A "WHISTLE-BLOWING" carer who was unfairly sacked from her job at a York rest home has been awarded more than £10,000 in compensation.

Now Pauline Bell is hoping to resume the career she loves - with a little help from North Yorkshire's Chief Constable Della Cannings.

An employment tribunal ruled that Ms Bell should be paid £10,209 by Parkside Rest Home in Bishopthorpe Road. The money relates to lost earnings at Parkside and also in two other jobs - one as a relief carer for City of York Council.

The tribunal also raised concerns over a continuing reference in her Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) record to unjustified allegations about her treatment of a resident at the home.

The hearing was told that no one would employ her as a carer while the reference, placed there by North Yorkshire Police, remained with the CRB.

Tribunal chairman David Sneath said it was "very worrying" and, while its removal was discretionary and a matter for the police, he said: "We would encourage the chief constable to take a close look at this matter."

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said today: "If the tribunal writes to the chief constable, that letter will be considered. But it would be inappropriate because of confidentiality to discuss anyone's CRB records."

The Evening Press reported last month how Ms Bell, 54, of Rufforth, claimed she had been victimised after blowing the whistle on a fellow carer, Robert Hodgson, whom she suspected of abusing an elderly resident at the home. Mr Hodgson denied abusing anyone.

Ms Bell said Mr Hodgson made counter-allegations of abuse against her after she was named as the source of the complaint by the home owner, Mary Crockatt. Ms Bell said her anonymity should have been protected under public interest disclosure legislation.

Police investigated the allegations, but decided not to prosecute anyone.

In the previous tribunal hearing Mrs Crockatt strongly denied Ms Bell was a whistleblower, and said she was dismissed for failing to provide basic care to the resident and failing to report the incident quickly enough.

Mr Sneath said the tribunal was satisfied the principal reason for the dismissal related to Ms Bell's conduct, not that she had made a protected disclosure. He said she had been sacked "without even a nod in the direction of the statutory procedures" and without any opportunity to put her case.

Ms Bell said after the latest hearing: 'It's great. I'm very pleased, and am glad it is all over.'

Mrs Crockatt declined to comment.

Concern over council's role

THE tribunal expressed concerns about the role played in Ms Bell's treatment by City of York Council social services and the national Commission of Social Care Inspection.

It claimed such agencies had, "in a cavalier way," blighted her career in the care sector.

The tribunal had heard how two meetings had been convened by York social services to discuss issues, but Ms Bell had not been invited or given an opportunity to put her case.

It heard that Mrs Crockatt was given the impression at the second meeting that she should sack Ms Bell, although she was also advised to seek guidance from employment advisers.

Keith Martin, head of adult services at City of York Council, said today: "We need to look closely at the chairman's report and consider any further action we need to take."

Updated: 09:39 Wednesday, November 02, 2005