To feel uncomfortable about her getting a different job?

[rainywinterday]

I work in frontline NHS as an AHP and have been working alongside and training up an NQP for the last 10 months. She is very poor in a lot of aspects of the job and needs constant supervision to prevent her being a clinical risk. As she can't do the job she was employed to do, she is being performance managed but has handed her notice in before getting a formal written warning on her record.

She's apparently applying for jobs in different clinical areas to the one I am in (although many of her challenges lie in just being a healthcare professional - like empathy!). Management are just glad she's going and don't feel they need to take it further but I feel she could really do some harm in a new setting and stopping her is reliant on good interview unpicking (she's an amazing bullshitter hence why she got her first job) and solid supervision which isn't always available. Reference will be factual but nothing is on her record yet.

I feel quite conflicted about it.....

God I would be too.

What can you do about it? Realistically?

Email your concerns to management so it’s there in writing?

What is your occupation, (; I. realise you can't say specifically but is it OT, physio, Radiographer etc.) It's very unusual for a HCP to have got through three years of placements and be clinically dangerous, so can you give more detail as to the risk she poses to patients ?

Because I think you need to honestly evaluate whether she is clinically dangerous, there is a personality clash or she is generally just a poor employee, ( late ess etc). Do you honestly believe her to be clinically unsafe and qualified in error ?

will any prospective employers know she was performance managed?

There’s nothing you can do. She’ll get a job and they’ll quickly start to notice she’s terrible and let her go before her probation is up. She’ll apply for more jobs, same thing happens and hopefully she’ll realise it’s not the role for her.

But you can’t do anything to stop her getting a job.

no, she is someone else's problem and you cannot do anything about it

I sort of feel the same, there's nothing I can realistically do.

AHP profession so under HCPC. Sadly, some people want an easy life with clinical placements and don't fail the placements because it's such hard work. Many ropey people get through.

This is different though. She is a clinical risk (hence why she has never been left alone) not through malicious intent, just complete inability to understand and do the job that she doesn't really understand.

I’m an AHP and an HCPC registrant, I agree with OP that clinically incompetent people do get through the cracks. There is a question on NHS jobs ‘would you employ this applicant again’ The easy option is to tick ‘yes’ and let it go
It is very difficult to defend giving a bad reference, it’s usually achieved by leaving things out.

damn with faint praise

Why would it be risky to Mention performance management? It’s factual

Jesus Christ.

YOU know she’s a clinical risk I think you have a moral duty to ensure she’s not in a position to do harm.

I appreciate this isn’t easy, but there has to be a way

How would you feel if she went on to do some real harm?!

I mean if it was ‘just’ empathy or non clinical stuff I’d agree with ‘minimal reference- letbwhat you don’t say speak volunes’ But I think there’s too much risk of real harm here

Sorry you’re in this position though 🌷

Discuss with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). I had an employee like this once, extremely well qualified but useless (I suspected her CV was falsified). HCPC were extremely helpful and talked me through what I was ethically obliged to do and what steps to take

In her reference, add things like "with immediate supervision she performs each task to an acceptable standard" etc and let them read between the lines

Sorry, should have been clearer - it's not me that will write a reference. My manager will and will be factual etc but can't declare performance management as it hasn't become a written warning (apparently).

I'm more morally worried I guess. If she goes to a new NHS post, references will include 'would you employ again' and they would read between the lines / pick up on failing S quick.

However, she could set up in independent practice or go to work in an independent school with no or minimal health clinical supervision.

Can you whistle blow? Talk to HCPC - they will look into complaints.

I'm an HCPC registered AHP too.. i would agree with @SoreThroatToday to discuss concerns with HCPC.. even if there is nothing they can do (I don't know if they deal with complaints from employees or just patients)
At least you have raised concerns