Francesca is an associate solicitor in the regulatory department at Stephensons.
Francesca represents registered providers and managers facing enforcement action by the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC). In particular, Francesca provides advice on compliance; challenging inspections, enforcement action and appeals to the first-tier tribunal (Care Standards Chamber).
Francesca assists in drafting representations in relation to inspection reports and ratings. Francesca also assists in challenging warning notices, welfare requirements notices and statutory requirements notices, as well as decisions to cancel, suspend, or impose conditions on registration. Where Ofsted or CQC have issued a decision, Francesca assists in appeals to the first-tier tribunal.
Francesca represents and advises a wide range of professionals across a number of sectors before their professional regulators. Francesca acts for professionals in the healthcare, education and counselling and psychotherapy sectors. Francesca assists professionals facing fitness to practise proceedings, from the initial referral and investigation stages, interim order hearings, through to final fitness to practise panel hearings and appeals against decisions of regulators. Francesca also assists with registration proceedings and appeals.
Francesca has assisted professionals with cases before:
- General Medical Council
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Health and Care Professions Council
- General Dental Council
- National College for Teaching & Leadership
- British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
- UK Council for Psychotherapy
- Association of Child Psychotherapists