Welcoming today’s decision by the House of Lords to give employees the right to a hearing before they are placed on the “provisional list” and excluded from their workplace, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON said:
“This is a just decision that will have far reaching consequences for millions of people working with children and vulnerable adults in hospitals, schools, social care and charities. UNISON is committed to high standards of public protection, but any system has to be proportionate, fair and effective.
“Anyone accused of inappropriate behaviour should have the right to have their case heard by an independent tribunal. It is shameful that nurses and other care workers have been barred for long periods of time from their work, without having the opportunity of putting their case in person. Today’s ruling will put pressure on the Independent Safeguarding Authority to deal with any complaint quickly.
“The decision has serious implications for the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) who needs to look at adopting a new system to reflect the Lord’s decision. UNISON will be raising this with the ISA at our meeting in early February.”