Staff at mental health charity mocked the disabled, says ex-worker

‘I sat shocked at what I could see and hear. I walked out of the office to the staff kitchen, where I cried’

STAFF at the mental health charity Mind mocked people using their services, calling them “druggy bums” and “wastes of space”, a tribunal has heard.

Catriona Robinson, 49, says she was forced to whistleblow after she broke down in tears at the sight of a coworker mimicking a disabled woman.

After drawing attention to the abuse at the Monmouthshire branch in Abergavenny, she was “isolated and marginalised”, she said, and became the victim of “blatant bullying”. She said she had no choice but to quit.

She told the tribunal: “I witnessed foul language daily and prolonged episodes of raucous laughter. Some discussion or behaviour was markedly unprofessional, with the inclusion of management.

“Conversations included referring to clients by nicknames, scoffing and laughing at their behaviours.

“Long discussions were held about clients having lied about their condition or diagnosis, articulating there had been ‘nothing wrong with them and their being druggy bums and wastes of space.’

“Staff commented that clients were awarded more money in welfare benefits than they received in wages.”

After complaining, Ms Robinson was “ostracised and ignored” by her colleagues in the housing team who would “roll their eyes” when she spoke and treat her with “passive aggression.”

Ms Robinson said that on one occasion she saw co-worker Gail Morris do an offensive impression of a physically disabled woman while other staff members laughed. “I sat shocked at what I could see and hear. I was very distressed. I walked out of the office to the staff kitchen, where I cried.”

The tribunal was told that one worker described the impression as harmless, adding, “Gail would never mean offence to anyone; it was banter, a bit of fun.”

But Ms Robinson said the office changed after she complained. “I was desperately lonely, sad, isolated and each day I came to work faced with passive aggressive abuse and sometimes blatant bullying.”

Ms Robinson raised her concerns with her line manager but said she chose not to raise a formal grievance because she was not “physically or mentally well enough” to do so. She also alleged there were “unethical comments, uncouth, racist comments and profane language” in the office.

She later resigned, claiming she was constructively dismissed.

She rebuffed the suggestion that swearing and “gallows humour” was the staff’s way to “decompress” from their work stresses.

Mind Monmouthshire denies the claims and says Ms Robinson resigned because she was in breach of contract.

The hearing, at Cardiff magistrates’ court, continues.