‘I represented a social worker in a fitness to practise hearing – it felt like I was in a criminal court’

by Anonymous, with additional reporting by Anastasia Koutsounia
I was recently involved in a fitness to practise (FTP) hearing as the representative of a social worker who was under investigation.
While practitioners should ideally have a legal representative, this is beyond most people’s means.
In light of that, any familiar face can take up that role, subject to permission obtained in advance from the regulator.
It was on that basis that I took part in a seven-day hearing, held remotely.