Rachel Cooper

Work Highlights

A wide range of investors and service providers on the regulatory aspects of their business including registration (applications and challenging cancellation), group restructuring, regulatory inspection outcomes, safeguarding incidents, internal investigations, regulatory compliance and governance. Rachel’s work includes assisting providers and investors in adult social care, children’s services (care homes, fostering agencies, schools and nurseries) and private healthcare providers.

A specialist adult care provider in an organisational abuse enquiry concerning a large number of safeguarding incidents involving service users. Rachel assisted the client to secure an outcome of no finding of organisational abuse.

The former Chief Executive of the employer NHS Trust of Ian Paterson and following a GMC investigation which lasted over 9 years (including a hearing before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal lasting over 80 days), secured an outcome of no allegations found proven and no finding of impairment of fitness to practise against her client. Rachel successfully secured orders for a costs award against the GMC for her clients.

An education provider challenging the findings of an Ofsted inspection. She successfully obtained an injunction prevent publication of the Ofsted report and a Court order preventing reporting of the proceedings pending the outcome of the judicial review.

On the regulatory implications of operating a virtual clinic across all UK jurisdictions, which would be operated via an app with the main function of facilitating video consultations. The Virtual Clinics would also enable clinicals to remotely monitor, access and adjust fitted healthcare devices according to patient need.

Practice Areas

Rachel Cooper is a Partner and heads CMS’ Professional Discipline and Regulatory team.

Since 2006, Rachel has specialised in professional discipline and regulatory advisory work in the healthcare, social care and education sectors. Rachel deals with the distinct regulatory regimes in the four jurisdictions of the UK. Rachel has extensive experience advising investors in/operators of healthcare facilities, children’s and adult care services and specialist education. Her work includes undertaking due diligence (regulatory aspects) on the acquisition of private hospitals, care homes, specialist schools/colleges and children’s care/fostering services. Rachel advises on registration requirements and challenges to regulatory inspection outcomes/compliance action, undertakes internal investigations (including in the areas of safeguarding, governance and compliance), prepares reports on findings and recommendations for improvements. Rachel advises clients involved in external safeguarding investigations, Coroner inquests and independent inquires. Rachel is increasingly instructed to assist healthcare clients operating/developing online and remote services.

Rachel has extensive professional disciplinary experience and regularly represents regulator (prosecuting cases) including the General Optical Council and General Pharmaceutical Council and regulated individuals (defending them in proceedings) including doctors, nurses, teachers and professionals registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. Rachel has acted in some of the longest running, complex and high-profile cases in proceedings brought by the General Medical Council (GMC). Rachel has a wealth of experience dealing with cases involving sexual misconduct and dishonesty.

Rachel has experience representing clients in appeals in the High Court in relation to judicial review proceedings, appeals to the First-Tier Tribunal (Care Standards) and the Upper Tier Tribunal.

Prior to a career in law, Rachel established and operated her own business for 9 years, this experience provided Rachel with a strong commercial understanding which she uses to the advantage of her clients.

Education