Speech therapist is suspended at hearing
An Indian speech and language therapist based at a Black Country health centre who had a poor grasp of the English language has been suspended for a year after a hearing was told she would be a risk to the public.
An Indian speech and language therapist based at a Black Country health centre who had a poor grasp of the English language has been suspended for a year after a hearing was told she would be a risk to the public.
Rukhsana Kausar failed to carry out duties at the Victoria Health Centre in Smethwick satisfactorily before her resignation in March 2007, the Health Professions Council (HPC) hearing was told. She was charged with failing to practise to the standard of a newly qualified therapist.
She was also charged with consistently provide a rationale for assessments; appropriately administer assessments; accurately analyse information; consistently apply her knowledge and skills to diagnose problems; independently write up reports and communicate effectively.
All charges against Kausar were found proved yesterday and she will now be suspended from working in the field for 12 months.
Kausar joined Sandwell Primary Care Trust in 2005 but within weeks problems emerged.
Staff at the Suffrage Street practice became concerned with her reports which were littered with spelling and grammatical mistakes, sometimes relating to child patients.
Supervisor Joanna Hall said: "Her command of English wasn't always accurate. This was of concern because someone who's working as a speech and language therapist shouldn't be making those errors."
Ms Hall said she drew up a grammar checklist for Kausar but she had no "concrete evidence" she was using it. Kausar, of Kenwood Road, Birmingham, did not attend the two day hearing and neither admitted or denied the charges.
In a letter to the HPC she said she had no intention of going back to speech and language therapy in the near future and had since taken alternative employment.
HPC chairman Colin Allies, said: "The panel is satisfied that even with more than two years employment with the trust and substantial supervision, Ms Kausar wasn't operating at the level expected.
"Should she return to practice she would continue to be a risk to the public."
