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Original poster

I’ve been suspended for shouting at a ‘service user’.

38 replies

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 04/10/2022 19:26

Just for the record I really hate the term ‘service user’.

I’ve been reported for shouting at one of my guys. Going to have a meeting about it on Friday.

I didn’t shout. Another staff member was also there and said she’d back me up. I’ll be totally open and honest about it to my boss.

I’m just a bit bummed. I love the guys I look after, having to leave and not see them again would break my heart.

Does anyone know what might happen? I’m not banned from the building or anything, he just wants to chat on my next shift.

I have no experience of this.

Have been there four years, considered a good and reliable member of staff, but this is a new boss and he doesn’t really know me.

Also, I have autism, reading expressions, tones and body language doesn’t come easily to me so meetings like this make me anxious.

OP posts:
Alliswells · 04/10/2022 21:13

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 04/10/2022 20:04

Funnily enough there is history with the agency.

He has ‘a past’ that I am aware of. I won’t go into details.

But it wasn’t pretty. And he does know I know about it.

But that must be a red herring. I can’t see why that would cause him to lie. I obviously wasn’t going to say anything. I still have no intention of saying anything. Not my business.

Your colleague? You've got something on your colleague but you're not saying anything?

Am I reading that right?

Manekinek0 · 04/10/2022 21:15

Ottersmith · 04/10/2022 20:53

If someone reported you, you must have done something. What do you think you said to this person that triggered being reported. You have to be open to listening to what they say or you might never be aware of when you come across as mean or rude. These people are vulnerable and their families need to feel comfortable that people are being nice to them.

This isn't true. Some service users behave in ways that seem irrational. They can have very little control over their lives and may make complaints or behave badly as a way of having some control. In my experience most settings are short staffed and attention seeking behaviour was also a massive issue.

Mexicola21 · 04/10/2022 21:15

Even if you have been suspended it’s a neutral act which allows the employer room to investigate.

Original poster
TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 04/10/2022 21:17

He’s not my colleague. He’s an agency who did something disgusting years ago. It would change people’s opinions of him.

Maybe he thought I’d tell people at work. Who knows?

Maybe he’s a bit of a trouble maker? I don’t know.

Like I said, my other colleague will back me up so I guess it’s all fine.

Just bummed me out that it’s happened at all.

OP posts:
SparkyBlue · 04/10/2022 21:25

Something similar happened to a good friend of ours and like you she was very upset over it. The service user had mental health problems and was constantly making complaints about staff. Actually one of the things she said was that my friend slammed a particular door on her but in fact it couldn't have happened as the doors in question actually can't slam as they are fire doors and heavy and they gently close (I can't describe them but I hope that know what I mean) but my friend was unhappy with how her boss was handling the situation.

Alliswells · 04/10/2022 21:27

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 04/10/2022 21:17

He’s not my colleague. He’s an agency who did something disgusting years ago. It would change people’s opinions of him.

Maybe he thought I’d tell people at work. Who knows?

Maybe he’s a bit of a trouble maker? I don’t know.

Like I said, my other colleague will back me up so I guess it’s all fine.

Just bummed me out that it’s happened at all.

I'm still confused, what has the agency worker got to do with it?

Do you work alongside this agency worker?

SplashingMermaidSparkleTail · 04/10/2022 21:28

CaptainBarbosa · 04/10/2022 20:33

I'm sure all will be fine OP also your colleague is a witness so it's 2 against anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️

Also we call them service users because "client" just doesn't sit right, they aren't "paying for a service" they are being supported and helped.

Jeeze in most care homes I have seen, they mist certainly are paying for the service at an eye watering rate!

Original poster
TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 04/10/2022 21:30

It was the agency person who reported me. I was with him and one other colleague.

I thought me knowing his past may have been a reason for him saying these things. That was the only reason I could think of.

OP posts:
Queuesarasarah · 04/10/2022 21:31

Alliswells · 04/10/2022 21:27

I'm still confused, what has the agency worker got to do with it?

Do you work alongside this agency worker?

Show quote history

As the OP said, it was the agency member of staff who complained about her.

Almost certainly OP this person was trying to get their ‘shot in first’ in case you were going to reveal their secret. Presumably they need a DBS for this job so it’s not something criminal? Or were they never caught?

Original poster
TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 04/10/2022 21:35

I don’t know if they were caught or convicted.

It was a while ago. But it’s enough to make me wary of him.

It might be nothing to do with that.

I spoke to DP who’s a manager and said it’s nothing to worry about. It’ll sort itself out.

Thanks for letting me get my thoughts straight.

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 04/10/2022 21:36

Ottersmith · 04/10/2022 20:53

If someone reported you, you must have done something. What do you think you said to this person that triggered being reported. You have to be open to listening to what they say or you might never be aware of when you come across as mean or rude. These people are vulnerable and their families need to feel comfortable that people are being nice to them.

Well hope you're not on a jury with the attitude "someone said you did it so you must have"!

Alliswells · 04/10/2022 21:53

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 04/10/2022 21:35

I don’t know if they were caught or convicted.

It was a while ago. But it’s enough to make me wary of him.

It might be nothing to do with that.

I spoke to DP who’s a manager and said it’s nothing to worry about. It’ll sort itself out.

Thanks for letting me get my thoughts straight.

You need to be careful. If you know that this person may have been convicted of something then you may well be professionally required to flag this up to the home manager.
And it's all very well you being told it's nothing to worry about. There bloody well is ... A worker has told lies and made false allegations against you. The home manager should be very worried about having someone working in the home who is capable of that. Very risky. I would push for the agency worker to be reported to their agency and told not to come back.

ChaToilLeam · 04/11/2022 19:15

Has anyone in management said anything to you? If no, stop worrying. You have done nothing wrong. The person who has been making groundless accusations against you, on the other hand, should be feeling VERY worried. Time to fight back against this targeted harassment. Diarise, document, speak to management.

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