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A social worker from Worcestershire has received £90,000 damages following an accident in a residential home for adults with learning disabilities. Debbie, aged 39, from Redditch, Worcestershire, secured the compensation through her membership of target="_blank" title="UNISON">UNISON with the support of leading personal injury specialists Thompsons Solicitors.
At the time of the accident in October 2003, Debbie was working for Worcestershire County Council as a social worker at a residential home in Bromsgrove. She was working alone, helping one of the clients to get into bed – this was a client who was known to have mobility problems. As the lady got out of her chair, she lunged forward to grab her zimmer frame and fell backwards and sideways onto Debbie. As a result of the accident, Debbie injured her lower back and has since suffered depression; she has not returned to work.
Health and Safety at Work
Debbie comments: "I'd like to see more manual handling training taking place for people like me. I'm so grateful to my solicitor and to UNISON; it's so important to join your union. I would have given up without their support."
Adrian Gregson, Branch Secretary for UNISON comments: "Hopefully the successful outcome of Debbie's case will encourage others to turn to their union's free legal help scheme for support when accidents like this occur."
Representing Debbie, her solicitor Elizabeth Ford from Thompsons Solicitors explains: "Over a period of 12 years, Debbie had only been on one manual handling course. Also, there were substantial notes to show that this lady at the home had poor mobility and a history of falls but still Debbie was left to work with her one-to-one. Given the fact that Debbie has been unable to return to work, the compensation is fully justified."