Maintaining Standards: Promoting Equality

The Disability Rights Commission launched a Formal Investigation (FI) in May 2006 looking at the barriers people with impairments and long-term health conditions face in trying to pursue careers in teaching, nursing and social work across Great Britain.

The report into the investigation, Maintaining Standards: Promoting Equality, published in September 2007, concluded that they often face barriers to entry and progression throughout large parts of the public sector. It also found that the mass of regulations and guidance which govern health do nothing to protect the public, whilst often deterring people from applying or remaining in these professions.

The report recommended the repeal of the statutory requirement for 'good health' or 'fitness' of professionals. It said that they should be replaced by a robust framework of professional competence and conduct standards, which it felt was the best way to achieve both protection of the public and the aspirations of disabled people to make their contribution to British life.

You can download a copy of the summary report and the full report from the links on the right of this page. Information about the process of the investigation can be found below.

The Disability Rights Commission closed at the end of September 2007, and was replaced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in October. You can find more information about the investigation and how the new Commission is taking forward the recommendations made in the report at: www.equalityandhumanrights.com.

Other Publications:

Call for evidence

The DRC's formal investigation into fitness standards in social work, nursing and teaching professions: Report on the call for evidence

Regulatory review

Analysis of the statutory and regulatory frameworks and cases relating to fitness standards in nursing, social work and teaching

Survey of employers

Assessments and decisions relating to 'fitness' for employment within teaching, nursing and social work: A survey of employers

Disclosing disability: Disabled students and practitioners in social work, nursing and teaching

A research study to inform the Disability Rights Commission's formal investigation into fitness standards

Research into assessments and decisions

Research into assessments and decisions relating to 'fitness' in training, qualifying and working within Teaching, Nursing and Social Work

Interim report

Interim Report of a Formal Investigation into Fitness Standards in Nursing, Teaching and Social Work

Background paper

Background to the DRC's formal investigation into fitness standards in social work, nursing and teaching professions