NHS boss jailed for lying on CV

A 44-YEAR-OLD who lied about his qualifications to land one of the top NHS jobs in Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed.

Lee Whitehead had been appointed director of planning and modernisation at Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust (PCT) after falsely claiming he had a doctorate and Master's degree.

But Whitehead left his £78,000-a-year job in disgrace just six months later after his lies came to light and the police were called in.

Now Whitehead is starting a 12-week prison sentence after pleading guilty to obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception and making a false instrument.

Whitehead had applied for the job in November 2006, claiming he had a first class science degree, a post-graduate science degree, a PhD in psychology, and that he was a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

But the father-of-two really only had a second class science degree.

Paul Kay, prosecuting for the Department of Work and Pensions, said: "The post-holder was not required to hold either a Master's or a PhD, or be a member of the BPS.

"But clearly these assisted him in getting the job."

North Staffordshire Magistrates heard a PCT worker first raised suspicions over Whitehead's qualifications in April 2007, after he used the title "Dr" in his voluntary role with mental health charity 2Care.

Whitehead told the PCT he had studied at the University of London and King's College, but the institutions had no record of him being awarded a Master's or PhD, and the BPS had no record of his membership.

And when he was asked for proof of his qualifications by PCT chief executive Graham Urwin, a by-now desperate Whitehead showed him a poorly fabricated and undated PhD certificate, along with his genuine degree document.

Whitehead, from Buckinghamshire, had earned £46,578 by the time he resigned from the PCT on August 7, 2007. A disciplinary hearing later found him guilty of gross misconduct.

The court heard Whitehead had told the same lies to get his previous job with another PCT.

Paul Cliff, mitigating, said his client had 20 years' experience with the NHS. He said: "He was working there for six months, and it seemed they were pleased with his work."

Mr Cliff added that Whitehead was not thinking properly when he produced the fake certificate, as his long-term partner, who died last year, had been diagnosed with leukaemia.

The PCT has tightened its pre-employment checks since the Whitehead affair.

A spokesman for NHS Stoke-on-Trent (formerly Stoke-on-Trent PCT) said: "We weren't the first organisation Mr Whitehead made his irresponsible claims to.

"People can be assured that we have strict checks in place to ensure that all our staff are qualified to do their jobs."