Social worker wins £140,000 in stress case

A
former residential social worker has been awarded £140,000 compensation for a
stress-related illness she developed through work.

Worcestershire
County Council admitted liability and the settlement was based on the injury
she suffered, loss of earnings and pension, further medical treatment and
re-training costs.

Thelma
Conway began work as a residential social worker at a home in Redditch in July
1994 where she uncovered bad management. The manager resigned, and after a long
period with various acting managers Conway was told that she was in charge.
Conway received no extra training and complained to her employer about problems
at the home.

"It
was the worst four years I’ve lived through. It could have been avoided if
someone had simply listened. I kept telling everyone that I was struggling and
I felt I was letting people down. Normally I am a very confident, bubbly person
but stress destroyed a lot of things in my life. It still upsets me when I
think about what it’s done to me and my family," said Conway.

Dave
Prentis, general secretary of Unison, which represented Conway, said,
"Employers have a legal responsibility to protect the health of their
employees."

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Δ

Conway
hopes to retrain as a hairdresser.

By
Mike Broad