Sacked Telford charity worker denies allegations
A support worker was sacked by a Telford charity after being accused of failing to make further checks on a young person after he banged his head, a tribunal heard.
Carol Poloviezer, from Telford, was also alleged to have left a new staff member on her own to cope with four young and disabled people, which she denied.
The allegations were made at Birmingham Employment Tribunal as Ms Poloviezer made a legal claim for unfair dismissal against Action for Children of Acorn Way, Shawbirch, which also runs the Telford Stars. The charity provides short holiday breaks for young and disabled people plus those suffering other disadvantages.
Mr Michael O'Sullivan, operational director for the charity, alleged in his written statement that Ms Poloviezer left a new staff member on her own to supervise four disabled young people for at least 45 minutes.
"She failed her duty as a shift leader," he alleged. Mr O'Sullivan also alleged Ms Poloviezer failed to carry out further checks "to ensure the well being of a young person" after accidentally banging his head, which left a red mark.
A further allegation was that Ms Poloviezer did not follow the correct procedure of reporting the injury.
Ms Poloviezer, of Mitchell Way, Madeley, denied the allegations, complaining she had been treated unfairly and said she had not done anything wrong.
She said she had told staff about the head injury and said she had monitored the person for suspected concussion.
"Head banging had been an accepted part of the young people's behaviour," she claimed.
In reply to the "reduced staffing" allegation involving the four disabled people, Ms Poloviezer said she had to leave to support a colleague to book in mediation in the office and had left a connecting door open in case the new staff member needed help.
Tribunal judge Mr Charles Camp is to make a decision at a later date.
