Health and Care Professions Council determination — substantive hearing
HCPTS suspends Emma King for 12 months
The occupational therapist breached professional boundaries through a sexually motivated relationship with a particularly vulnerable former service user.
MedicWatch editorial · Published 14 February 2025 · Updated 23 September 2026
Suspension (suspended from practice) — 1 year
Data last checked: 23 September 2026Report a correction
What does “suspended from practice” mean?
The regulator imposed a fixed-term suspension in this decision. Its start date, appeal provisions and any later review affect whether it is currently in force. Check the official register for the practitioner's current status.
Concerning Emma King, occupational therapist (Health and Care Professions Council OT35073).
Decision date: 14 February 2025 · Hearing started 10 February 2025 and ended 14 February 2025
In plain English
The HCPTS panel suspended occupational therapist Emma King for 12 months after finding that she pursued a sexually motivated relationship with a particularly vulnerable former service user. Her early insight and lack of practical remediation left a repetition risk, but her remorse, engagement and potential to improve made suspension proportionate instead of striking off.
Charges
Ms King breached professional boundaries by buying gifts for a former service user, having sexual intercourse with him and maintaining a romantic relationship for several years. She knew he was particularly vulnerable, and her conduct was sexually motivated.
Findings
The panel proved the allegations and found serious misconduct and current impairment. Her insight was still at an early stage and she had provided no practical remediation, leaving a repetition risk. However, her remorse, engagement and potential to develop insight meant striking off was not required, so it imposed a 12-month suspension.
Mitigating and aggravating factors
Mitigating factors
No fitness to practise history; 20 years of occupational therapy practice with no evidence of further concerns; remorse and apology for the pain and distress caused to the service user; potential to develop her early insight; positive written and oral character references; full engagement with the employer and HCPC processes and early admissions about the personal relationship.
Aggravating factors
Abuse of professional position; the service user was particularly vulnerable; emotional harm and distress were caused to the service user; the misconduct involved sexual misconduct.
Source
All facts on this page are drawn from the publicly published Health and Care Professions Council determination linked below. MedicWatch does not editorialise the regulator’s findings.
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