August 17, 2010
Employers have been warned that measures must be put in place to stop staff being targeted by violence following an abused care worker’s recent payout.
Ms Hunt, a care worker from Winslow, was awarded £12,500 after it was found that her employer, Swan House care home, had failed to assess the health and safety risks or adequate training needed to deal with aggressive patients.
In 2005, 56-year-old Ms Hunt was alone in the home’s dementia unit, helping a patient to the toilet, when she was pulled into a headlock and punched repeatedly by another patient.
Although she managed to reach an alarm and alert other members of staff, Ms Hunt suffered a trapped nerve and severe neck and shoulder problems.
She was later forced to give up her job due to the nerve damage and welcomed Swan House’s out-of-court settlement for its safety failings.
One in three care workers are currently assaulted every year in Britain and campaigners are calling for tighter safety regulations to halt the worrying trend.
“Many staff also face verbal abuse and aggression, but a large number of attacks still go unreported, so the real figure is much higher,” said Steve Brazier, Head of Health for UNISON’s South Eastern Region.
“We want to see more measures put in place to protect care workers, including risk assessments and correct staffing levels.”
Workers that have suffered a similar fate to Ms Hunt are encouraged to seek legal advice and challenge their employers as soon as any violent situation occurs.
