TEA BREAK CARERS IN HOT WATER
Staff deny leaving vulnerable woman
Two carers were sacked after they were accused of abandoning a vulnerable woman and going for a cup of tea.
Angela Tweedie and Mary Connolly are alleged to have walked off for an hour while the female – who is partially blind and has learning difficulties – was at a leisure centre.
The pair were supposed to be supervising the 30-year-old while she took an exercise class.
Council off icials launched an investigation after the woman’s mother made a complaint to social work bosses.
Now Tweedie, 47, of Crookston, Glasgow, and Connolly, 49, of Hamilton, have been sacked by East Dunbartonshire Council after an internal probe.
Investigators took statements from witnesses to the incident, which happened earlier this year.
Both women – who have around 20 years’ service as care workers – deny they left the woman, who is from Bearsden, near Glasgow.
One source said: “The woman told her mum that her carers had left her unattended.
“She was furious and made a complaint. Her daughter has very bad eyesight and is disabled so it’s important that she receives appropriate care.
“The council spoke to everyone, including people on duty at the leisure centre in Kirkintilloch, to get to the bottom of what happened.”
The source added : “The investigation took a couple of months. It was very thorough and stressful for everyone.
“It divided people and caused difficulties for some staff.”
Tweedie and Connol ly are appealing the council ’s decision to fire them.
It’s understood an appeal hearing will take place next month.
Tweedie said: “This is all alleged. I was dismissed but I think it was very unfair, really harsh.
“I’m actually appealing the decision and my case comes up next month so I don’t know if it’s worth talking to you just now or after.
“The woman was in an exercise class but we were standing at the door. She was in my sight the whole time. “They alleged that she was left on her own, which was untrue.”
Connol ly added: “It ’ s being investigated and my case is coming up in a couple of weeks so no comment.”
East Dunbartonshire Council’s Ann Davie said: “We do not comment on individual members of staff.”
The woman’s family also declined to comment.
The woman was doing an exercise class. She was in my sight the whole time