FtP Referral Panel Members and Panels Pool Members

Organisation Overview

We are the UK’s independent regulator for Registered Nutritionists

A Registered Charity, our role is to protect and benefit the public. We hold the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN), a register of competent, qualified nutrition professionals who meet our rigorously applied standards for scientifically sound evidence-based nutrition and its use in practice.

Role Details

FtP Referral Panel Members

Time commitment: Members will attend one online annual meeting of 2-3hrs to audit cases and outcome decisions in order to produce annual reports. The meeting will normally require about half a day’s preparation/reading time. A small amount of additional time may be required to follow-up/ feedback. The number of referrals a year vary, but a review will normally require 2-4hrs for reading and report submission. A consensus meeting, if required, will normally take place online for 1-2hrs. It is expected the panel will review around 2-6 cases a year.

Attendance: Remote.

FtP Panels Pool Members

Time Commitment: Panels will be formed as required from Pool Members, with it anticipated that members would only participate in ~1 panel a year. Depending on the complexity of the case, hearings could last from a few hours to 3-4 days. 

Attendance: Hybrid.

Role Description

FtP Referral Panel Members Role

We are currently recruiting two Lay (non-nutritionist) Members to our Fitness to Practise (FtP) Referral Panel, to support the upholding of the high standards of practise expected of UKVRN registrants.

The Panel will assess cases regarding FtP concerns to determine whether these should or should not be escalated to an FtP Investigation Panel.

The FtP Referral Panel members shall review referred complaint/concern cases and complete a report with outcome recommendation. When a unanimous decision has not been reached on the outcome recommendation, an online meeting will be held.

The Panel will additionally attend an annual meeting to review the outcome decisions of referred and non-referred cases, to report back on the consistency and appropriateness of decisions.

Ftp Panels Pool Members

The purpose of the Fitness to Practise Panel Pool is to form the membership from which a panel can be selected to assess substantive concerns regarding a registrant’s Fitness to Practise.

All cases will have already been reviewed by an investigator to determine they are within the scope for assessment and referred by the FtP Referral Panel following a decision that full investigation is/was warranted or a unanimous decision on this was not achieved.

The AfN wishes to appoint and maintain a ‘pool’ of independent (lay) members and professional members (UKVRN Registrants) to act as panellists on Investigation, Fitness to Practise and Appeal Panels.

Required Skills and Experience

• A commitment to protecting, promoting and maintaining the health, safety and wellbeing of the public.
• The ability to look forward, see the bigger picture and make balanced decisions in an open, collaborative and constructive manner.
• The ability to challenge and question constructively, with a sense of collective responsibility.
• An understanding and commitment to good governance and to the Nolan Principles of public life.
• Experience of participating in investigation hearings, human resources, fitness to practice proceedings, adjudication, complaints and/or appeals in the public, private or voluntary sector.
• Experience of HR, legal, regulation or public communications.
• An understanding of the contribution and impact made by voluntary regulation of Registered Nutritionists, the furtherance of nutrition science and the fostering professional expertise in the UK and overseas.

To apply for or express an interest in this position, please email bicenquiries@weareadvocate.org.uk