Greenfields: Silence is Tarnished Gold

I see that Mr Bellwood has come to an out of court settlement, with non-disclosure as one part of the deal. Evidently the States knew when they were onto a losing streak, but what did emerge suggests a dirty tricks campaign which may have involved post-dated reports, agendas adjusted etc, by some of those above him.

 

Of course, there is no suggestion of a cover-up. Never, fear, there will be an "independent inquiry" into his sacking. Watchers of "Yes Minister" will watch that with interest - think Hutton or Butler report and you may not be far wrong. The terms of the inquiry will undoubtedly be restricted and fixed so as to ensure nothing untoward surfaces.

 

"There were no questions allowed today following the statement."

 

Silence is golden?

 

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http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/03/12/107590/jersey-inquiry-promised-as-simon-bellwood-case-settles.html

Jersey: Inquiry promised as Simon Bellwood case settles

Posted: 12 March 2008 | Subscribe Online

writes Maria Ahmed from Jersey


UK social worker Simon Bellwood reached a settlement in his Jersey employment tribunal today, but a full independent inquiry will be launched into his case. The former manager of a Jersey children's care home has settled his case with the States in the middle of an employment tribunal. Simon Bellwood had claimed unfair dismissal as manager of the Greenfields secure unit. But on Wednesday he and the States issued a statement saying the matter was now resolved with mutual satisfaction.

An independent inquiry is to be launched into his sacking.

Mr Bellwood had told the tribunal he felt undermined by his line manager Joe Kennedy whom he claims did not want him in the post. The former social worker said his superior was territorial and found it hard to pass over the reins when Mr Bellwood took over control of the secure unit from him. The tribunal was adjourned for most of the day while the parties talked.

Later, a joint statement was read on behalf of the States Employment Board and Mr Bellwood.

It said that Mr Bellwood had not been sacked for so-called whistleblowing. He will receive a sum of money in compensation, equal to his statutory and contractural entitlement, but the exact figure has not been disclosed. An independent inquiry will be set up to look into all of the circumstances surrounding the termination of Mr Bellwood's employment. It is unclear at the moment what the scope of this inquiry will be. Both parties are currently refusing to make any further comment.

Mr Bellwood's case is not connected to the ongoing investigation into child abuse allegations at the Haut de la Garenne children's home.

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Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/jersey/7292570.stm

Care manager settles sacking case

The former manager of a Jersey children's care home has settled his case with the States in the middle of an employment tribunal.

Bellwood was claiming unfair dismissal from his job as centre manager at the Greenfields secure unit on the island.
 
Today, a joint statement was issued on behalf of the States of Jersey Employment Board and Bellwood , saying proceedings had been "resolved to the parties' mutual satisfaction" at the tribunal, which began on Monday.

It said there would be a full independent inquiry into all of the circumstances surrounding the termination of Bellwood's employment.
"Mr Bellwood looks forward to contributing to that inquiry and the States of Jersey welcome his involvement," the statement issued by Bellwood's advocates said. "The States Employment Board does accept that employment procedures were not followed as closely as they should have been in Mr Bellwood's case; accordingly the Board has today agreed to compensate Mr Bellwood in a sum equal to his full statutory and contractual entitlement."
 
It also said: "The States Employment Board wishes to make it clear that Mr Bellwood was not dismissed for so-called whistleblowing. Mr Bellwood also wishes to clarify that he personally has never alleged, and does not now claim, that he was dismissed because of any so-called whistleblowing on his part."
 
Bellwood began work at Greenfields in August 2006 and was dismissed in May the following year.
 
He had criticised policies including a system that involved putting children in solitary confinement at the unit. Bellwood also complained that Joe Kennedy, his line manager at Greenfields, had bullied and harassed him but neither complaint was upheld, the tribunal heard earlier this week.
 
Yesterday David Le Quesne, the chairman of the tribunal, had to order Madeleine Davies, a senior human resources partner at the States of Jersey, to hand over notes of interviews she held with Greenfields staff in connection with Bellwood's complaint.
Davies had refused to give the documents to the tribunal without an order, saying to do so would have compromised her "integrity".
Today Le Quesne expressed concerns about the new evidence, saying it sat "uneasily" with Ms Davies' witness statement. But he turned down a request from the media to have the documents released to the public. It is believed the documents will now form part of the inquiry into Bellwood's dismissal.
 
There were no questions allowed today following the statement.