Council admits negligence

Worcestershire Council has admitted negligence in the case of a
former social worker who was forced to leave work due to
stress.

Thelma Conway, formerly a residential social worker at a home in
Redditch, developed stress after management changes and
instability.

She left work in February 1998 while the home was under the
control of the former Hereford and Worcester Council.
Worcestershire Council has admitted negligence on its behalf.

Unison, the public sector union, said the case was the fourth
stress claim against the council in 18 months.

But a spokesperson for the council said that all successful
stress claims were against the former body, and current problems
with employee stress were no worse than anywhere else.