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Abstract

Purpose: Students on an education programme leading to a professional career as a health or social care professional who have exhibited seriously adverse behaviour may have to attend a decision-making committee which has the power to terminate their studies. Part of the student's case in their defence may be to submit one or more testimonials. The aim of this article is to highlight, both for students and for those who write testimonials, certain avoidable pitfalls. Choice of testimonial writer: Testimonials are likely to be of greatest use to a student if written by those with professional knowledge of a student, so that they can be seen to be objective. Relatives, friends, or those with past contacts (such as school teachers) may not be given much weight by a decision making committee. Background: to the case. It is important that the writer of a testimonial is fully aware of the background to the case, and it is helpful if the writer can summarise the allegations against the student at the beginning of the testimonial. Need for honesty: Those who write testimonials should avoid misleading by failing to mention important matters. Conclusions: There are few students who are so bad that nothing good can be said about them. The nature of the decision making processes is that they tend to focus on the failings of a student. A committee tasked with deciding a student's future should take a broad interest in the case, and when trying to balance aggravating and mitigating features, and exploring how the student might behave in the future, it may be helped by receiving one or more testimonials on behalf of a student. © 2019

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