engage with supervision and feedback;
• Understanding of client safety;
• Accountability for their actions;
• Ability to recognise the limits of their competence.

Fitness-to-practise decisions will be guided by the principles of:

• Fairness;
• Proportionality;
• Transparency;
• Evidence-based decision-making;
• Consideration of individual circumstances;
• Protection of clients and professional standards.

5. Examples of Fitness to Practise Concerns

Concerns may include, but are not limited to:

• Unsafe counselling practice;
• Failure to maintain appropriate boundaries;
• Failure to recognise or respond to safeguarding concerns;
• Inappropriate use of confidentiality;
• Failure to engage appropriately with supervision;
• Lack of honesty or transparency regarding client work;
• Behaviour inconsistent with ethical counselling practice;
• Inability to reflect on feedback or concerns raised;
• Behaviour that may impact the safety or wellbeing of clients, peers or others.

6. Identification and Initial Review of Concerns

Where a concern is identified, the matter will be reviewed by the Directors and relevant members of the tutor team.

The initial review will consider:

• The nature of the concern;
• Available evidence;
• The potential impact on clients or others;
• The student’s stage of training;
• Previous support or guidance provided;
• The student’s ability and willingness to reflect.

Where appropriate, the student will be given an opportunity to respond and contribute information.

7. Possible Outcomes

Following review, LC&CTA may determine that:

• No further action is required
• Where concerns are not substantiated or have been appropriately addressed.
• Additional support or monitoring is required

This may include:

• Additional guidance;
• Reflective tasks;
• Increased supervision focus;
• Agreed development plans;
• Closer monitoring of practice.

Further formal review is required

Where concerns remain significant or relate to professional suitability, a formal fitness-to-practise review may be undertaken.

Restrictions on practice or progression may be required

Where necessary to protect clients or maintain professional standards, LC&CTA may:

• Delay progression;
• Require further evidence of development;
• Restrict placement activity;
• Review suitability to continue training.

8. Student Involvement and Right to Respond

LC&CTA recognises the importance of procedural fairness.

Students will:

• Be informed of concerns where appropriate;
• Have an opportunity to provide their perspective;
• Have relevant information considered;
• Receive an explanation of decisions reached.

Students may access the Complaints Procedure where they believe a process has not been followed appropriately.

9. Relationship With Safeguarding

Fitness to practise and safeguarding are closely connected.

Where concerns indicate potential risk to clients or others, safeguarding responsibilities will take priority.

LC&CTA will ensure that appropriate action is taken to protect those receiving counselling services whilst maintaining fairness towards the student.

10. Recording and Quality Assurance

Fitness-to-practise discussions, decisions and actions will be appropriately documented.

Records may include:

• Concerns raised;
• Evidence considered;
• Meetings held;
• Decisions made;
• Support or monitoring plans;
• Outcomes.

Fitness-to-practise matters will contribute to ongoing reflection and quality improvement within LC&CTA.

11. Continuous Improvement

LC&CTA recognises that reviewing professional suitability is an important part of ethical counsellor training.

Learning from fitness-to-practise matters will inform:

• Course review;
• Tutor discussions;
• Student guidance;
• Policy development;
• Quality assurance processes.

12. Commitment to Ethical Training

LC&CTA is committed to supporting students to become competent, reflective and ethical counsellors.

The organisation recognises its dual responsibility:

To support students’ learning and development;

To ensure that those progressing into counselling practice have demonstrated the competence, ethical awareness and professional responsibility required to work safely with clients.

Approved by: LC&CTA Directors
Next Review Date: July 2027