NMBI would like to invite applications from suitably qualified individuals interested in becoming a member of the Panel of Expert Witnesses working on behalf of the CEO of NMBI and the Fitness to Practise Department.

Whilst expert witnesses are required across all areas of practice, there is a shortage of experts at present in the care of the older person in a Nursing Home/Community Hospital context. 

We are seeking individuals who:

• are currently registered in one or more of the 12 divisions of the Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by NMBI

• have a minimum of five years’ post-registration experience in nursing or midwifery (including public, private and voluntary sectors; specialist areas of practice within general, children’s/paediatric, psychiatry/mental health, intellectual disability, older persons (nursing homes and community hospitals) and midwifery) 

• are currently employed in a senior nursing or midwifery post (Clinical Nurse/Midwife Manager 2 or above) within a practice setting (including Practice Development Co-ordinators, Clinical Facilitators, Assistant Directors of Nursing or Midwifery, Directors of Nursing or Midwifery)

An expert witness is required to give their professional opinion to the Fitness to Practise Committee (FTPC) on a matter arising from a complaint that has been sent forward for an inquiry.

To assist the FTPC, the expert witness is asked to provide their opinion on whether the alleged conduct on the part of a nurse or midwife amounts to professional misconduct, poor professional performance and/or non-compliance with a code of professional conduct.  As such it will be necessary for the expert witness to have the requisite degree of expertise in the discipline and/or specialist area of nursing or midwifery practice to which the complaint relates.

The work of the expert witness typically involves a review of documentation relating to allegations against a nurse or midwife, preparation of a report setting out their opinion and possibly attendance at an inquiry hearing.

Additional information can be found in the Guidance for Expert Witnesses.

Interested individuals should submit a completed Expression of Interest Form – Expert Witnesses and a copy of their CV to: assessors@nmbi.ie

Suitable individuals will be included on the NMBI’s expert witness panel. Please note there is no guarantee of work arising for being placed on the panel.