Social worker failed to tell employer she was close to mental collapse, court told

A former social worker who claimed a mental collapse was caused
by her workload increasing dramatically, failed to inform her
employer she was suffering stress, a court heard.

A high court judge has reserved judgement in the case of Maureen
Pratley, who is suing for damages after claiming she worked 100
hours per week following promotion by Surrey council to a case
manager for older people.

Pratley said she contemplated suicide after being promoted in
1994 because her caseload of older people in the Leatherhead area
doubled from 75 to 150.

She received treatment at a Priory clinic in London after going
off sick from work in 1996. She was eventually sacked two years
later, and has not worked since.

John Norman, representing Surrey council, said Pratley, of
Honiton, Devon, concealed her state of mind and the extent of her
workload from the council.

“Here we have an employer who encouraged discussion, and Ms
Pratley did not make any use of this at all,” he told the
court.

Mr Justice Buckley is expected to give his decision later this
month.