We want to support you to only make appropriate referrals. Our data shows that professionals from ethnic minority groups and male professionals are disproportionately referred to fitness to practise processes.
Our study, Ambitious for Change, published in October 2020, found that professionals from a Black and minority ethnic background are more likely to be referred to us by employers, while White professionals are more likely to be referred by the public and people who use services.
Most of the professionals who spoke to us as part of the second phase of our research felt one or more of their diversity characteristics, such as their ethnicity and/or gender, played a part in their referral from their employer and said an ‘insider/outsider’ culture left them feeling unsupported.
We also found that the setting where someone works, and the type of work someone does, can influence a person’s experience of revalidation or fitness to practise. Those working in care homes, GP practices or for providers which employ a lot of bank and agency staff are particularly affected. We know that certain groups, such as Black and overseas-trained professionals, are over-represented in these settings.
We’re committed to working with employers and our partners across health and social care to address the longstanding, systemic inequalities across health and social care that perpetuate the disparities we’re seeing.
Your decision to refer needs to be free from bias and discrimination (as defined in the Equality Act 2010 and other relevant legislation). Should there be evidence of bias or discrimination within a referral, this may require further investigation by us, in compliance with the legislation mentioned above.
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