I am responsible for managing the Committee Unit comprising of 7 members of staff. I am required to provide legal guidance on the operation of ACCA's Regulations and Code of Ethics and Conduct, organising training for Committee panel members, Chairmen and Legal Advisers, contributing to the development of the rules/regulations contained in ACCA's Rulebook, providing legal advice for all post hearing cases and contributing to other legal ad hoc projects undertaken within the Directorate.

In this role, I acted as an advocate presenting the GPhC’s case at various Fitness to Practise Committee hearings, including interim order applications, review hearings, restoration applications, principal hearings and registration appeals. I presented substantive cases on behalf of the GPhC ranging from conviction cases to complex 4 day clinical cases against experienced defence solicitors, barristers and QC’s. This role also required collaborative working with the Investigations and Inspection Teams, to ensure that the GPhC conducted proportionate and fair investigations and referred cases to the Investigating Committee (IC) only when it is appropriate to do so, in line with policies and procedures. Further in providing legal advice to Investigations and Inspection Teams in relation to the appropriate disposal of cases in line with the GPhC’s threshold criteria.

Lead contact in London for providing legal advice relating to the following: conduct investigations (powers, duties and responsibilities of the conduct investigations team), responding to requests made to the GSCC under the Data Protection Act or Freedom of Information Act, drafting responses to First-Tier Tribunal appeals (where those dissatisfied with decisions of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee (“PPC”) or the Conduct Committee (“CC”), or with any Registration decision can appeal to the First-Tier Tribunal), drafting responses to pre-action letters to proposed judicial review proceedings, investigating and providing advice relating to unregistered 'social workers' working in breach of Section 61 of the Care Standards Act 2000, advising on referral of information to the Independent Safeguarding Authority in accordance with Section 42 of the SVGA 2006.

Managing the GOC’s FTP investigations, advising complainants and registrants, identifying and obtaining relevant documentation, interviewing complainants and preparing witness statements. I was also responsible for preparing cases for consideration by the Investigation Committee (“IC”) and if cases were referred for FTP hearings, I liaised with the GOC’s external solicitors for case preparation and attended the hearings on behalf of the GOC. Where cases were referred for an interim order (“IO”), I took responsibility for these cases by providing advice to the IC setting out the strength of the IO application and provided legal representation for the GOC, acting as Presenting Officer for IO hearings before a FTP Committee. Where applications were made by individuals for restoration to the register, I provided legal representation for the GOC, acting as Presenting Officer, for restoration hearings before a Restoration Committee. I was also responsible for investigating allegations relating to unregistered 'opticians' working in breach of the Opticians Act 1989.