SCIE Practice guide 7: Making referrals to the POVA list

Making a POVA list referral

Practice point: Malicious referrals

Employers are responsible for ensuring that malicious referrals are not made about individuals. Their own disciplinary proceedings should ensure that this does not occur, and the POVA referral process includes the following safeguards for individuals:

• The quality of the information provided with the referral will be examined, and cases will only proceed when they are deemed clearly suitable for inclusion on the list.
• The individual being referred has the opportunity to comment on the events that led to the referral.
• Listed individuals can appeal the Secretary of State for Health's decision through the Care Standards Tribunal.