Changes introduced to improve consistency in FTP decisions and further strengthen public protection
We’ve updated guidance for our independent fitness to practise (FTP) panels, to strengthen decision making by providing greater clarity and improving consistency – particularly in areas such as discrimination, breaches of professional boundaries, and sexually motivated misconduct.
Our revised sanctions policy was updated following a public consultation last year. The policy comes into effect on 2 March 2026.
Acting as a guidance document, the sanctions policy outlines the principles for determining appropriate outcomes of FTP cases.
Executive Director of Fitness to Practise & Tribunal Services, Laura Coffey, explains:
“As part of our role to protect the public and maintain trust and confidence in health and care professions, we take action when a registrant doesn’t meet the standards we set.
“These changes will help us to support independent panels, by providing more clarity and guidance when deciding on the appropriate sanction in HCPC fitness to practise tribunals, ensuring that decisions are consistent, informed, fair and proportionate.
“This enables us to improve the ways we protect the public and further support the healthcare professions we regulate.”
The review was an opportunity for us to bring our sanctions policy in line with existing HCPTS Practice Notes.
We engaged with numerous stakeholders including professional bodies, unions and panel members prior to proposing changes to the policy. The subsequent consultation invited feedback from registrants, professional bodies, other healthcare regulators, unions, employers, learners and education providers, panel members and of course the public.
Since the last update of the sanctions policy, there have been changes to case law, which have also been taken into account as part of the review.
You can view the updated policy and consultation outcomes on the HCPC website.