Breach of contract and TP status??

Re: Breach of contract and TP status??

Jo Hinde — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:38:06 GMT

Speak to your current college / VNAC and see if they can help you find another TP.

You can speak to an independant employment solicitor, as I do think they are in the wrong and you would have a case....however it depends what you want to achieve. If you want to try and sue them and get money (so you can fund yourself on a full time course for example) then go ahead, but if you want to try and stay at the practice...then this would be a very hard atmosphere to live in.

Good luck and I hope you get it sorted.

Re: Breach of contract and TP status??

SharonSP — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:36:46 GMT

[quote user="PolkaDotty"]

I am student VN about to complete my ANA qualification (which my boss stipulated had to be done even though I was eligible to go straight on to the VN course)

[/quote]

It's quite common for some practices to enrol their students to complete the ANA / VCA programmes prior to enroling on the VN course, even with the required qualifications. It allows the practice to see how dedicated you are with your studies, judges whether you can cope with a portfolio whilst studying and working full time and have you really made the correct choice with regards to your career path? You would be surprised how many students drop off the VN programme stating "it's not the career I thought it was, it's not for me" The ANA qualification will be very beneficial to you when you start your VN training, you will have a head start with the basics of A&P, general nursing etc whereas others may have no prior knowledge and struggle.

[quote user="PolkaDotty"]

recently my boss has decided to no longer continue training practice status leaving me completely in the lurch

[/quote]

This is a shame...but I am aware after talking to many students/assessors that this is not uncommon throughout the UK. Many practices are not taking on replacement staff when a current member leaves to help with financial losses occuring over the past year. Vets & nurses salaries hopefully will not drop, but the amount of money conscious clients walking through the door may have decreased and this will have an impact on overall practice finances. Things change and I am sure the practice have thought hard about this decision to quit being a TP, it is a large outlay for them and if financial sacrifices have to be made then maybe this is the only way for them...otherwise, it may result in redundancies, which I am aware this is occuring in practices already.

good luck with finding a new TP....don't give up!

Re: Breach of contract and TP status??

Vicky RVN — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:56:51 GMT

[quote user="Rachel Jayne"]

I can't believe the BVNA Legal Helpline weren't of any use..?! They're usually very good.

[/quote]

I agree, they've been great when i've phoned them. And really friendly

Re: Breach of contract and TP status??

Rachel Jayne — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:42:12 GMT

I can't believe the BVNA Legal Helpline weren't of any use..?! They're usually very good.

The CAB is probably your next best bet, but I second/third other people's comments that you're potentially making a rod for your own back by kicking off too much of a fuss if you intend to continue working for the same employer.

£13,000 over 2 years is probably what I got paid when I was training....

Re: Breach of contract and TP status??

Gemma Preston — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:09:46 GMT

Does it mention in your contract anything about training, and what the practice does and what you do. I would contact the citizens advice bureau to see if they can help. £13000 is a rediculous sum, but if it is money that is stopping him doing the tp then i expect that is why he is stopping. It isnt just the college fee's for you but all the TP fee's from college and RCVS fee's. To be honest, you could take this further but I am figuringt that this person is likely to make it a difficult place to work. I would look into degree nursing if you cannot find an alternative solution. Maybe you could apply for a grant or something?

Re: Breach of contract and TP status??

jan — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:20:52 GMT

Try ringing ACAS

Re: Breach of contract and TP status??

jan — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:20:26 GMT

If your contract actually states in black & white that you are employed as a SVN & he is going to train you then you may have a case for breach of contract HOWEVER the fight may not be worth the prize. the practice may be unable to train you, you may end up working in a practice that you have sued / taken to court. Prob not the best working atmos>>>>>& it may damage your future prospects. The vet world is a very very small one. Think carefully about ehat you want and need, speak to the vet, and if the worst comes you now have an ANA (worth to Vets a lot more than you think. It shows you can work) and some experience. Good luck

Re: Breach of contract and TP status??

PolkaDotty — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:34:02 GMT

Thank you for your advice. As for his decision to end the status I believe it is not due to a financial fall but actually due to problems with previous students, he seems to have tarred us all with the same brush. As for the fees I do appreciate that it would incur a lot of costs to train a nurse but as I paid for my own degree privately with no funding from the LEA or government, I didnt not pay this much as I said previously.

Thanks again anyway

Re: Breach of contract and TP status??

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:04:02 GMT

I do feel for you - that is a tough decision for you. However, why has he made that decision? Is the practice income falling? It may be literally be the case that the cost of training you is too much financially. Obviously without knowing anything about the practice it is hard to comment, but, believe me, profit margins aren't always that brilliant. Most practice partners are on a lot less financially than most nurses think!

[quote user="PolkaDotty"]I have offered to pay for my own fees as money seemed to be the deciding factor of stopping TP status but my boss came up with a ridiculous offer of £13,000 for two years (i didnt pay that much for a 3year degree) [/quote]

You call that offer 'ridiculous'. Actually it is very generous. That is part of the problem with VN training - the whole cost has to be absorbed by the practice, which, don't forget, means that your boss is paying for it out of his 'wage'. I won't go into all the costs involved, but it will probably be more like 13,000 per year. You can't compare it to the cost of your degree, as that was probably paid by your local authority - all you would pay is a small tuition fee 'top-up'. You'd find that if you applied to do most degrees privately funded, such as a mature student does, they are also going to be pretty expensive!

As I said, I do sympathise with you - to promise you training and then not deliver must be very disappointing. As a TP you can go 'dormant' so retain TP status and just have a visit to check everything before starting a new student. Has your boss given you any idea as to whether it could just be temporary, as finances improve? Or is time the issue? Try to talk it through and see if there is any compromise to be reached.....good luck!

Re: Breach of contract and TP status??

PolkaDotty — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:03:48 GMT

Thanks, I know i'm stuck a bit between a rock and a hard place. BVNA unfortunately weren't very helpful with this matter. But i will definately try booking an appt with a local solicitor.

Thanks for the advice. x

Re: Breach of contract and TP status??

Claire Cameron — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:56:18 GMT

Hey

Really sorry to hear about your situation

Did you speak to the legal team at BVNA? I've always found them really helpful. If they weren't for you try contacting a local solicitor they will give 30mins free advice which might just give you enough for what you might need.

Sorry I cant be more help, I dont know huge amounts on employment law, one of the employers on here might know a bit more