A CRIMINAL investigation has begun into events surrounding the employment tribunal of sacked social worker Simon Bellwood.
It is understood that police are investigating a senior civil servant in relation to evidence that was either heard or not submitted during the employment tribunal.
This is the latest twist in the Greenfields children’s home controversy, which saw its former manager Simon Bellwood, pictured, dismissed after he raised concerns about the way children were being treated.
Mr Bellwood said that the problems began when he scrapped the ‘Grand Prix’ system for discipline – which led to children, and especially new arrivals, allegedly being locked up in solitary confinement for 24 hours at a time.
He had alleged that he was ‘bullied and harassed’ by his line manager Joe Kennedy while he was at Greenfields from 1 August 2006 until July 2007, and took his case to an employment tribunal in March.
But after less than three days of evidence the case was settled behind closed doors due to procedural errors in the handling of the disciplinary process. The States dropped their opposition and paid Mr Bellwood a settlement after he agreed that he was not ‘sacked for whistle-blowing’.
The manager of the centre, Joe Kennedy, was suspended days later but he has since been reinstated.
Article posted on 19th August, 2008 - 2.57pm
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