Health assessments

a. Where an allegation raises concerns about a Member’s physical or mental health which may affect their ability to practise safely, the Complaints and Resolution Manager may invite the Member to attend an assessment with an appropriately qualified health professional appointed by BABCP, at BABCP’s expense. The Complaints and Resolution Manager will ensure reasonable flexibility regarding dates, times, format, and accessibility arrangements, and will invite the Member to respond within such reasonable period as may be specified and to indicate whether they consent to the assessment.

b. The Complaints and Resolution Manager will also (as an alternative) invite the Member to provide a report from an appropriately qualified health professional of their choice, at their own expense.

c. If the Complaints and Resolution Manager or Panel considers that a report provided by the Member does not contain sufficient information to assess the Member’s fitness to practise and any potential risk to the public, the Complaints and Resolution Manager may first seek the Member’s consent to obtain further clarification from the report’s author. 

d. Where the Member declines to attend an assessment under section 30(a), and/or where they produce a report under section 30(b) which is not sufficient to allow the Panel to asses the Member’s fitness to practice and any risk to the public (including because the Member has not allowed to Panel to seek clarifications), the position will be explained to the Panel. The Panel will determine the complaint on the basis of the information available to it, taking into account the circumstances of the case and any explanation provided by the Member.

e. Where the Member consents to an assessment, the health professional conducting the assessment will prepare a report expressing their opinion on:

i. The Member’s physical and/or mental health at the date of, and where relevant prior to, the assessment;

ii. Whether the Member is fit to practise, either generally or subject to any limitations or adjustments; and

iii. Any recommendations relating to the Member’s fitness to practise, the management of the complaint, and the protection of the public.

f. Any report prepared under this section must be provided to the Complaints and Resolution Manager and may be shared with the Panel, the Member, the Presenting Officer, and relevant BABCP staff where necessary for the purposes of determining the complaint.

g. Any report prepared under this section will be considered alongside any report provided by the Member and any other relevant evidence.