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A residential social worker has won £140,000 compensation for stress-related illness. Thelma Conway has agreed the settlement with Worcestershire Council for whom she had worked for more than 20 years.

Public sector union Unison, which began the legal action on Conway's behalf, says that the settlement is based on the injury she suffered, together with claims for loss of earnings, loss of pension, further medical treatment and retraining costs.

The union says that Conway became a whistleblower when she uncovered poor management practices at the residential home where she worked.

As a result, after an investigation, the manager resigned and Conway experienced a long period of instability, with various acting managers in charge. In September 1996, Conway was told that she was in sole charge.

"She received no additional training and she complained to her employers about problems at the home that were also highlighted by inspectors, who recommended that the home needed a permanent and more experienced manager,'' said a Unison spokesperson.

Conway said: "It was the worst four years I've ever lived through. It could have been avoided if someone had simply listened. I kept telling everyone that I was struggling and I felt I was letting people down. Normally I am a very confident bubbly person but stress destroyed a lot of things in my life. It still upsets me when I think about what it has done to myself and my family."

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison said: "It is important that employers learn from these cases, and it is sad that this is the fourth time that Unison has taken a successful stress claim against Worcestershire Council".

A spokesperson for Worcestershire Council said that they had no statement to make other than that they had admitted liability.