SPECIAL arrangements could be made for extending a nurse’s housing licence. But it must be done via the Health and Social Services Department.
The Housing Department has denied Royal College of Nursing claims that members whose housing licence applications were refused were not told why.
‘As with all other employers, the Health and Social Services Department is always advised in writing of the reasons why a specific housing licence application has been refused,’ said Housing chief officer Stephen Langford. ‘And it is advised that it has a legal right of appeal against the decision.
‘However, a licence application may not get that far as the Health and Social Services Department may not always support the case for a licence or its extension, in which case the application is never made to Housing.’
RCN officer Helen Willets said recently that a male nurse who was classed as an essential worker and who wanted to stay in Guernsey was being forced to leave as his application for a licence extension had been refused.
Mr Langford said there was a long-standing policy related to housing licences for nurses that had been agreed some years ago between the former Board of Health and Housing Authority. It respects the fact that in accordance with States population policy, the Housing Department issues the majority of housing licences for no longer than five years.
‘However, each licence application is looked at on its merits,’ said Mr Langford. ‘So if the Health and Social Services Department was to make a special case for an extension, the policy may be departed from.’
Housing and the Health and Social Services Departments maintained a close working relationship in respect of the awarding of housing licences to nurses and other health care staff, he said. This acknowledged the need to recruit staff from outside Guernsey to maintain the island’s health services.
Housing minister Dave Jones said that in his view, a degree of flexibility could be applied to the licence situation in
respect of key workers such as nurses.
‘But this is a major policy change which the relevant chief officers are currently investigating,’ he said. ‘If the RCN wants to put its views forward, it is, of course, welcome to do so.’
Article posted on 10th August, 2004 - 12.00am
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