Fitness to practice
Criminal offences and other related matters
The University uses the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to assess the suitability of applicants to work with a vulnerable population. This is common practice in healthcare professions, and we undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a disclosure on the basis of information revealed.
Candidates should be aware that the disclosure will list all convictions and cautions received. Certain offences may lead to the candidate being refused entry onto the course, or subsequently being asked to withdraw.
At the start of your course, you will have been contacted by the Placements team regarding DBS clearance. However, if you've not received an email, please contact them.
On completion of the course, nursing and midwifery graduates are required to provide another DBS check as part of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Employers will normally require a DBS check prior to employment.
Disclosure information will be handled and disposed of securely in compliance with the DBS Code of Practice, the Data Protection Act and other relevant legislation.
Students with disabilities or health concerns
Disabilities and health concerns do not necessarily form a barrier to entry onto the BSc Nursing Adult, BSc Nursing Mental Health, BSc Nursing Child, BSc Midwifery. In line with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (2001) we treat all students fairly, offering ongoing support and making reasonable adjustments where necessary.
However, we have a responsibility to ensure that all students admitted to our courses will be able to meet the standards of proficiency set out by the governing bodies of the professions.
It is expected that any condition, past or present, will be controlled and stable and, as such, will not impair your ability to complete the course, or care for patients/clients.
Any applicant who is offered a place on the course is required to complete a medical questionnaire. Our Occupational Health provider, Optima Health will have emailed you information about completing your pre-course Occupational Health questionnaire (PPQ).
Please ensure you have completed this before you start your course, as your place is subject to the Occupational Health clearance. If you have not received their email, please email them to request that the link to your PPQ is resent.
A panel in the university reviews all Occupational Health assessments and all recommended adjustments. This panel determines whether the recommended adjustments can be made on an individual case-by-case basis.
It is therefore important to note that all offers of a place on the course are conditional on obtaining a clear bill of health from our Occupational Health Department. In line with UCAS guidelines, disability or health concerns can be disclosed on the UCAS form and/or in a letter addressed directly to the Admissions Tutor. This includes, among others, conditions such as hearing or visual impairments, dyslexia, diabetes, epilepsy, depression or eating disorders. All of the information disclosed is treated as completely confidential.
Accepting someone who is unlikely to fulfil the rigorous demands of professional fitness to practise would not be in the interests of the student and would be contrary to the division’s overriding duty of care to the public. For that reason, students with disabilities should seek advice from the admissions tutor well before the deadline for UCAS submissions so that each case can be given individual consideration.