A mental health nurse who failed to develop a care plan for a woman who went on to commit murder has been deemed fit to continue in the profession.

Daniel Franey failed to ensure the unnamed patient received an adequate level of care while he was manager of the Dagenham Community Mental Health Team, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) found – but he was cleared of misconduct.

During the hearing at the Old Bailey and the NMC’s Aldwych headquarterrs, the panel heard “Patient A” had an extensive criminal record, having been convicted of 69 offences by the time she was referred to the North East London NHS Foundation Trust where Franey worked between January 2009 and June 2010.

But despite her being a relatively high-risk case, the panel found the assessment of Patient A – who had been jailed for 46 months for the manslaughter of her partner prior to her involvement with the health team – was “uncoordinated and incomplete”, making it impossible to ensure a care plan was developed and monitored.

The probe into the woman’s care was launched as a result of an independent investigation following her arrest on suspicion of murder.

A final report into Franey’s conduct stated the panel was “in no doubt” he did not currently pose a risk of harm to patients and that it did not believe that his fitness to practise was impaired.

It added the panel was “impressed by his reflective piece” and the “level of insight” he had demonstrated since the incident, in addition to the “range of positive references” from his current colleagues and managers, and the relevant training he has had since.

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