Decision Review Group

• Gemma Kingswell - Head of Legal Services (Standards)
• Michael Lupson - External member
• Ben Myring - Head of Policy, Insight, and Public Affairs
• Clare Paget - Registrar
• Tim Skelton - External member 

Purpose

• The purpose of the Decision Review Group (DRG) is to review all determinations handed down by the Disciplinary Committee (DC) and Charter Case Committee (CCC) in order to: 
  • Improve and enhance the quality of decision making through identifying learning points;
  • Support the learning of the RCVS in continuous improvement – for example in improving processes
  • Ensure decisions are made in accordance with current law and guidance;
  • Identify performance management issues;
  • Highlight and promote good decision making and best practice.

The DRG will:

• Evaluate the reasoning and decisions of the DC and CCC to ensure the proper discharge of the Committee’s functions and can take the following action: 
  • Identify any learning points and training needs for panel members and Legal Assessors and ensure that feedback is provided;
  • Circulate general feedback and learning points to committee members in general;
  • Identify and make recommendations on areas where guidance is required;
  • Identify any learning or training opportunities for College staff or instruct Counsel and ensure that feedback is provided, and any recommendations for training acted upon;
  • Identify areas where College policy or processes may require review or amendment and make recommendations accordingly;
  • Consider any examples of best practice including any learning points that may be published by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) as far as it may be relevant to the DC or CCC;
  • Monitor the progress on action points;
  • Highlight good decision making and best practice.

Membership

• The Membership of the DRG will be as follows:  
  • Director of legal services/registrar (chair)
  • Head of legal services (Standards and Advice)
  • Head of policy, insight and public affairs
  • 2 x external members (not veterinary professionals) 

Disciplinary lawyers will attend to assist the group but will not participate in decision making.

Attendance and quorum

The group will be quorate with three members in attendance, including one external member. If the Chair is not in attendance, they will nominate another member of the group to sit as a Chair. 

• Attendance can be in person or remotely.
• Decisions can be taken in person, remotely or by email.
•  If a member cannot attend, they can nominate another person of the same seniority to attend as a proxy with the permission of the Chair.

Practical arrangements

• The DRG will meet approximately every six months with additional meetings as required.
• The group will be supported by a group secretary who will arrange meetings, distribute papers, take minutes and complete the action log.
•  All DC and CCC determinations will be considered from the approximately six months prior to the meeting, unless they are subject to appeal or review or within the appeal period.
• Papers are prepared by the Professional Conduct Department (Profcon) and provided to the group secretary so that they can be sent to the group at last one week before the meeting.
• The group will consider the formal papers including the analysis of the Profcon lawyers. This will include all determinations by the DC since the last meeting. Determinations and other papers are anonymised before the meeting to remove any personal details.
• Minutes will be taken and action points will be recorded and allocated. The minutes of the meeting will be circulated for agreement within 10 days of the meeting.
•  Action points and progress on the actions will be recorded on a tracker by the group secretary. Trends will be monitored and learning points identified by DRG.

Reporting

• In order to provide assurance in the disciplinary function, the Director of Legal Services/Registrar will report on the recommendations and progress on the recommendations to the Professional Conduct Liaison Committee (PCLC) at the meeting following the DRG meeting.