I came across this article today about a homelessness officer in Wandsworth who has been suspended in relation to a complaint made against him in respect of a client.
Its alleged that he told a terminally ill woman that doctors didn't know everything and that she should put her faith in God during a religious rant he submitted her to.
Whilst I respect everyones right to hold a religious belief, its beyond the pale to me that a client in this womans position was told this by the officer. Whilst I'm a member of a union, all I can say to Wandsworth management is good on you for suspending the officer. Religion does not have any place when dealing with clients
A Parcel of Rogues
10 years ago
2 comments:
Tell that to pioneer scientists Faraday, Clerk Maxwell, Sir John Ambrose Fleming and Lord Kelvin, along with food magnate Henry Heinz, composer Felix Mendelssohn - don't even start me on the great social reformers - william wilberforce, william booth etc - looks like you can have any faith or belief so long as you're not a christian - no wonder we're in a mess.
Wandsworth are right to try and ensure that members of the public are not subjected to the religious views of members of staff. However, I think that they should also ensure that when people try and make applications for the accommodation which they are often entitled to under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 they do not have to go through long meetings with Homelessness Prevention Officers such as Mr Amachree. The real role of these officers is to prevent members of the public from making homelessness applications. In other councils they have similarly misleading job titles such as Housing Options Adviser.
Having dealt with Mr Amachree and his colleagues for many years I strongly suspect that the reason the applicant complained about him was that the 50 minute meeting consisted of him trying to prevent her from making a homelessness application such as by talking down her prospects of obtaining accommodation by that route or suggesting that she would have to spend long periods in bed and breakfast far outside her areas of choice. It may well be that she was given the impression that he did not accept that she was as ill as she said and that her doctor did not know what s/he was talking about.
Although I have no sympathy for Mr Amachree's views he has always struck me as a decent man doing a very unpleasant job. It would be harsh if he were to be sacked for doing his job whilst the people who sent him out to do it remain in place. Then again he should have seen it coming that one day he would put his foot in it and have to carry the can for the things that his managers required him to do.
It would be very interesting to hear from the applicant as to what she says happened during the 50 minute meeting.
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