Independent review of Simon Bellwood's dismissal

01 April 2008

The Emeritus Professor at Law from Surrey University, Professor Robert Upex, has been appointed to carry out an independent review into the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of Simon Bellwood from his former position with Jersey’s Health and Social Services Department.

The States Employment Board has asked Professor Upex to investigate all the circumstances surrounding Simon Bellwood’s dismissal, and the implications these may have for the States of Jersey’s HR policies and procedures.

Before being appointed Emeritus Professor, Professor Upex was Foundation Professor of Law at Surrey University from 2000 to 2007. From 2002-2005 he was Head of the Department of Law.

He was a part-time Chairman of Employment Tribunals from 1985 to 1996 and a part-time Chairman of Social Security Appeals Tribunals from 1988 to 1991. He was Legal adviser to the Local Government Staff Commission for England from 1994 to 1998.

From 1990 to 2005 he was General Editor of Sweet & Maxwell's Encyclopedia of Employment Law .

Professor Upex was suggested as a candidate for this review by the Jersey Arbitration and Conciliation Service, and he will work from the JACS offices when he starts his review on Monday 7^th April.

It’s estimated the inquiry will take around 20 working days.

Senator Frank Walker, who chairs the States Employment Board, says “I am delighted that such an eminent professor has agreed to take on this task. The States Employment Board felt it was important to review the dismissal procedures in this case, in as independent and transparent a way as possible. We look forward to learning from Professor Upex’s findings.”

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Notes to Editors

The terms of reference for this review, which were drawn up by the States Employment Board and agreed by Professor Upex, are as follows -

1 – To enquire into all of the circumstances surrounding the termination of Simon Bellwood’s employment with the States of Jersey.

2 – To review and comment on the structure and management of employment practices and procedures in the light of the above and to make recommendations.

Professor Upex is a member of the Industrial Law Society and the Employment Law Bar Association.

He is interested in all aspects of Employment Law, particularly employment contracts, unfair and wrongful dismissal, transfers of undertakings and discrimination law.