Festive season

Date of article: 19/12/2018

Daily News of: 19/12/2018

Country:  Malta

Author: National Ombudsman of Malta

Article language: en

Please be informed that the Office of the Ombudsman will be closed on 24, 26 and 31 December 2018. Kindly also note that on 21 & 28 December 2018 we will be closed by noon due to staff festive activities.

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Failure of Care Quality Commission to make sure NHS employs ‘fit and proper’ directors

Date of article: 19/12/2018

Daily News of: 19/12/2018

Country:  United Kingdom

Author: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Article language: en

A Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report published today reveals significant weaknesses in the way the Care Quality Commission (CQC) used the NHS ‘fit and proper’ person test.

The Ombudsman carried out an independent investigation into a whistle-blower’s complaint about the CQC’s oversight of the appointment of a Chief Executive to an NHS trust. Despite being criticised by an Employment Tribunal, the Chief Executive was employed by another NHS trust, while the whistle-blower, Clare Sardari, was unable to return to her job as a result of raising the alarm.

The Employment Tribunal found that the NHS trust prevented Ms Sardari from returning to her job after she raised a genuine concern about the Chief Executive’s misconduct. The Chief Executive also breached the NHS code of conduct for managers as well as the Trust’s recruitment and selection policy. This important evidence was disregarded by the CQC in their assessment of whether the second NHS trust made a reasonable decision about whether the Chief Executive was a ‘fit and proper’ person.

The Ombudsman found that, in this case, the CQC’s record-keeping was poor and it did not adequately weigh up the evidence, instead relying on the Chief Executive’s apology, their references, and a Professional Regulator’s report which did not address the main issue of serious misconduct.

The Ombudsman’s report concluded that the CQC lacked rigour in its regulation of the appointment of NHS directors and had failed to take a transparent and proportionate approach.

Rob Behrens, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, said:

This case shows that CQC’s approach to making sure NHS trusts are employing the right people at director-level needs reviewing.

‘The public and NHS staff must have confidence that NHS leaders are fit and proper to do the job and that whistle-blowers will not be penalised for raising concerns.

‘We need fair, transparent and proportionate oversight that stops leaders who have committed serious misconduct from moving around the NHS, and makes them accountable for their actions.’

Ms Sardari brought the case to the Ombudsman after the CQC failed to fully consider the Employment Tribunal judgement from 2014, which found she was unfairly penalised due to whistle-blower suppression. She felt the CQC’s application of the Fit and Proper Persons Requirement (FPPR) diminished the seriousness of the Chief Executive’s conduct and sent a strong message that those who victimise whistle-blowers will escape accountability.

Clare Sardari, the whistle-blower, said:

The reprisals against me and the inadequate investigation into my concerns by my former NHS trust and the Chief Executive were devastating for me and my family. The CQC acted dishonourably by trivialising whistle-blower retaliation in its handling of my case.

‘Accountability is vital to protect the public interest. The government must ensure that serious reprisal against a whistle-blower is a red line in the fit and proper person test for NHS directors, no ifs or buts.

The Ombudsman recommended that the CQC formally apologises to Ms Sardari and offers £500 to her in recognition of the injustice and distress that their actions have caused her.

The Ombudsman has asked the CQC to review the learning from this case and report back on the improvements made to demonstrate rigour in future FPPR considerations.

The ‘Fit and Proper Persons Requirement’ requires NHS providers to ensure that their directors are fit and proper to carry out their duties. One of its aims is to make sure that directors who have committed serious misconduct cannot move around the NHS.


Notes to Editors:

  1. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman provides an independent and impartial complaint handling service for complaints that have not been resolved by the NHS in England and UK government departments. We look into complaints where someone believes there has been injustice or hardship because an organisation has not acted properly or has given a poor service and not put things right. We share findings from our casework to help Parliament scrutinise public service providers and to help drive improvements in public services and complaint handling.
  2. The CQC regulates NHS trusts’ handling of the FPPR and can issue requirement and enforcement notices but is unable to prosecute NHS trusts.
  3. Ombudsman's press office contact details:
    Sally Brown, Email: Sally.Brown@ombudsman.org.uk Tel: 0300 061 4144
    Kate Minton, Email: Kate.Minton@ombudsman.org.uk Tel: 0300 061 4129
    Out of office hours  Email: press@ombudsman.org.uk Tel: 0300 061 4444

 

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Aus der alltäglichen Prüftätigkeit der Volksanwaltschaft – Passbehörden bieten Haus- und Heimbesuche an

Date of article: 19/12/2018

Daily News of: 19/12/2018

Country:  Austria

Author: Austrian Ombudsman Board

Article language: de

Ein Wiener wandte sich kürzlich im Namen seiner betagten Mutter betreffend die Neuausstellung ihres Personalausweises an die Volksanwaltschaft. Aufgrund der Gebrechlichkeit der 94-jährigen Dame kann diese weder persönlich bei der Behörde, noch bei einem Fotografen zur Anfertigung der für den Ausweis erforderlichen Fotos erscheinen.

Der Beschwerdeführer erstellte daher selbst Fotos von seiner Mutter und ließ diese von einem Fotogeschäft in passender Form ausarbeiten. Das Magistratische Bezirksamt akzeptierte diese Fotos allerdings auf Grund eines zu dunklen Hintergrundes nicht. Stattdessen verwies die Behörde den Antragsteller auf die Möglichkeit eines professionellen Berufsfotografen, welcher auch Hausbesuche durchführt.

Der Mann wandte sich schließlich an die Volksanwaltschaft, da es großer Anstrengungen bedarf, derartige Fotografen tatsächlich zu finden.

Das Bundesministerium für Inneres teilte dazu in einer Stellungnahme mit, dass Passbehörden überwiegend Haus- und Heimbesuche für pflegebedürftige Personen durchführen. Das Thema werde auch im Zuge von Schulungsveranstaltungen regelmäßig thematisiert und den Behörden nahegelegt, dieses Service im Sinne einer bürgerfreundlichen Verwaltung anzubieten. Zusätzlich werden Betroffene auf einschlägige Informationsplattformen verwiesen, auf denen Berufsfotografen für Hausbesuche gesucht werden können.

„Der konkrete Fall zeigt den akuten Bedarf an Haus- bzw. Heimbesuchen durch Behörden. Das Bundesministerium für Inneres hat mir versichert, aufgrund des aktuellen Falles die Passbehörden erneut für derartige Problemfälle zu sensibilisieren“, fasst Volksanwalt Dr. Peter Fichtenbauer zusammen.

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Monitoraggio del Garante per il Decreto sicurezza “al momento nessun effetto preoccupante nelle Marche, non alimentiamo allarmismi”

Date of article: 17/12/2018

Daily News of: 19/12/2018

Country:  Italy - Marches

Author: Garante regionale dei diritti della persona (Regional Ombudsman of Marches)

Article language: it

Dal primo incontro con i rappresentanti delle Prefetture non sono emersi dati preoccupanti. Secondo le informazioni raccolte dei 41 richiedenti asilo nel pesarese 38 non hanno ottenuto dalla Commissione preposta prima, e successivamente dal Tribunale, il permesso di soggiorno. Altri tre avevano già acquisito la protezione umanitaria, ma non hanno presentato la documentazione nei tempi previsti, cioè prima dell’entrata in vigore del Decreto, e quindi non potranno essere annoverati sotto la tutela dello Sprar. Tra di loro non risultano esserci dei minori.

L’entrata in vigore del Decreto sicurezza vede il Garante dei diritti, Andrea Nobili, impegnato su più fronti. La preoccupazione maggiore è quella relativa al futuro dei minori figli di persone che si potrebbero vedere costrette a lasciare il territorio italiano e dei ragazzi non accompagnati che si accingono a compiere la maggiore età. “Proprio per questi motivi – spiega Nobili – nei giorni scorsi questa Autorità di garanzia ha attivato un tavolo di confronto e concertazione con le Prefetture marchigiane, al fine di individuare le eventuali criticità e le possibili soluzioni da mettere in campo. Nel corso della prima riunione non sono emersi problemi macroscopici, anche per quanto riguarda la realtà del pesarese che, nelle ultime ore, sembra essere quella che desta maggiore preoccupazione. La stessa funzionaria della Prefettura di Pesaro ha assicurato che verranno adottate tutte le misure necessarie per tenere sotto controllo la situazione, soprattutto sul versante dei minori”.

Ulteriore momento di riflessione anche quello con la Rete antidisciminazioni delle Marche, la quale annovera numerose associazioni di settore che intervengono direttamente nei territori di competenza, che sempre nei giorni scorsi ha effettuato, con la partecipazione del Garante, una disamina della situazione alla luce dell’entrata in vigore del Decreto.

“E’ ovvio che il nostro interesse – aggiunge il Garante che sta quotidianamente raccogliendo informazioni – è riferito al quadro complessivo, cioè a tutte quelle persone che verranno a trovarsi fuori dal sistema di protezione. Dopo un necessario

approfondimento è emerso che al momento nelle Marche non c’è alcun effetto del Decreto in questione. Dei 41 richiedenti asilo nel pesarese, sui quali nelle ultime ore si è soffermata l’attenzione, 38 non hanno ottenuto dalla Commissione preposta prima, e successivamente dal Tribunale, il permesso di soggiorno. Altri tre avevano già acquisito la protezione umanitaria, ma non hanno presentato la documentazione nei tempi previsti, cioè prima dell’entrata in vigore del Decreto, e quindi non potranno essere annoverati sotto la tutela dello Sprar. Tra di loro non risultano esserci dei minori”.

In conclusione Nobili sottolinea che “è indispensabile non alimentare gli allarmismi. La nostra sarà un’azione di costante monitoraggio e controllo affinchè non si vada a determinare una destabilizzazione dell’intero sistema. Abbiamo diritti da salvaguardare e, prima di ogni altra cosa, bambini da proteggere”.

A.Is.

Ancona 17 – 12 – 2018

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