Leading Liverpool Educational Psychologist Wins Fight to go Back to Work

Bullying in the workplace

10/12/2007

One of Liverpool's leading educational psychologists is celebrating a stunning victory after she was reinstated to work during an appeal against dismissal - only days before her case was to be heard at an employment tribunal.

Yvonne Price, a popular and highly regarded member of Liverpool Children's Services' educational psychology team was reinstated to her role in November 2007 by elected members of the City Council. The elected Councillors' made a decision to re-instate Ms Price even before her appeal against dismissal had been fully heard.

Following her reinstatement, at an ACAS assisted conciliation meeting, the Council confirmed that it had rescinded the decision to dismiss Ms Price and would not continue with the disciplinary process. All charges were dropped and the Council agreed to pay compensation for the action taken against her which led to dismissal.

Despite an unblemished record of employment Ms Price was dismissed following a 12 month suspension over five allegations of gross misconduct cited by senior officers in the Council as being falsification of records, not following proper procedure and taking leave without approval.

Ms Price fought the allegations through her union the Association of Educational Psychologists, whom she was elected to represent as an official union representative in October 2005.

It was following this election that Ms Price claims the attitude towards her from senior officers in the Council became hostile and that her position of union representative was the source of spurious allegations against her leading to bullying.

Senior officers claimed they had been in receipt of a complaint about Ms Price from a head teacher of a primary school. However this complaint was shown to have been fabricated. It is alleged that this fabrication was made in order for senior officers to justify their actions against Ms Price.

It is also alleged that evidence Ms Price had submitted to the investigating officer at the Council, as part of the internal investigation, had been deliberately omitted and that there had been a failure to include other crucial witness statement evidence that supported Ms Price's case.

Employment Solicitors

Liesel Whitfield from law firm Irwin Mitchell who represented Ms Price said: "we are delighted that Yvonne can now go back to the role in which she has done so much good work over the years in the city."

"These charges against her should never have been brought and it is to the detriment of the City that this experienced and valued member of Liverpool’s education community has been denied the ability to perform her role by a number of senior officers employed by the City Council."

Stuart Moules regional officer for the Association of Educational Psychologist’s claimed: "what we have achieved in Liverpool is a stunning and complete victory. It was achieved by individuals who were prepared to stand up to bullying and unfairness and who fought, against all the odds, to expose hypocrisy and deceit. Their dignified and unwavering determination, in the face of corporate hostility, keeping faith with a colleague and friend whose abilities and talent shone through, is something I will not forget."