Social Worker wins Claim for Unfair Dismissal
Steven Flynn represented Graham Hennis, a social worker who was fired by Oldham Council following the death of a man in his care. The man, known only as GS, had fallen from a bridge and died in March 2013. A coroner recorded an open verdict at an inquest into the man’s death.
A tribunal heard Mr Hennis was blamed despite there being no signs the man had suicidal tendencies which could have been picked up.
The council’s investigation into the death has now been judged to have been “seriously flawed” and began “with a mindset predisposed” to find Mr Hennis guilty.
Father-of-three Mr Hennis also had an “excessive” workload well above the council’s limit. Despite his heavy workload, Mr Hennis was willing to take on new and complex cases and showed he had a “conscientious and willing approach” to his job.
Mr Hennis said he suffered severe anxiety as a result of his treatment.
The case was reported in the Oldham Chronicle and the Manchester Evening News.
