Our Fitness to Practise Department has been working hard to progress the Compassion Project and promote our emotional support service for everyone involved in the fitness to practise (FTP) process.
Early this year, Niamh McDonald was appointed as NMBI’s new Liaison Officer and is available to provide general information and support about:
- the complaints process
- specific requirements or accessibility arrangements, and
- other organisations that can help.
Her role is different from a Case Officer who manages a complaint and communicates directly with those involved. She cannot discuss the evidence or any details of the complaint.
To help our readers understand the FTP process, we spoke to Niamh about the supports that are available to everyone involved.
Can you tell our readers about the different support services available and who can access them?
We are aware that the process can be a worrying and stressful time for those concerned. There are two main services available, a 24/7 emotional support careline and structured counselling services.
The service aims to support registrants, witnesses and complainants appropriately through the fitness to practise proceedings.
It is available if you have had a complaint raised about you, or indeed you have raised a concern to the NMBI or if you are a witness in an investigation. The service is available from the start to the end of the process and any time in between. Once the NMBI process is complete, the service can be available to you, if required, to support you with the outcome and to help you move forward. This support may include signposting you to other organisations.
What can people expect when they contact the emotional support careline?
The emotional support careline is a free and confidential careline that you can contact 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a week for in the moment support completely free and confidential. You can talk to a trained support worker about how you are feeling, this could be about an ongoing NMBI investigation or about the events that gave rise to these concerns. You might also want to talk to somebody about how it has impacted you.
The support worker will listen and guide you through what can be a difficult time. If it is practical help and advise you need, they will talk you through your options. The service is free, independent and non-judgemental.
The support worker will not be aware of any details relating to the investigation unless you wish to share it with them. No information is shared with us or our legal team from them.
Can you tell us about the counselling service?
If you require it, you can attend six sessions of structured counselling services. This is a short-term therapeutic approach that is intended to target specific goals within a limited number of sessions. The counselling service aims to provide quick and effective solutions to address the immediate concerns of the individual. The providers will try to arrange the first session within two weeks of the referral being made.
Therapy can be delivered face to face, in person, by video or telephone.
How do people access support?
Access can be made on a self-referral basis. You can call or email the service. The contact details are below.
If you have hearing problems, you should email them and they can arrange to put additional supports in place to assist you. If you require assistance in another language, you should email the provider with your request and they will arrange for the initial call to be made in your native language.
When you speak with the qualified counsellor, they will offer either in the moment support and if appropriate, an assessment will be done. If needed, you will be matched with a clinically appropriate counsellor to schedule an appointment.
It is important that witnesses, registrants and complaints should always refer to their Trade Union, if you are a member, for all legal matters relating to the FTP process.
Contacting the emotional support service
If you are calling outside the Republic of Ireland, dial +44 121 435 0089. Please note that local charges may apply.
- Email: assist@cicwellbeing.com
You can contact the NMBI Liaison Officer at liaison@nmbi.ie or call 087 758 8369.
Further details on how to access the support service, as well as details of other organisations and agencies in Ireland that can provide advocacy or support services, can be found on our website.
