A carer who lost her job and her home for allegedly breaking protocol by helping an elderly woman in distress was today seeking a lawyer to appeal.
Sue Angold, 51, was sacked after coming to the aid of a distraught pensioner who was soaked in urine and unable to get up to clean herself.
Responding to an alarm at a sheltered housing block, she lifted the woman on to a commode and helped her wash and change.
But Ms Angold's bosses said she had broken safety rules by not waiting for trained staff to arrive with a hoist.
Ms Angold claims she was victimised for being a whistleblower. She was sacked from her post as area manager for Sutton Housing Partnership and evicted from her home at the Seven Acres housing development, which came with the job.
She had lived there for 20 years with daughters Natalie, 23, and Sophie, 21. Ms Angold said: "The woman was crying and in an awful state. In the care profession you can't just say it's not part of my job. I did the right thing but as a result I've lost my job and my home.
"This wasn't an isolated incident. The management knew that, but were out to get me because I was a whistleblower and had raised concerns about poor leadership and how residents' needs weren't being met."
The former nurse, who had more than 30 years' experience as a carer, oversaw 10 staff responsible for 300 vulnerable residents. The incident took place in May 2010 and she took Sutton Housing Partnership, set up by Sutton council, to an employment tribunal claiming unfair dismissal, but lost last May.
Ms Angold said: "I made the mistake of thinking I could represent myself without a lawyer and get a fair hearing. It was so blatantly unfair."
She is now seeking a lawyer who can represent her on legal aid and appeal against the tribunal's decision. She said she had been unable to get a new job because of the stain on her reputation and had suffered depression and suicidal thoughts. She also wants an inquiry into the management of SHP. More than 2,400 people have signed an online petition supporting her.
An SHP spokeswoman said: "We are committed to the safeguarding and protection of our elderly and vulnerable residents. We have clear policies, procedures and regular training. In this case there was a serious breach of these procedures. Our decision was upheld by an independent judge at an employment tribunal."
SOURCE: This is London
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Are we still on planet earth? This case is mind-boggling! Imagine the chaos, if we have to check with our lawyers/advocates etc before we help someone. No wonder there are so many who would not get involved. It is safer to look the other way, it seems.
..... Andrew
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