Is There A Statute Of Limitations On A Complaint Allegation?

WoodruffsDad

I entered a detailed thread on this matter a few days ago but I've not received much response so here's a very basic question on the same topic.

My wife is a warden in local authority sheltered housing scheme. A complaint has been made against her by a former resident who moved out of my wife's scheme more than 5 months ago.

Is there not a time limit on complaints? Can a complaint be raised against my wife by someone whose most recent knowledge of the affairs at my wife's scheme is more than 5 months old?

Roobarb73

I'm not aware of any statutory time limit, but if I was investigating it I would be asking why it's only coming to light just now.

ohreally

Has she kept her trade union rep up to date with developments and timescales?

WoodruffsDad

Roobarb73 wrote: »

I'm not aware of any statutory time limit, but if I was investigating it I would be asking why it's only coming to light just now.

The reason is that the complainant is a vindictive person who is using the local authority complaints procedure to pursue a personal vendetta!

My wife is a local government employee. The complainant is still a council tenant albeit no longer resident in my wife's scheme.

What can my wife do apart from take the flak?

WoodruffsDad

ohreally wrote: »

Has she kept her trade union rep up to date with developments and timescales?

Yes, definitely but the union's attitude is to wait for this complaint to be settled and then possibly counter-claim against the complainant for harassment as this is the second (frivolous) complaint she has made against my wife, the first one being just before she moved out 5 months or so ago. The previous complaint was not upheld. This is "revenge" but it's making my poor old other half ill with worry!

Roobarb73

I would be asking the same questions - if this was such a big deal, why has the person kept it to themselves for 5 months? If (and I'm not saying they do) they did have a genuine complaint against your wife, I could perhaps see why they wouldn't want to say anything while they were resident in the scheme, but to wait 5 months? And make the employer fully aware of any history between her and the complainer, are there any other employees/witnesses who can speak to the relationship between your wife and the resident or any vendetta?

ohreally

JulianCBrown wrote: »

The previous complaint was not upheld. This is "revenge" but it's making my poor old other half ill with worry!

I can appreciate this is a worrying time. I suggest she calls her union regional officer and appraises him/ her of the persisting nature of the complaint and request their input to resolve.

WoodruffsDad

Roobarb73 wrote: »

I would be asking the same questions - if this was such a big deal, why has the person kept it to themselves for 5 months? If (and I'm not saying they do) they did have a genuine complaint against your wife, I could perhaps see why they wouldn't want to say anything while they were resident in the scheme, but to wait 5 months? And make the employer fully aware of any history between her and the complainer, are there any other employees/witnesses who can speak to the relationship between your wife and the resident or any vendetta?

The first complaint which was not upheld was that my wife had been abusive towards the ex-resident. The current complaint, 5 months after the same complainant has moved out, is of inefficient record keeping and, consequently, council officials are swarming like flies over my wife's files and nit-picking over real trivialities.

There are no real witnesses to the relationship between my wife and the complainant but when the first issue was raised virtually every resident in the scheme signed a petition of full confidence in my wife and presented it to the council!

A major problem here is that the complainants (husband and wife) are Chair and Vice-Chair of a tenants organisation and, therefore, carry some clout with the council. In my view they are abusing their positions of "authority" to pursue a personal vendetta.

Roobarb73

Oh that must be so stressful for your wife. How on earth is a resident supposed to be privy to "record keeping" anyway? Hopefully the council will know given the previous complaint exonerated your wife that this one is likely to be a load of nonsense too but they obviously have a duty to investigate it anyway. I hope it's resolved quickly, and surely the old battleaxe can't keep dreaming things up when she moved away months ago, so hopefully that will be the end of it.

WoodruffsDad

Roobarb73 wrote: »

Oh that must be so stressful for your wife. How on earth is a resident supposed to be privy to "record keeping" anyway? Hopefully the council will know given the previous complaint exonerated your wife that this one is likely to be a load of nonsense too but they obviously have a duty to investigate it anyway. I hope it's resolved quickly, and surely the old battleaxe can't keep dreaming things up when she moved away months ago, so hopefully that will be the end of it.

I think the problem will drag on! Mr. & Mrs. "Battleaxe" are very vindictive people and have already vowed that if this complaint is not upheld they will take it to the Local Government Omnbudsman. They are determined to "get" my wife and no-one knows why they dislike her so much!

The problem is that the council are treating this very, very seriously, probably because of the complainants position as tenants representatives.

It is a very stressful time and my wife is considering resignation though she knows that she has done no wrong.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

Tbh in a care environment 5 months is not necessarily unreasonable.

People can be ill or in long term care and it only comes out later that an issue has occurred.

Its part of the job and if your wife has nothing to worry about she should be honest and courteous in the knowledge she will be found innocent and exonerated after investigation.

Tbh your attitude if shared by your wife seems problematic and unprofessional and no doubt has added to the poor relationship