Payroll error lands nurse in trouble


A STAFF nurse who was over-paid by Maidstone Hospital has been told by an in- quiry she was naive to think the payroll of- fice would sort things out. Instead, mental health nurse Grace Olu-


funke Olajide found herself being dismissed in February 2012 for gross misconduct from the Trevor Gibbens Unit for failing to report the £5,106.17 overpayment. Olajide admitted both offences at a Nurs-


ing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Conduct and Competence Committee inquiry in Au- gust, but contested the allegation by Kent andMedway NHS and Social Care Partner- ship Trust that her actions were dishonest and affected her fitness to practise. The NMC misconduct hearing was told


that the overpayment had arisen between November 2010 andMarch 2011 because of a payroll error, which Olajide had not re- ported, but agreed in November 2011 to repay by instalments.


Signing course MAIDSTONE-based deaf charity Hi Kent is opening its doors to those who want to extend their skills at signing. In response to huge de- mand, the charity is running a level 3 course in British Sign Language, which started in late September at its head office in Brewer Street, Maid- stone.


Further information is available from Naomi Lemar on 01622 691151 or n.lemar@hikent.org.uk


The inquiry heard that while Olajide would have been familiar with the pay process, there had been variations in her payslips because of changes in the hours she worked. The panel also noted various arrears payments appearing on at least three occasions without detailed explanations. The inquiry panel reported: “We are of the


view that in your naivety it may not have been entirely obvious that you had been overpaid in error.” Panel chairman Paul Morris said: “The


panel noted that you checked with your bank where the extra money was from in November 2010 and checked your pay state- ment, which stated that this money was from basic pay arrears. “The panel considered you had real rea-


son to believe that if it was an error in pay- ment you would have been informed. Therefore, the panel was satisfied that you had not known that what you were doing


MAIDSTONE youngsters had the chance to learn some basic American Football skills during a two-day camp at the New Line Learning Acad- emy in Loose. Cllr Brian Clark, who made a contribution


from his KCCmember grant to support the camp, along with Cllr Derek Mortimer, stopped by to see an enthusiastic group of teenagers learning ball-handling skills and some terrific tackling techniques. He is pictured right with the group. The pilot scheme, set up by the South East


Youth American Football Federation (SEYAFF), is designed to introduce participants aged be- tween 11 and 18 to the sport, and encourage them to continue beyond the camp.


was, by the ordinary standards of reason- able and honest people, dishonest.” Martin Goudie, of the Nursing and Mid- wifery Council, told the panel it was ac- cepted that while there were no clinical issues in relation to Olajide’s practice as a nurse, when faced with an issue at work that she was unsure of, there was the po- tential, he submitted, that she might “bury her head in the sand” and not ask for help. Olajide, in evidence, accepted that what


she had done was wrong. She told the panel: “I have learned my lesson and am more careful now.” In summing up, the panel chairman said:


“You came across in evidence as genuinely naive in putting your trust in the payroll de- partment. You had previously been over- paid and they had contacted you when this occurred. The panel accepted your belief that, if this was the case again, the payroll department would do the same thing.


Youngsters get taste of American football


The camp also received funding from NLL and


the Maidstone Pumas American Football Organ- isation, enabling youngsters from all back- grounds to take part free of charge.


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