Attending a hearing
Types of Hearings
During the COVID-19 pandemic most of our hearings were held online. There were many benefits of online hearings and our hearings will continue to be a mixture of in person and online.
Temporary order hearings will be held online unless the worker or the solicitor for the SSSC requests that it is in person. These hearings are held in private so members of the public cannot attend.
The Chair of the Fitness to Practise Panel will decide the format of impairment and application hearings at the case management meeting which is held in advance of the impairment/application hearing.
Impairment hearings are generally held in public so anyone can attend. Sometimes the panel decides that all the hearing or parts of it should be in private, for example, to protect a vulnerable person.
Application hearings are held in private.
See our Remote Hearings Guidance for more information on the format of hearings and the factors which will be considered when deciding if a hearing should be in person, online or a combination of both.
Are you attending an SSSC hearing?
Our hearings are generally held in public so anyone can attend. Sometimes the panel decides it should be in private for example to protect a vulnerable person.
If you've been asked to come to a hearing you can find out more information in this section. See the different categories below.
What to expect at a SSSC hearing
Our video shows you what it's like if you come to a SSSC hearing at our offices in Dundee. You might attend because you are a registered worker and we are holding a hearing about you or because you've been asked to be a witness.
If you require text transcripts of any of our videos, please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Are you a registered worker attending a hearing?
If we have asked you to attend an SSSC hearing, find out what you need to do here.
Are you a witness for the SSSC?
If we have asked you to attend a hearing as a witness for the SSSC, find out more information here.
Are you a witness for a worker?
If you've been asked to attend a hearing as a witness for a social service worker who is appearing at a SSSC Fitness to Practise Panel hearing, find out what you need to know here.
Are you a member of the public wishing to attend a hearing?
You can observe an in person hearing at our offices in Dundee. For online hearings we can provide a limited number of observers audio only access. If audio only access is difficult for you, or you need another reasonable adjustment to observe an online hearing, please let us know.
All observers must sign the Protocol for Observers before the hearing.
If you are a member of the public and would like to observe a hearing please contact David Kydd, Hearings Team Leader, on 01382 721926 or david.kydd@sssc.uk.com
Media wishing to attend a Fitness to Practise Panel impairment hearing
Members of the media wishing to attend a hearing should contact Lorraine Wakefield, Communications Manager on 01382 721926 or lorraine.wakefield@sssc.uk.com
Information for each Fitness to Practise Panel impairment hearing is published seven days in advance.
Have feedback?
Sharing your experience in our quick anonymous survey will help us improve.
The Rules and our decisions guidance
View the documents that set out how we carry out our regulatory function and provide guidance to decision makers on when to apply the different sanctions available to them.
The Codes of Practice
Revised Codes of Practice came into effect on the 1st of November 2016. The Codes set out the standards of practice and behaviour expected of social services workers and their employers.
What we publish about hearings and decisions – Fitness to Practise Public Information Policy
Read The Public Information Policy to see what information we publish in advance of our hearings, what we don’t and why.
