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?

How far up the chain have you went. I have a horrible feeling I know the company as a close friend is a director of a luxury high end care home company who refer to their villages, and I can sssure you she’d never ever tolerate this.

the issue is they have autonomy to an extent, at a local level, but also standards to adhere to. And it could be the manager at this site is already in dodgy ground, so covering up, and the carer will deny and it seems she’s previously been seen as a good employee.

id go up the line. All the way up. Send an email. Explain what you’ve explained here. Blow the whistle properly.

@Winter2020 I maybe should have been clearer tbh. Slapping sounds I had to discount becomes I didn't see this. The words and language and tone - that's the main thrust of my complaint really. And the chances of me being stood there on the only time this carer ever did this? Rare I'd say.

Not in any union sadly and not allowed to take in representation to the meeting which isn't union.

So that's a shame

While this is clearly very poor in terms of safeguarding practice and should be investigated, there are some pretty massive jumps going on here.

You didn't actually see and have formed a very set conclusion. It needs to be investigated but anyone who works in a care home will have been hit by residents. It's very common when people are confused.

Embarrassingly my gran once gave a work colleague a shiner of a black eye. She was the most lovely gentle woman but dementia can present in strange ways.

I'm not defending the care home because it sounds like there should be much better policies in place and how they are dealing with it raises red flags, just offering another perspective.

@Staunchlystarling the village manager knows and clearly condones what has gone on. I've gone no further than her.

She's new to the role. They got rid of the last manager after a poor CQC rating. Also new is my manager and the care floor manager. All new to role within the last 6 months or so

@HowYouSpellingThat10 please read my posts before commenting.

This is NOT about hitting

You may not be part of a union but I would seriously consider ringing around them, telling this story and seeing if one will send a rep for your meeting. You might just find they will help you out for this occasion.

OP - is this “care village” in Cornwall?

@BeeCucumber nowhere near! But worrying to hear there's more out there!

Having elderly parents and a dad who has dementia but still at home thankfully this story really terrifies the life out of me. Its exhausting advocating for people especially when you're gaslit by managers.but it must be done.

Absolutely raise it.

Do you remember the Winterborne scandal? We need more whistleblowers like you willing to out their head above the parapet.

@Brightredtulips don't be scared! There'll be really good care homes out there I'm sure and the way forward - should not come to anything like this! - is cameras in rooms.

That way, abuse cannot hide

I've worked as a nurse and a carer in a few nursing homes and there are always staff like this. Disgusting vile human beings who are on a power trip. There is a way to deal with people with dementia and that isn't it.

Thank you for speaking out and sorry you are being treated this way. It's never going to stop as long as carers don't need qualifications and are paid peanuts.

You need to raise an urgent safeguarding with the Local Authority responsible for the area in which the care home is. I would do this first thing tomorrow morning. I would hope Duty Social Workers will pick this up as a matter or urgency.

I whistle-blower in a similar industry and exactly the same response happened to me, I'd been in the job over 10 years blemish free and I was put through the most horrendous investigation which included people following me during my work across the county, checking up on visits I'd made to care homes. It was truly horrific but once you threaten the reputation of any organisation you will be removed. It's wrong on every level.

You should take some legal advice on the dismissal because I suspect you are legally protected as a whistleblower - one of few circumstances when someone with under 2 years service is protected from dismissal.

@butterfly0404 sorry you went through all that. What a horrible time you must have had

I will indeed report it to the council tomorrow. I didn't realise until this thread that that was something I should be doing. I'll also raise it further outside of the facility

I do realise that they will have spoken to this carer and she will have said ' no I did not say that!!' so this is very much a case of my word against hers

But I am sure of what I heard and they didn't even follow any safeguarding procedures whatsoever by removing her and therefore mitigating the risk whilst they 'investigated' (hollow laugh at that!)

@MouseMama I 'think' it's more a complaint than whistleblowing? I don't know

Plus I could never work there now. This isn't about me trying to keep this job - I will resign this week before they find that OH WHAT A SURPRISE! - I've failed my probation

Well read this and you might feel differently about it:
https://www.gov.uk/whistleblowing

clearly you were reporting wrongdoing in order to protect the health and safety of those in the care home.

I am not working in a care home but have heard that people working there are often totally uncaring and some do abuse people or make the job with so less effort that people fall off bed at night ( bed has to be apparently secured on the wheels somehow), a single night carer on 30 people with various needs, some people from the patients very demanding how to be dressed, making fuss, so the carers try to just rush the dressing and other procedures, lack of accountability....some dementia patients get rude and aggressive themselves - I would not wish a care home nor care work to anyone who is not a caring person at heart - better leave

@MouseMama thanks for that - I'll have a good read through so I'm clearer that it is in fact whistleblowing

My only motivation is to protect those who are unable to protect themselves

Well done for reporting this and thank you for sticking up for the resident.

I'd be inclined to take legal advice before you attend the meeting. Either a solicitor or check to see if you have a free legal advice helpline with any insurance that you have - often house insurance offers it. You can talk through the whole situation with them and they can advise you on the necessary steps. They'll advise you too on whether or not you can take a representative in with you - I'm not sure the company can actually prevent you from doing so?

By writing to you on Friday and giving you a meeting date of Tuesday, I think they're trying to catch you off guard and not give you much time to look into your rights.

I know when I had problems with a former employer, my solicitor advised me to document EVERYTHING. Every conversation I had with the boss, I was instructed to email him and say 'Further to our conversation today, in which we discussed X....' so that every time we spoke, I wrote the script of our conversation back to him.

Of all the things you've told us about here - the allegations and criticisms which they have made against you - is this all in writing or verbal? Have you written to them to rebuke their allegations? Again, a legal representative will advise you more on how to deal with this.

It's absolutely disgraceful that they would not investigate/discipline this member of staff but would rather punish you for speaking out.

Please let us know how you get on.

You can always take a witness with you to these meetings. I think it's a legal requirement for them to allow it.

I'm in a union but I don't work in the care sector. However, personally, I would not attend hat meeting without an advocate, either a union re or a solicitor. If they insist you go, make it a no comment interview until you are permitted that advocate. You need a second pair of ears to hear what's going on. They could try and seriously discredit you.

Keep copies of the paper trail, in case they go "missing".

I am in awe of you OP, standing up like that for the resident. Many would turn a blind eye. I think you must accept your job is gone, but keep pursuing it. Best of luck x.

As said before ACAS are a great resource. They might be able to get you a good advocate too

@Helen1625 thank you for that

The first I knew about the criticisms against me was yesterday evening - I'd been out all day and came home to the letter - deliberately sent to arrive on a weekend

Nothing in writing prior to this. Nothing ever flagged up to me about my performance.

This letter states I clocked out early on a specific date. A date I don't work

That I 'went for a walk' - utterly baffling to me

'We will discuss your attitude on the care floor' - ah this can only be relating to the conversation with the care floor manager in the kitchen (see my first post!) but I've genuinely no idea.

All my interactions with residents are exemplary. I pride myself on being kind and compassionate

So nope - I've never had a 'chat' where my behaviour has been flagged up

But I have spent the past fortnight since making this complaint being kept out the way and given silly jobs like cleaning out cupboards and being sent home early

So this was always coming with hindsight

Are you certain a friend cannot attend with you?
Prob not allowed to secretly record, but can install record app on your phone and put in pocket or on table. So you can at least use to document meeting later.

Go to meeting, otherwise they are in the right. Don’t sign anything without advice.

Contact your council Adult Social Care Safeguarding. They can be total waste of time, but might help too.

At many places there is cover up culture, and employees are all friends and relations & do cover for each other. It’s very difficult to get justice … that school scandal in Doncaster. Abusing disabled kids and multi year investigation & so far no arrests. Situation there entire care crew were family & relations, scamming, abusing, stealing kids medications and not recording anything. “No evidence “

whistle blowers, like you, all fired.