Care home nurse from Northampton suspended after getting junior to do training session for her

At a hearing held in London, a panel was told how nurse Lesley Beevor had asked a junior member of staff to complete an online training module in her name covering infection control, safeguarding, and health and safety.

Mrs Beevor admitted the three charges relating to this.

A separate charge that she failed to complete and/or update care plans and/or evaluations for some residents was found proved.

But charges claiming she had told her colleague the documents were up to date and had been dishonest in doing so, along with one alleging she failed to conduct staff supervisions for one or more colleagues were found not proved.

The panel was told that Mrs Beevor had started work at the Phoenix House Care Home in Northampton in October 2014, and in February 2015 was promoted to home manager.

Phoenix House provides residential care for up to 15 residents with enduring mental health issues.

All staff were required to complete mandatory on-line training, which included modules on health and safety, infection control, safeguarding adults and abuse, amongst others.

It was alleged that when Mrs Beevor was asked to complete this training she did not do so and that she instructed, persuaded or allowed a support worker colleague to complete the course on her behalf and that Mrs Beevor accepted credit for completing the training.

The issue came to light in July 2015, Mrs Beevor was interviewed in August that year on the issue, and she submitted her resignation later that month.

The NMC panel concluded that the conduct surrounding the online training amounted to an abuse of a position of authority, involving a junior colleague, and that the dishonesty took place over a period of four months.

However, it also noted that Mrs Beevor was newly promoted into her role, and had raised concerns about her ability to cope with her managerial responsibilities, that Mrs Beevor was expected to assume the responsibilities of a full-time post while working part-time hours, that she admitted the matter in full at an early stage, that prior to these events Mrs Beevor had some serious health issues, and at the time of the events she had responsibility as a carer for a family member, and finally that over a long career of 40-plus years as a nurse she had no previous referrals.

The panel took into account Mrs Beevor’s resignation letter in which she stated: “I’m sure my employment will be terminated ... owing to my total stupidity.

“I honestly can’t understand why I did what I did ... with the training ... this is totally out of character for me. I have never done anything like this in the whole of my career before this. I am normally a by the book sort of person.”

The panel also took into account the information supplied by Mrs Beevor in a letter to the NMC in which she states: “I totally regret this act of stupidity on my part...

“I have lost all respect for myself...

“I am so sorry for this action and think it is disgraceful of a woman who should have known better.”

The panel decided the appropriate course of action to protect the public and allow Mrs Beevor to “continue to develop her insight and to reflect on whether she wishes, in the future, to return to nursing” was to suspend Mrs Beevor as a nurse for 12 months, after which time the case can be reviewed and the suspension potentially lifted.