Rights statement: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/legal-studies/article/procedural-fairness-limitations-of-fitness-to-practise-hearings-a-case-study-into-social-work/CF73C48DE2CAAAF7240255EDA08C58C5 The final definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Legal Studies, 39 (2), pp 339-357 2019, © 2019 Cambridge University Press.
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Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The procedural fairness limitations of fitness to practise hearings
T2 - A case study into social work
AU - Kirkham, Richard
AU - Leigh, Jadwiga
AU - McLaughlin , Kenneth
AU - Worsley, Aidan
N1 - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/legal-studies/article/procedural-fairness-limitations-of-fitness-to-practise-hearings-a-case-study-into-social-work/CF73C48DE2CAAAF7240255EDA08C58C5 The final definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Legal Studies, ? (?), pp ??-??https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/legal-studies/article/procedural-fairness-limitations-of-fitness-to-practise-hearings-a-case-study-into-social-work/CF73C48DE2CAAAF7240255EDA08C58C5 The final definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Legal Studies, 39 (2), pp 339-357 2019, © 2019 Cambridge University Press. 2019, © 2019 Cambridge University Press.
PY - 2019/6/1
Y1 - 2019/6/1
N2 - The norm in fitness to practise proceedings (FTPP) is that where sanctions might be imposed procedural fairness requires a court-like hearing. This paper questions that paradigm, using empirical research to focus on the FTPP to which social workers must account. Procedural fairness is a multi-faceted legitimisingconcept used to justify the design of decision-making processes. With FTPPs, the major justification is an ‘instrumentally’ focused model of procedural fairness which prioritises making decisions that look right, a goal which is delivered in the context of social work. But other justifications for procedural fairnessare inadequately fulfilled, with in particular a ‘dignitarian’ respect not achieved due to the high levels of non-attendance by registrant social workers. Further, procedural fairness as ‘public accountability’ is undermined due to the relative lack of engagement of FTPPs with the perspective of the social work community.These findings hint that in the context of a poorly organised and resource-poor profession other hybrid forms of FTPP might have a stronger claim to procedural fairness than the court-like model.
AB - The norm in fitness to practise proceedings (FTPP) is that where sanctions might be imposed procedural fairness requires a court-like hearing. This paper questions that paradigm, using empirical research to focus on the FTPP to which social workers must account. Procedural fairness is a multi-faceted legitimisingconcept used to justify the design of decision-making processes. With FTPPs, the major justification is an ‘instrumentally’ focused model of procedural fairness which prioritises making decisions that look right, a goal which is delivered in the context of social work. But other justifications for procedural fairnessare inadequately fulfilled, with in particular a ‘dignitarian’ respect not achieved due to the high levels of non-attendance by registrant social workers. Further, procedural fairness as ‘public accountability’ is undermined due to the relative lack of engagement of FTPPs with the perspective of the social work community.These findings hint that in the context of a poorly organised and resource-poor profession other hybrid forms of FTPP might have a stronger claim to procedural fairness than the court-like model.
U2 - 10.1017/lst.2018.42
DO - 10.1017/lst.2018.42
M3 - Journal article
VL - 39
SP - 339
EP - 357
JO - Legal Studies
JF - Legal Studies
SN - 0261-3875
IS - 2
ER -