Black nurse awarded £23,603 in race discrimination case over flawed sleeping on duty investigation
Fellow Nurses Africa
23 January 2026
A Black African nurse has been awarded £23,603 in compensation after an employment tribunal ruled that her former employer discriminated against her on the grounds of race during a disciplinary investigation into allegations that she had been sleeping on duty.
Beatrice Mbonda, who worked as a registered nurse at Quarryfields Care Home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was accused of sleeping during night shifts on 9 and 10 March 2023. She denied the claims, which were made by three white healthcare assistants.
The Sheffield employment tribunal found that the investigation, conducted by Quarryfields Health Care Limited, was not full and fair. Only white staff members present on the shifts were interviewed, while five Black colleagues who were also on duty were not spoken to.
Employment Judge Ayre ruled that the respondent discriminated against Ms Mbonda because of race by failing to interview the Black staff members and by not adequately considering whether the complaints could have been racially motivated.
The judge described the omission as “surprising”, stating that allegations of race discrimination are “extremely serious and not to be treated lightly”. The tribunal noted that the home manager demonstrated a “closed mind” throughout the disciplinary and appeal processes.
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Ms Mbonda, who identifies as Black African and had been employed at the care home since August 2015, received a final written warning for gross misconduct. She was subsequently removed from night shifts, signed off sick with work-related stress, and faced the prospect of referral to the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Her appeal against the warning was rejected, and she resigned in December 2023.
The tribunal’s reserved judgment in the case Ms B Mbonda v Quarryfields Health Care Ltd (case number 1806665/2023) was published following hearings in January 2025, with the decision dated 30 September 2025. The award of £23,603.45 covers injury to feelings and related losses.
This case highlights the critical need for employers to conduct impartial, thorough and inclusive investigations in disciplinary matters, particularly where racial bias is alleged. Failure to interview all relevant witnesses or to explore potential discriminatory motivations can lead to findings of unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.
As a platform dedicated to supporting nurses of African origin and the wider diaspora, Fellow Nurses Africa advocates for robust anti-discrimination policies, unconscious bias training, and equitable processes in healthcare settings across the UK and beyond. Nurses facing similar issues are encouraged to seek advice from trade unions, legal representatives or specialist organisations.
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