Cardiff manager loses dismissal case

A social services manager who refused to discipline a
whistle-blower has lost his claim for unfair dismissal.

Neil White claimed he had been asked to carry out “morally
indefensible” instructions by his council bosses.

White was sacked last summer for gross misconduct after refusing to
discipline Beverley Bush, who had expressed concern over alleged
misconduct at the council-run Hazelcroft residential home for older
people, where she worked.

But an employment tribunal in Bristol was told that White had
failed to carry out orders and divulged confidential
information.

A recent highly critical joint review of Cardiff social services
described the handling of a council investigation into allegations
of misconduct at Hazelcroft as an example “of all that is
dysfunctional within the authority”.

White stood by his decision not to discipline his colleague and
said he was not surprised by the findings of the tribunal.

He is the second senior social worker to be dismissed by Cardiff in
recent months. Charles Faber appeared on a TV documentary outlining
his fears for the safety of children cared for by social services
in Cardiff. He too was sacked by the council, and lost his claim
for unfair dismissal in December last year.