A CARE home manager who attempted to pervert the course of justice and who drove while under the influence of alcohol has been given the go-ahead to carry on working without any restrictions.

Janyl Willis, the manager of Neuadd Drymmau care home in Skewen, appeared before the Nursing and Midwifery Council following two brushes with the law.

The council's conduct and competence committee heard that the registered nurse — who has 32 years' experience — was given a police caution in 2007 for attempting to pervert the course of justice, while the following year she was convicted at Llanelli Magistrates' Court of driving while over the limit. For this offence Willis was banned from driving for 36 months and ordered to pay a total of £415 in costs and fines.

The conduct committee ruled that the manager's fitness to practice was impaired by virtue of her caution and conviction, and that she had brought the nursing profession into disrepute, but that no sanctions should be imposed upon her.

In their judgement, the council said Willis had provided exemplary references, and that the care home was professionally run. The judgement said of Willis: "She is clearly a valued member of staff, and carries out her duties conscientiously.

"Despite these facts, the panel determines that public confidence in the profession must be maintained, and finds tha the registrant's fitness to practice is impaired by reason of the caution and the conviction.

"The panel has taken into account all the mitigation put forward on behalf of the registrant — including her unblemished nursing career of 32 years and the exemplary testimonials provided on her behalf.

"We find that no harm was caused to any service user as a result of her conduct, and there is little risk of repetition of such behaviour.

"She has shown insight into the seriousness of her misconduct."

The attempting to pervert the course of justice conviction relates to an offence of driving through a red light, and a subsequent letter written about who was driving the car at the time.

Willis told the committee that the drink-drive conviction happened after she had drunk mouthwash with an alcoholic content. She said she no longer used an alcohol-based mouthwash, and that she no longer swallows the mouth wash.