A DUDLEY social worker who accused her Sandwell Council employers of overloading her with cases after returning from sick leave and of delaying responses to her complaints, has lost a compensation claim for constructive unfair dismissal.

Birmingham Employment Tribunal judge Mr Alan Tickle rejected Samantha Thornton’s compensation claim but told her that the council had hardly come out of the matter “smelling the roses.”

Miss Thornton of Moncrieffe Close, Dudley, joined the council in 2006 and was a member of The Leaving Care Team.

She said she suffered from stress, loss of sleep and panic attacks and was off work for six months.

The tribunal was told that on returning to work at one stage after a long absence Miss Thornton decided to work three hours a day to help her “settle back in.”

But she faced five cases, amended plans and fell behind with her work.

She accused the council of disregarding her welfare and not giving her the support she needed. She also complained about council delays in dealing with her grievances.

She eventually resigned – prompting her compensation claim for constructive unfair dismissal.

The council opposed Miss Thornton’s compensation claim and denied the lack of support accusation.

At one stage Mr Tickle admitted he was confused over the caseload facing Miss Thornton on her return to work.

“I am not getting the picture you are trying to paint,” he told her.

But Mr Tickle admitted Miss Thornton had a difficult and demanding job with a heavy responsibility which was always in the public eye.

He said there had been significant delays by the council in responding to Miss Thornton’s grievances and that the authority had “hardly come out of the matter smelling the roses.”

But he said there had been no fundamental breach of contract and that the council’s attitude had not been deliberate.