How on earth can they get away with this?

[OhHeyOwlFace]

I'll try (and probably fail!) to keep this brief.

I started a new job less than 2 months ago. Just part time. For a very large well known company and in the care sector - however .. I am not a carer. My role is to work alongside them to an extent

Job going well. Great feedback, no issues. Until 3 weeks ago when I raised a concern about a carer. I overheard her verbally abusing a very elderly resident with severe dementia, she was clearly rough handling her too as I heard distinct slapping noises (but I did not witness this) I am 100% sure of what I heard spoken though, as I stood on the other side of an ajar door.

I was shocked and upset and immediately reported it as a safeguarding concern to my manager. She told me to write it down but not to name the carer at all in my letter

I did this and a day later, another manager (who runs the care floor) followed me into a kitchen and asked what had happened. I told her and she said ' that's my best carer, I have never heard anything like this before,' and 'you've never worked with dementia patients before have you?' with a snapped on her face and shaking her head. She made it clear she did not believe me.

two days later, I was called to an investigation. I gave my summary of events to two managers and was told I would not be informed of the outcome of the investigation. (Fair enough I suppose)

The carer in question has never been removed from the care floor as I've seen her on the premises ever since

But I've been moved from my duties ever since reporting. Given jobs such as cleaning out cupboards and moving things from one office to another. Sent home hours early because they had nothing for me to do. Forbidden from going into the care floor where the majority of my work takes place.

I asked why I was being punished but was met with a shrug.

This has gone on for the past few weeks and yesterday I received a letter from my manager inviting me to a probationary meeting on Tuesday. To discuss concerns about my performance. These concerns were listed and they are - without exception - made up, totally fabricated. One of the points - to give an example - says ' you clocked out early on Thursday 26th' ... I DO NOT WORK ON A THURSDAY! Another point said ' you went for a walk.' .... I am flummoxed. I've never 'gone for a walk.'

There were zero concerns about me prior to me reporting a safeguarding concern and I've never experienced this in 35 years of working

So I'm obviously being stitched up here and I understand that. They're removing the problem and that's me. The carer remains as they are very short staffed - who knows?

So I shall resign of course. That's not in doubt but how? How can they do this? The village manager is going to be in on my 'meeting' and therefore she's complicit in what has happened

I have reported this to the CQC - the care equivalent of Ofsted I suppose. My workplace were reported last year and visited - and are now 'requiring improvement' in the areas of safety and leadership so nothing has changed

I know I have no leg to stand on as I've been there for only a matter of weeks but please - can someone tell me if this is normal? What on earth can I do to help me understand why reported abusive behaviour is not being taken seriously?

I'm not in the slightest bit concerned about keeping my job. I do not want to work there

I'm concerned about abuse going on, the managers being complicit in it and then fabricating stuff against me to get me out asap

In what world is this acceptable?

To be honest I am surprised that safeguarding awareness including how to go about raising safeguarding issues wasn't covered in your induction, I thought it was mandatory training.

Do you have a union you can discuss it with?
Keep notes of what happens and don't get goaded into doing or saying anything unprofessional at the meeting, you have behaved correctly throughout, then report as above

Hi OP, I’m really sorry you’re going through this. I’m a mental health nurse and have experience of running a care home for people with complex needs. You’ve of course done the right thing by following their reporting procedure. The service have failed to safeguard their service users despite being given an opportunity by you to do so so I would really implore your to report this abuse to the police. You can do it online via their online reporting tool. Do not attend the meeting you’ve been asked to attend, particularly if you cannot take anyone with you.

Isn't there some type of protection for whistle blowers? Might not be great in practice.

I'm sorry about what's happening to you but thank you for speaking up and reporting 💐.

Those poor residents.

https://www.gov.uk/whistleblowing/who-to-tell-what-to-expect

don’t go to the press, from this it looks like you might lose your whistleblowing rights.
i would go to a lawyer.

PS absolutely do not directly inform the lady’s husband just to safeguard yourself. You can report directly to adult social care as a PP has said. That alongside a police report and the lady’s NOK will be informed.

@Nellieinthebarn the induction was 4 days long and was only last month so fresh in my mind.

Safeguarding/ reporting concerns was definitely not covered so that's interesting

If you report to the police, unless its very serious, like someone being seriously injured, killed, or sexually assaulted, they will pass it straight on to Adult social care without doing an investigation. If you report it to ASC, then they will involve the police if it turns out a crime has been committed. A safeguarding concern does not necessarily reach the threshold for police involvement.

@FS90 thank you.

OK, I will not inform anyone connected to her directly. I wouldn't have anyway as I do not want to place myself in 'danger' - it also isn't professional of me and smacks of retaliation

I don't want to retaliate. I want to actually put it behind me, roll over and go quietly

But then a little voice says ' what the fuck are you doing?!! Get out there, speak the truth, bat off their silly made up stories about you, and inform all the relevant authorities'

I am not sure about this meeting? Do I go to one? It's some weird mash up of a probationary and disciplinary! They said if I don't provide a very good reason for not attending on Tuesday, they'll make a decision in my absence ..... yeah, I just bet you will!

As someone else said, ask (or Google) for their whistleblower policy. You need this ASAP.

Go to the meeting but record it.

Contact safeguarding again to update them, despite their being an Open safeguarding they are still failing to protecting a vulnerable person.

Everything in writing.

I'm afraid I'm not quite as quick to assume that what you heard is what you think you heard. You saw nothing and you heard slapping sounds. You also said that you heard the carer being abusive (but you haven't said what that entailed so I can't judge based on that).

Hearing slapping sounds does not equal someone "clearly rough handling" for example a dementia patient could easily be slapping themselves or even slapping the carer - and the carer could be firmly telling them to stop. I don't know if you have access to care plans but that could even be a known and recorded behaviour. It could appear in the individuals notes for the day or an incident form.

The way your company is handling your complaint does sound poor. If the managers investigated and were happy with the carers explanation and lack of any injury on the alleged victim then they could have explained to you . I do think you might have been quick to throw around accusations depending on what you heard verbally which of course might have been totally unacceptable.

@Nellieinthebarn I will report to ASC tomorrow so that'll be both CQC and them done.

@Winter2020 I have left the slapping sounds off my report. Could have been anything I suppose but err it was slapping. But maybe it was the resident slapping the carer? I cannot be sure

What am I sure about? The abusive language used. The tone of voice. The rough cruel voice. The words. What was being said

I could list it all out here but no real need. It was disgusting vile language and I am not mistaken.

This is why families have cameras in the rooms, I witnessed similar but nothing came of it, I also know paperwork was forged by another carer,who got sacked but then reinstated. I ended up resigning, I couldn't work for those people anymore and was branded a troublemaker.

@Winter2020 and yes, I was quick to report (to say 'throw around accusations' sounds a bit odd to me? I have no axe to grind, I don't know this carer)

What I am is someone who can't condone what went on.

@MissMoneyFairy sounds familiar! But I still can't understand why. Why is abuse acceptable? Why is the person flagging it up effectively sacked?

Firstly well done for standing up for the residents you did the right thing. Secondly contact the press, the police, cqc whoever will listen and don't stop. Good luck op

Absolutely report to social services. I'm a senior manager in social services and we deal with this kind of alert daily and take it extremely seriously.

Thank goodness there's people like you out there Op. People prepared to speak up. Thank you, on behalf of all the vulnerable people out there who can't speak up for themselves.

Nothing to add other than a massive thank you for standing up for the vulnerable residents. You're a good person.

If it’s a disciplinary, then you have a right to be accompanied https://www.acas.org.uk/disciplinary-procedure-step-by-step/step-4-the-disciplinary-hearing

Because some health workers are mean and hate the residents and their jobs, they get no supervision, the manager doesn't care and is only interested in making a profit. My manager was regularly told about staff but their defense was we need them,we're so short staffed.

Tell your manager (or whoever is railroading this meeting) you are seeking legal advice.
That should cause them to pause and understand that they can't bully you into submission. Even if you don't plan to, it might give you the time you need to speak to the council and regroup.

Wow, they sound like a bunch of pigs

The fact that they need improvement do backs you up.

Blimey

I would totally phone the police/CQC/The council. And whatever else.
I hope you find a better job or your part time busines becomes full time and more successful.
Sorry what you went through. You sound great and you absolutely did the right thing.
When I have watched those undercover care homes programmes, I am in shock and disbelief, so you really are doing the right thing.

You hadn't previously disclosed what had happened verbally and from your further information yes that sounds totally unacceptable so yes you should stand by your statement with CQC.

What I was skeptical about was making judgements based on slapping sounds when you have no idea who is doing the slapping (if anyone and the sound wasn't something else). But you have now clarified that even taking this sound completely out of consideration you have evidence of abuse so yes persue it with CQC or social services.

I wonder if ACAS can advise on the employment side e.g. raising a concern and then being badly treated. I don't suppose you are in the union?

As someone whose darling mum had unexplained bruising while in respite care - thank you.