A FORMER Prestatyn care home boss has been re-registered as a manager following a five-year ban, after glowing references were provided by her employer and colleagues.

Kathleen Duffy, who was manager at Beach Court Care Home in Prestatyn from 2012 to 2015, was struck off by Social Care Wales following a 2017 hearing, after five allegations of dishonesty were found proved and amounted to misconduct.

At a remote hearing of Social Care Wales’ registration appeals panel today (November 27), Mrs Duffy was restored to the register of adult care home managers.

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Mrs Duffy has held the position of deputy manager at Ty Cariad Dementia Centre in Abergele for more than one year, but needed to be restored to the register to be able to continue in her role.

Though she admitted trying to falsify records in an attempt to conceal misuse before being suspended and later resigning from her role at Beach Court Care Home, she told the panel today that she is “truly sorry”.

She said that she was “under a lot of pressure, and had little or no support from the Responsible Individual” at Beach Court, but accepted that “this was my failing”.

Mrs Duffy added: “I’ve worked so hard to achieve all that I have since leaving school at 16.

“It is not my intention ever to manage a care home again. I’m very happy in the role I’m currently in.”

She also said that she has “nothing to do with money” in her current role at Ty Cariad.

Paul Nicholls, the Respsonible Individual at Fairways Care Ltd, which owns Ty Cariad, gave a character reference on Mrs Duffy’s behalf at today’s hearing.

He described her as a “wonderful, caring person”, about whom “everybody speaks so highly of”.

Mr Nicholls said: “In all of my time in that home, I have found Kathy to be extremely honest, reliable, unbelievably knowledgeable, and a person of outstanding character.

“People can change, and I truly believe that I’m looking at someone who has learnt from the (Beach Court) experience and has completely changed.”

Jodie Jones, who has worked for Fairways Group for more than six years, described Mrs Duffy as “one of the most trustworthy members of staff that I’ve worked with”.

She added: “I would hope that she remains as deputy manager at Ty Cariad. The role she holds here is pivotal to the home.

“Kathy understands the role and her limits, but she’s excellent in the role. We quite frequently benchmark against Kathy in other homes, as well.

“She’s a valued member of the team here.”

Debbie Arthur, manager of Ty Cariad, said that Mrs Duffy has proved an excellent deputy to her.

“I’ve always found Kathy to be reliable, truthful, trustworthy and would never have any doubts in her working ability,” she told the hearing.

“She’s a very well-valued member of my team. I value her support and input on a daily basis.”

Following these testimonies, the panel took the decision to restore Mrs Duffy to the register of adult care home managers.

Byron Davies, chairing the hearing, told her: “Ultimately, we concluded that we were comfortable that you would not repeat your past conduct.”