A Carers Dilemma

[RATTER15]

Ok, so a few weeks ago I was sacked from my job as a carer, basically for Whistle Blowing on my manager, I knew it was coming, been there, done that, I had another job lined up that I slipped right into and I'm loving it.

The dilemma, within a few days of starting my new job, staff had told me that they had been warned that they need to be careful what they do when I am around as I will report them! news travels fast in the care industry, even my new manager said she was aware of my history as a whistle blower.

Along with the reputation as a whistle blower comes the reputation as a trouble maker! and all the homes in the area soon get wind of this!

So if I need to leave this job I have now, I think my chances of being employed locally would be almost zero. No home is without fault and anybody that is good at their job would be able to find fault, the problem is, rectifying these issues usually cost money and often staff leaving or being sacked or criticizing the manager directly.

So what is a carer to do, complain to rectify this issues and risk getting the sack or keep quiet and lose all prospects of working in the industry of care that he/she loves. and if that person is sacked, those issues remain being an issue and the carer then has lost his/her job and achieved nothing.

There is also the governing bodies and social services to complain to. however, whilst the complaint is handled confidentially, generally speaking the manager will know who has made that complaint as will the staff.

There is some protection in law for the whistle blower, however, your manager that wants you out will usually achieve this without too much of a problem, especially if you have been employed by the company for less than two years.

So far I have had one manager sacked, two deputy managers sacked and quite a few carers.

I hasten to add, I don't have any issues of great concern where I am now but it does make me aware if issues that needed action were to arise.

A Dilemma!!

[atalanta]

I have tried to read all these answers, so don't get cross if I have missed the important one which mentions Unions. Join a union. They will support you in employer/employee/manager disputes. The appropriate union will have done this hundreds of times before, and will know exactly how to go about getting things improved without you losing your job.

[RATTER15]

Many thanks everybody for your responses. I will point out that I am very happy in my current job and have no intention of going anywhere else. It was an issue that many whistle blowers find themselves in though.

Maybe my OP was a little confusing, I apologise if that is the case.

[Zacs-Master]

I think you'll find that many a police officer does.

[sherrardk]

No one likes having their vulnerable loved ones abused and mis-cared for, someone has to look out for them.

[Mamyalynne]

And most definitely no one likes someone who would stand by and watch vulnerable people being badly treated whilst supposedly being cared for.


Unless you disagree Joe?

[pixie373]

It's not "grassing" if your job is to look after vulnerable people. It's just....human.

[RATTER15]

Its Ok, Joeluke likes to leave these stupid comments for me, I think he is possibly a little retarded going by his contribution to A.B.

That's why I didn't bother responding directly to his rather childish comment. If these fools are ignored, they usually go away.

[RATTER15]

He knows I have a very low opinion of him so he tries to wind me up, it really doesn't work.

[Mamyalynne]

Take your point Ratter, but I for one feel better for replying.


I guess however old I get I never cease to be amazed at the mindset of some.

[joeluke]

So if all you did was grass on wrongdoers, why did you get the sack???

[RATTER15]

Joeluke, isnt it past your bed time? Now go away and grow up!

[Sqad]

RATTER......you have made insulting remarks about Joeluke and myself in this thread.
It would seem that you cannot take alternative views.

[jesmond]

i to am a carer and although i have never had to do this if i felt the need then i would. the whole care industry as a whole often gets a bad press and its the minority that spoils it for the ones that do really care. it is a hard job but can also be very rewarding and also there should be a need for confidentiality in whistleblowing as carers also have to maintain confidentiality in doing their job so the same should apply to whistleblowers

[pixie373]

Read the first three lines, joeluke.

[Slapshot]

Two years ago my daughter had the same scenario, she whistleblew on a "colleague" who was openly bullying a resident..... she did it because her job was to care for these people not cause them grief. She quit in the end because she was bullied out by the other staff...

Fun bit is my wife now works in the same place and after the wee anonymous letter reached the Care Commission in Scotland 80% of the staff were removed because of the bullying.... if you're there to care you care... nothing else!.... You did the right thing Ratter

[RATTER15]

Its a great shame that people like Sqad and Joeluke, will probable never understand that as carers our job is to look after our residents not protect the staff!

[Peter Pedant]

// So if all you did was grass on wrongdoers, why did you get the sack? //

Oh dear, clearly never worked in the NHS
threatening or firing whistleblowers was one of the themes in Stafford