Blog
From Certificates to Belief Statements: The CPS and the Limits of Forum Bar Intervention
Rebecca Niblock
17 March 2023
Regulating healthcare professionals, protecting the public: Consultation response
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has recently published a response to the consultation it ran from 24 March 2021 to 16 June 2021, in which it sought views on proposals to reform the regulation of healthcare professionals.
The reforms have been a long-time coming, and therefore we were very eager to see what responses the DHSC received.
17 March 2023
Is it possible to regulate relationships between university students and staff?
The University of Oxford clearly thinks so, and has announced a new policy concerning relationships between students and staff (“the Policy”) prohibiting staff from entering an intimate relationship with a student for whom they have any responsibility. The Policy also strongly discourages any other close personal relationship between a staff member and student for whom “they have any responsibility that transgresses the boundaries of professional conduct” and requires that such relationships are declared. The Policy warns that staff who fail to comply with the Policy may be disciplined.
15 March 2023
A guide for students - understanding extenuating circumstances
Following the impact of COVID, extenuating circumstances (ECs) or mitigating circumstances have become a mainstream part of a student’s experience at university. However, despite their growing importance, it can be incredibly difficult for a student to understand the application process.
We are frequently asked to advise on and submit EC applications for students, and therefore appreciate how difficult they can be.
9 March 2023
Family business convicted of corporate manslaughter following evidence of cost-cutting at the expense of safety
On 3 March 2023, DH Willis & Sons Limited and company directors Timothy and Mark Willis were
sentenced following the death of an employee, and family member, Henry Willis. The company
was convicted of corporate manslaughter and fined £335,000. The company directors, who both
pleaded guilty for failing to discharge the duty of general health, safety and welfare to an
employee, each received suspended sentences.
27 February 2023
Waste company and director held to account for death of employee
On 22 February 2023, FDS Waste Services (“FDS”) and company director, Philip Pidgley, were sentenced, respectively, to a £640,000 fine and six months suspended prison sentence, following their convictions for corporate manslaughter and offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974 (HSWA).