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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER BY DEPUTY D.W. MEZBOURIAN OF ST. LAWRENCE
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 14th FEBRUARY 2006
Question
Would the Chief Minister inform members of the total number of staff, by Department, who have been suspended as a result of disciplinary infractions in each of the last three years (2002 to 2005) and in each case identify the employee group concerned, the nature of the alleged infraction, the period of suspension, and the means of disposal of the case?
Answer
The total number of staff suspended over the four-year period 2002 to 2005 was 64, an average of 16 a year, and details are listed below in alphabetical order of department.
Although this number does appear to be high, it should be noted that it represents a very small percentage of the total public sector workforce. 16 suspensions a year out of a total headcount of 6,485 (as at 30th June 2005) represents a percentage of approximately 0.25%.
Nevertheless, the figures in some departments do give cause for concern, especially in those cases where suspensions have lasted for an extended period. I have accordingly asked my Chief Executive to carry out an urgent investigation into the matter, and to report back with recommendations as to how the current situation can be improved.
The detailed figures are given below –
Chief Minister's Department
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: 2
Employee group | Nature of alleged infraction | Outcome | Length of suspension | Year |
Civil servant | Gross negligence (professional standards) | Dismissed & subsequently reinstated on appeal | 7 weeks | 2005 |
Civil servant | Serious misconduct (professional standards) | Issued with a final written warning | 7 days | 2005 |
Economic Development
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: 2
Employee group | Nature of alleged infraction | Outcome | Length of suspension | Year |
Civil servant | Suspended under the bullying and harassment policy | Hearing scheduled for March 2006 | Two weeks (officer now on sick leave) | 2005 |
Manual worker | Refused to carry out instructions of manager | Reinstated | One week | 2004 |
Education, Sport and Culture
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: 7
Employee group | Nature of alleged infraction | Outcome | Length of suspension | Year |
ETSSS | Inappropriate use of internet | Dismissed | Three weeks | 2002 |
Manual worker | Possession of firearms: criminal charge | Resigned 23.10.02 | One week | 2002 |
Teacher | Possession of class A & B substances: criminal charge | Dismissed | Two weeks | 2003 |
Manual worker | Reported for duty in an intoxicated state on three separate occasions | Dismissed | One week | 2004 |
RCCO | Receiving full salary on sick leave & employed elsewhere | Dismissed | Eight weeks | 2004 |
Manual worker | Indecent assault on female person age 15 years: criminal charge | Resigned 4.11.05 | Six weeks | 2005 |
Civil servant | Suspended under the bullying and harassment policy | Ongoing | Ten weeks (suspension commenced on 2.12.05) | 2005 |
Health and Social Services
(Note: The information relating to Health and Social Services was originally provided by the Minister for Health and Social Services in a written answer on 17th January 2006).
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: 21
Employee group | Nature of alleged infraction | Outcome | Length of suspension | Year |
Manual worker | Under police investigation (misuse of computers ) | Ongoing | 3.5 years | 2002 ongoing |
Nursing | Gross Misconduct (Patient abuse) | Resigned when given penalty | 5 months | 2002 |
Social Worker | Gross Misconduct (Professional standards) | Resigned whilst suspended | 6 weeks | 2002 |
Manual worker | Gross misconduct (theft of HSS property) | Employee resigned before disciplinary hearing | 1 day | 2002 |
RCCO | Standards of child care | Written warning | 12 weeks | 2003 |
Nursing | Gross misconduct (alcohol abuse on duty) | Dismissed | 7 weeks | 2003 |
Medical staff | Performance issues | Referral to NCAS | 3 weeks | 2004 |
Medical staff | Performance and medical concerns | Still under investigation | 13 months | 2004 ongoing |
Nursing | Gross Misconduct ( Inappropriate Behaviour) | Dismissed | 6 weeks | 2004 |
Medical Staff | Professional standards | No case after police investigation | 11 months | 2004 |
Nursing | Professional Standards | No case after police investigation | 13 months | 2004 |
Nursing | Gross misconduct (patient abuse) | Dismissed | 2 months | 2005 |
Civil Servant | Gross misconduct (misuse of email) | Suspended while working notice period | 4 weeks | 2005 |
Social Worker | Gross Misconduct (Performance issues) | Dismissed | 6 months | 2005 |
Nursing | Gross misconduct (Patient abuse) | Resigned when given penalty | 4 weeks | 2005 |
Nursing | Gross misconduct (Patient abuse) | Dismissed | 12 weeks | 2005 |
Nursing | Lack of duty of care | Written warning | 5 weeks | 2005 |
Nursing | Under Police investigation | Ongoing | 12 months | 2005 ongoing |
Nursing | Professional Standards | No case | 5 weeks | 2005 |
Nursing | Inappropriate Behaviour | No case | 5 weeks | 2005 |
Manual worker | Gross misconduct (alcohol abuse and non-attendance) | Resigned whilst suspended | 2 weeks | 2005 |
Manual worker | Gross misconduct (abusive language towards a patient) | Written warning | 5 months | 2005 |
Home Affairs
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: 4
Employee group | Nature of alleged infraction | Outcome | Length of suspension | Year |
Prison Officer | Assault on a prisoner | Resigned | 3 months | 2002 |
Prison Officer | Trafficking of illegal substance | Resigned | 4 months | 2004 |
Prison Officer | Unprofessional conduct with a prisoner | Resigned | One month | 2005 |
Firefighter | Serious misconduct (unacceptable behaviour towards colleague) | Written warning | Four days | 2003 |
Housing
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: None Judicial Greffe
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: None Law Officers' Department
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: None Planning and Environment
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: None Police
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: 15
Employee group | Nature of alleged infraction | Outcome | Length of suspension | Year |
Police Officer | Misconduct | Dismissed | 10 months | 2002 |
Police Officer | Misconduct | Resigned | 6 months | 2003 |
Civil servant | Misconduct | Dismissed | 10 months | 2003 |
Civil servant | Criminal allegation/ misconduct | Resigned | 10 months | 2003 |
Civil servant | Criminal allegations/ gross misconduct | Resigned | 9 months | 2003 |
Civil servant | Criminal allegations/ gross misconduct | Dismissed | 9 months | 2003 |
Civil servant | Criminal allegations/ gross misconduct | Dismissed | 9 months | 2003 |
Police Officer | Misconduct: criminal charges | Resigned | 6 months | 2004 |
Police Officer | Criminal allegation/ misconduct | Official reprimand | One year 8 months | 2004 |
Police Officer | Serious misconduct | Awaiting disciplinary hearing | One year 4 months | 2004 |
Police Officer | Criminal allegation/ misconduct | Resigned | 4 months | 2004 |
Civil servant | Gross misconduct | Resigned | 8 months | 2004 |
Police Officer | Criminal allegation/ misconduct | Awaiting charges/ disciplinary hearing pending | 7 months | 2005 |
Police Officer | Misconduct | Resigned | 3 months | 2005 |
Civil servant | Gross misconduct | Resigned | 6 months | 2005 |
Postal Department
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: 10
Employee Group | Nature of alleged infraction | Outcome | Length of suspension | Year |
Postal Worker | Postal Infraction | Dismissal | 3 weeks | 2002 |
Postal Worker Serious Breach of Dismissal 10 days 2002
Personal Conduct
Postal Worker Breach of Personal Final Written 2 weeks 2003
Conduct Warning
Postal Worker Postal Infraction Did not 1 week 2003
proceed to
disciplinary
Postal Worker Postal Infraction Dismissal 2 weeks 2003 Postal Worker Falsification of Final Written 2 weeks 2004
records Warning
Postal Worker Breach of Personal Final Written 1 week 2004
Conduct Warning
Postal Worker Breach of Personal Final Written 1 week 2004
Conduct Warning
Postal Worker Customer Written 1 week 2005
Complaint Warning
Postal Worker Postal Infraction Did not 2 weeks 2005
proceed to
disciplinary
Probation
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: None
Social Security
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: 1
Employee group Nature of alleged Outcome Length of suspension Year
infraction
Civil servant Misuse of e-mail Resigned 2 weeks 2005
system
States Greffe
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: None
Transport and Technical Services
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: 1
Employee group Nature of alleged Outcome Length of suspension Year
infraction
Civil servant Gross misconduct: Final written Two months 2004
misuse of e-mail warning
(sending an
inappropriate
e-mail to a States
member)
Treasury and Resources
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: 1
Employee group Nature of alleged Outcome Length of suspension Year
infraction
Civil servant Gross misconduct Dismissal 12 days 2005
(internet abuse)
Viscount's Department
Total number of staff suspended 2002-2005: None