Worker was ‘scapegoat’

A social worker sacked after leaving a 15-year-old sex abuse
victim alone with two boys on a fishing trip, during which she was
allegedly assaulted, has won his case for unfair dismissal.

Birmingham Industrial Tribunal chairperson Alan McCarry said
Lubhaya Ram had been made a ‘scapegoat’ by Sandwell Council.

He pointed to a general slackness in the regime at Tame Rise
Home, where the young people lived.

But Fred Smith, chairperson of Sandwell social services, said:
‘The tribunal made it clear that the council was right to dismiss
Mr Ram and I am dismayed they accepted an argument which said the
dismissal procedure was unfair.’