Catherine Stock, Barrister

Catherine Stock

Barrister

• Joint Head of Kings View Chambers
• Year of call 2007
• BVC (very competent)
• CPE (commendation)
• BSc Medical Law and Ethics (First Class Honours)
• BA Health and Nursing Studies

Practice Areas:

Catherine Stock is the Joint Head of Kings View Chambers. She is an experienced barrister in healthcare regulation, care home law and coroner’s inquests. Before coming to the Bar, Catherine had an extremely successful and varied career in the NHS as a nurse, general manager and Director of Clinical Services. She worked in a variety of teaching hospitals both in Scotland and England and has a wealth of knowledge of the operational functions and strategic direction of the NHS. Catherine also acted as a general manager and clinical director and was responsible for large numbers of clinical staff. As a consequence, she understands better than most what is required of staff working in healthcare settings.

Healthcare Regulation and Fitness to Practice

Catherine has appeared in a wide range of tribunals and courts with particular expertise in healthcare regulation. She has acted in defence of a variety of clinicians brought before disciplinary and regulatory tribunals for issues including; lack of competence, negligence, ill health, dishonesty and fraud. She can advise on how to respond to complaints, misconduct and impairment issues, registration issues; fitness to practice, interim hearings, restoration to the register and preparation of mitigation. Catherine appears regularly before the General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health and Care Professions Council, General Chiropractors Council and General Dental Council. She has represented doctors, nurses and midwives of all levels and from all care settings as well as paramedics, social workers, dentists, chiropractors and physiotherapists.

Care Home Law and Care Standards

Catherine acts for nursing and care homes, GP practices and hospitals in all Care Quality Commission matters including assistance and advice on registration, reviews and inspections and compliance.  Catherine can assist with written representations against notices of proposal and with appeals against notices of decision and cancellation orders. Catherine regularly carries out mock CQC inspections for care providers such as GPs, care homes and specialist community care providers.

Other Roles

From 2007-2017 Catherine worked as a freelancer at BPP University, CPD Law School and School of Health. She has also worked as an advocacy trainer for Norton Rose Fulbright and provide advocacy training to other “magic circle” firms including Norton Rose Fulbright, Simmons and Simmons, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Allen and Overy and Jones Day.

She held a variety of part-time roles including Lead Assessor for Criminal and Civil Higher Rights and as an exam writer for Criminal Higher Rights and the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test. As a lecturer she lectured in the following areas:

Professional Skills Courses -Advocacy and Communication Skills and Client Care:
Higher Rights of Audience Criminal Evidence and Litigation
Higher Rights of Audience Criminal and Civil Advocacy
Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test Criminal litigation and advocacy
Witness Familiarisation Training and Expert Witness Training for a variety of organisations including The Metropolitan Police, Trading Standards, Financial Conduct Authority, Computer Aided Modelling Bureau and Sexual Offences Referral Centres

CPS External Assessor

From 2012-2017 Catherine carried out numerous assessments for the CPS of their advocates both in the Magistrates and Crown Courts

Specialist Prosecuting Authority

Catherine provides training to all three forces on assessing in house advocates.

She worked with specialist prosecutors on development of a comprehensive assessment tool.

Previous Career

Catherine qualified as registered nurse in 1988 and worked in a variety of areas such as general surgical, intensive care, neurology and neurosurgery.

She became a ward sister in 1992 and then moved into general management. She has held a variety of posts including practice development, deputy director of nursing and clinical director.

Professional Qualifications

Catherine Stock website