Vacancy: Lead for Fitness to Practise, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Please note, this role is open to internal applicants only
Expressions of interest are invited for the office of Lead for Fitness to Practise for undergraduate medical students within the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (SMBMS) of the University of Oxford. This is a new position, and it is expected that the postholder would be able to assume the office in the autumn of 2026.
It is expected that the successful candidate will already be employed in a post within the University. The time commitment associated with the role is on average one half day per week (0.1 FTE). The funding available for the role will be used to ‘buy out’ the successful applicant from existing duties in a University department, subject to the agreement of the Head of Department.
The appointment will be offered for one year in the first instance, with the possibility of re-appointment following review.
The Lead for Fitness to Practise will be responsible to the Head of School, Professor Catherine Swales, who is also the Director of Clinical Studies.
The role
The postholder will act as the Lead for Fitness to Practise for undergraduate medical students. This will involve policy work, liaising with the General Medical Council (GMC) on Fitness to Practise issues, chairing meetings of the School’s Health and Conduct Committee, and working with individual students whose behaviour and/or health is causing concern.
With regard to formal Fitness to Practise procedures, the Head of Division will retain the responsibility for conducting the initial procedure, referring to an Investigator, and establishing a Fitness to Practise panel, if required. The postholder’s responsibilities will include maintaining a pool of trained Investigators and panel members, assisting with the drafting of referrals and allegations if and when appropriate, attending meetings of the Panel if required, and providing expert advice to the Panel on appropriate conditions and/or undertakings to be met by students returning to the course where the Panel has agreed that this is appropriate.
It is expected that this post will require attending meetings and in-person working with colleagues at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington, and at the Medical Sciences Teaching Centre in the University’s Science Area, along with a small amount of remote working.
Duties and responsibilities
Policy work:
- Oversee the School’s policies and procedures in respect of medical students causing concern and Fitness to Study / Fitness to Practise.
- Keep the University’s Regulations on Fitness to Practise under review
Liaising with the General Medical Council (GMC):
- Act as the main contact for the GMC on Fitness to Practise issues.
- Attend events organised by the GMC and/or the Medical Schools Council (MSC) for medical school Fitness to Practise leads
- Act as the School’s leading authority on GMC guidance on professional behaviour and Fitness to Practise.
- Oversee the contents of returns or submissions to the GMC from the medical school in respect of Fitness to Practise or medical students causing concern.
Working with individual students:
- Provide advice and guidance to individual students, either at the request of the student or following referral from the relevant College Tutor. NB Welfare support for medical students is available from other members of staff.
- Chair meetings of the School’s Health and Conduct Committee (normally one per term)
- Work with the Secretary to prepare agendas and papers for meetings, and to issue meeting invitations.
- Approve draft correspondence to students following the meeting, outlining the outcome of the meeting and any actions to be taken.
- Recruit a small number of clinical staff affiliated with the University to be available to act as Investigators and panel members in fitness to practise cases.
- Arrange for potential Investigators and panel members to receive the necessary training.
- Assist with the drafting of allegations and referrals if and when appropriate. (The Lead for Medical Students Fitness to Practise will not normally be the person making the referral.)
- Provide a written statement to the Fitness to Practise Panel, if invited by the Panel.
- Attend the Meeting of the Fitness to Practise Panel, if invited by the Panel.
- Where the Panel agrees that the student should receive a sanction short of expulsion, provide expert advice to the Panel on appropriate conditions and/or undertakings to be met by the student.
- Where students receive a sanction, short of expulsion, implement an action plan for the student (in conjunction with the relevant Director of Studies) in order to provide the student with appropriate support and monitoring.
- Put monitoring arrangements in place for students who have returned to the course following the outcome of a Fitness to Practise procedure (in conjunction with the Health and Conduct Committee).
Essential selection criteria
- Current employment in a University departmental academic post
- Primary medical qualification
- Full registration with the GMC with a licence to practise
- Substantial experience in undergraduate medical education
- Direct experience of managing or contributing to Fitness to Practise cases or panels.
- Experience of handling sensitive student welfare or professionalism concerns.
- Demonstrable leadership or management experience.
- In-depth understanding of:
- Professionalism in medicine.
- Regulatory requirements for medical schools.
- Due process and procedural fairness.
- Confidentiality, data protection, and safeguarding.
- Knowledge of equality, diversity, and inclusion principles in disciplinary processes.
- Understanding of student support systems and reasonable adjustments.
- Ability to inspire confidence among students, faculty, and senior leadership.
- Ability to take a collaborative approach with colleagues and legal teams.
- Excellent judgement and decision-making in complex, high-stakes situations.
- Strong analytical and report-writing skills
Desirable selection criteria
- Postgraduate qualification in medical education, law, ethics, leadership, or a related field.
- Fellowship of a relevant professional body (e.g., FHEA, AoME, Royal College).
- Experience of drafting or revising FtP policies.
- Experience of working with regulatory frameworks (e.g., GMC guidance such as Promoting Excellence and Achieving Good Medical Practice).
- Experience in complex case management involving mental health, conduct, or professionalism issues.
- Awareness of medico-legal principles relevant to Fitness to Practise
Expressions of interest
Expressions of interest in the form of a curriculum vitae with a covering statement detailing the applicant’s suitability should be submitted to Mrs Kirstie Vreede (kirstie.vreede@smbms.ox.ac.uk) by no later than noon on Friday 10 August 2026.