Equality and Human Rights Commission

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 disabled people 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 became part of the Equality and Human Rights Commission in October 2007.

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 (September 2007)

Call for evidence - PDF
Call for evidence - Word
Call for evidence - RTF

Regulatory review

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

Regulatory review - PDF
Regulatory review - Word
Regulatory review - RTF

Survey of employers

Assessments and decisions relating to 'fitness' for employment within teaching, nursing and social work: A survey of employers (September 2007)

Survey of employers - PDF
Survey of employers - Word
Survey of employers - RTF

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 (March 2007)

Disclosing disability - PDF
Disclosing disability - Word
Disclosing disability - RTF

Research into assessments and decisions

Research into assessments and decisions relating to 'fitness' in training, qualifying and working within Teaching, Nursing and Social Work (April 2007)

Research into assessments and decisions - PDF
Research into assessments and decisions - Word
Research into assessments and decisions - RTF

Interim report

Interim Report of a Formal Investigation into Fitness Standards in Nursing, Teaching and Social Work (November 2006)

Interim report - PDF
Interim report - Word
Interim report - RTF

Background paper

Background to the DRC's formal investigation into fitness standards in social work, nursing and teaching professions (May 2006)

Background paper - PDF
Background paper - Word
Background paper - RTF