Europe (NursingSalary.Org) – Nurses eligible to receive 1000s of pounds in compensation due to unfair banning from a work permit issued on behalf of Independent Safeguarding Authority are being searched for by the Royal College of Nursing.
Nurses Seek Compensation for Unfair Barring
This is following a decision by 3 nurses to try the government in European Court of Human Rights. These nurses were barred for a period of 10 years from permits to work with children and vulnerable adults by the ISA. As a Nursing Times report stated, this decision on behalf of the ISA was deemed ‘unlawful’ in November. High court decided that the 3 nurses were denied a fair opportunity of presenting their part of the events that unfolded.
The Home Office is now being sued over earnings loss, emotional damage, and harm to reputation. These are the people that oversee ISA. Jonathan Green, senior legal officer at the RCN, stated that the nurses are eligible to payouts ranging from £4,000 to £20,000. Their identities have been kept undisclosed for protection purposes, according to law.
Justice is Served by the RCN
Investigations are being conducted by the RCN into the exact number of nurses that may be eligible for compensation.
Above seventy cases that involved nurses have opened up post Oct 2009. However, not all of these were labeled ‘autobarred’. Autobarring is the receipt of ten years in ban post issue of a caution from the police.
Mr Green says that this is having an effect on the human rights of people. There is potential that anyone who has been previously barred automatically is eligible and entitled to opening up a case in Europe. He also informed that anyone who hasn’t gotten in touch with RCN yet can contact them for support and advice.
Independent Safeguarding Authority
The mentioned 3 nurses have already made the decision to go into Europe. They have been punished from the ISA for a number of different reasons. One of the reasons involved leaving an eleven-year-old son alone at home while going shopping.
Another was cautioned by the police post his wife leaving their kids alone for a certain period of time, without informing him, during his working hours. And, lastly, but not the least, one nurse was auto-barred for kissing a colleague sans their permission. All of them are menial charges, definitely not of an extent to justify auto-barring on their nurse career.
Interim reports are due for submission in the upcoming weeks. These will cover government review of the barring and vetting scheme.
Gail Adams, the nursing head at Unison, has said that none of the members have been affected.
