COUNCIL BULLYING: Whistleblower Martin Morton offered his job back by town hall chief

5:00pm Friday 15th April 2011 in News By Leigh Marles

COUNCIL BULLYING: Whistleblower Martin Morton offered his job back by town hall chief COUNCIL BULLYING: Whistleblower Martin Morton offered his job back by town hall chief

THE leader of Wirral Council has made an unprecedented apology on behalf of the authority for "ripping off" vulnerable people in its care.

He also promised swift disciplinary action against those responsible for bullying a social worker out of his job - and has even offered him his position back.

A clearly furious Cllr Jeff Green writes on his blog: "I want the people responsible for this shameful, disgraceful episode in Wirral’s history to be disciplined."

The astonishing turn of events took place at last night's meeting of the council cabinet, when a confidential report finally revealed the disgraceful treatment of whistleblower Martin Morton.

Mr Morton said: “I’m a bit shocked. I think that from a very negative position, something very positive can come.

“I’ve had my issues with investigations in the past, because I think we’ve been ill-served by them in terms of getting to the bottom of just what happened.

“Everything that’s being investigated now is what should have been investigated and checked through the proper internal processes at the beginning.”

He added: “For me, it’s the start of a new beginning. I don’t know what it’s going to look like. But what we’ve been looking for is justice.

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"I didn’t know what justice felt like, but I’m beginning to see it now on the horizon.”

The "overcharging policy" Mr Morton exposed of elderly and vulnerable people living in homes at Bermuda Road, Curlew Way and Edgehill Road, all in Moreton, went on for seven years.

He had raised his concerns several times with his managers, but he was ignored, bullied and driven out of his job.

He was paid £45,000 to leave the service and keep quiet.

Instead, in November 2008, he approached the Globe and we helped him tell his story.

Days after our exclusive report, two senior officers were suspended but, after disciplinary hearings, were reinstated.

The Globe never let the overcharging policy nor the scandal that surrounds it disappear, and eventually the council was forced to admit its errors and repaid 16 care home residents £250,000.

Last night, council leader Cllr Jeff Green was clearly shocked and angry that a public servant could have been so poorly treated.

Writing that Mr Morton was "treated disgracefully", he says: "On behalf of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, I apologise for the mistakes of the previous administration to both Martin Morton and the people we ripped off.

"Martin Morton worked for the council since 1990 in a department that exists to protect people who cannot always look after and protect themselves.

"He tried his best to fulfil that duty but was prevented from doing so.

"The report into the allegations Martin Morton made was considered by cabinet, albeit ‘in secret’ due to the impending disciplinary action we will be bringing against those responsible.

"I want the people responsible for this shameful, disgraceful episode in Wirral’s history to be disciplined."

He continues: "I can say that for as long as I am leader, there will be no whitewash in Wirral and no more cover ups.

"The future Martin Morton’s of Wirral Council should have the confidence to use the Whistleblower Legislation to full effect.

"However, we did agree to lift the secrecy on the covering report.

"I was delighted that Martin had the courage to attend tonight’s meeting and, when I invited him to speak, he was clearly moved and possibly relieved that a traumatic part of his life is almost over. But not quite.

"Cabinet tonight agreed to offer to re employ Martin Morton. Why?

"Because we should stick by the people who do the right thing for our residents."

Comments(37)

statictom says...
10:32am Fri 15 Apr 11

A great result at long last. Lets hope its not just Jeff Green playing politics with the local elections just days away.
I wait to see what action is taken against those responsible, that is if they have not already gone on EVR.

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bigfoot says...
10:40am Fri 15 Apr 11

'brought to book'?How? as mentioned early some of the perpetraters of this bullying have now left DASS

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ArdalMcFardle says...
10:41am Fri 15 Apr 11

Well I think the only job is to take over from Cooper when he sails off into his guilt edged sunset. Of course there is the issue, would anybody want to work in such a madhouse. If I had a hat I'd take it off to Mr Morton. He is a great man, a man of integrity, resolve and courage. All the things the senior officers in DASS are quite clearly not.

A man who in the face of a quite obscene smear campaign stood firm. Whilst others complicity went along with managers disgraceful tactics , he refused to be silenced . The word hero is bandied about all to often these days, but Mr Morton truly deserves that accolade .

Yes the timing of the report would appear to be politically motivated, but Mr Morton has been vindicated on every level possible. The people of Wirral should be rightly proud of a man who stood up to wrong, who spoke out on behalf of the vulnerable and who NEVER gave up.

I do hope the former director of DASS is reading this.

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Natasha Eubank says...
10:42am Fri 15 Apr 11

We, as Wirral residents should count our stars that we have a man like Martin Morton to speak up for vulnerable people. Without his sacrifices, both professional and personal, the pervasive air of arrogance and contempt within the Department of Adult Social Services would continue unchecked, as it has done for many years.

Foulkes,McLaughlin,R
oberts,Williams & Bridson - This happened on your watch. You turned a blind eye to this despicable sequence of events, and, in doing so, also turned your back on the most vulnerable people on Wirral and on the man who tried to put a stop to it. You have all lost any semblance of credibility that you may once have had, and now, unlike your behaviour to date, you need to do the honourable thing and resign. Wirral is ashamed of you.

But we are proud to count Martin Morton as one of us.

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West Wirral Reader says...
11:01am Fri 15 Apr 11

Mr Morton is finally vindicated; I wish him very best of luck, and why not make him head of this department? He clearly knows how the place should be run?

Well done to the Globe also for keeping on at this.

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Toryman says...
11:39am Fri 15 Apr 11

But who would ever want to employ and trust a "snitch", "grass" "tell-tale"?
Who would ever want to employ and trust such a person? "Whistleblower" is just the politically correct term for a nasty, malicious, vindictive person that wants to undermine someone else for their own gains. Such a person will never find true employment or peace of mind as there will not be anyone who will ever trust them completely again. They will always be remembered as someone who is untrustworthy, and one in-whom you could never say anything to in confidence.

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Natasha Eubank says...
11:40am Fri 15 Apr 11

You're just a utter moron

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Toryman says...
11:44am Fri 15 Apr 11

Thanks, Natasha.

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Natasha Eubank says...
11:48am Fri 15 Apr 11

You're welcome. Moron.

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West Wirral Reader says...
11:50am Fri 15 Apr 11

I agree with Natasha.

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ArdalMcFardle says...
11:52am Fri 15 Apr 11

I think somebody's been on the sauce again. It's nice that Ex DASS managers have time to come an here and continue to spread their insidious bile whilst channeling the spirit of Jeremy Clarkeson... 'Political correctness gone mad ?" The last refuge of the moron.


Let's turn that around the correct way...
"The Manager who covers up abuse of vulnerable people are nasty, malicious, vindictive people that want to undermine someone else for their own gain. Such people will never find true employment or peace of mind as there will not be anyone who will ever trust them completely again. They will always be remembered as someone who is untrustworthy, and one in whom you could never say anything to in confidence."

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bigfoot says...
1:03pm Fri 15 Apr 11

Toryman-what a load of balls he spouts
I think he has special needs!!

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West Wirral Reader says...
1:14pm Fri 15 Apr 11

If he has got special needs, bigfoot, then he's lucky Martin Morton has helped straighten out the very department he'll be looking to for help...

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craftyfran says...
1:30pm Fri 15 Apr 11

Having worked with Martin many years ago, I am delighted to finally see the council doing something right for a change. Martin is one of the most dedicated, professional, honest people I know who worked with vunerable people. I would like the council not only welcome him back, but also offer him a more senior position. The vunerable adults in Wirral would benefit a great deal with him in charge. Having worked in the field of Learning Disabilities for many years, it is sickening to think that the people Martin were trying to protect had been treated in such an appalling way. Martin Morton, you are an honerable man. I wish you well, whatever you choose to do.

As regards to the comment left by Toryman, Heswall. You obviously don't have any idea about what whistle-blowing is about. In this case it was done to protect people who can't speak or stand up for themselves. People that were being taken advantage of. I really hope that if you ever found yourself depending on others to support and protect you, there would be someone like Martin standing up for your rights.
Fran Coles

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spenser says...
3:11pm Fri 15 Apr 11

Bigfoot-re your 1040 post-''some''

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piggymalone says...
3:24pm Fri 15 Apr 11

Wonderful news, just a shame that the main culprits have taken their pay-outs and disappeared into the sunset.
However if Jeff is true to his word, there may be a few more yet to join them.
Martin, please consider seriously taking up the job offer, social services needs people of your calibre. Toryman is on his own. He obviously does not kinow the details of the case in question so should keep his big mouth shut.

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Spiffy says...
3:33pm Fri 15 Apr 11

Natasha Eubank wrote:
We, as Wirral residents should count our stars that we have a man like Martin Morton to speak up for vulnerable people. Without his sacrifices, both professional and personal, the pervasive air of arrogance and contempt within the Department of Adult Social Services would continue unchecked, as it has done for many years.

Foulkes,McLaughlin,R

oberts,Williams & Bridson - This happened on your watch. You turned a blind eye to this despicable sequence of events, and, in doing so, also turned your back on the most vulnerable people on Wirral and on the man who tried to put a stop to it. You have all lost any semblance of credibility that you may once have had, and now, unlike your behaviour to date, you need to do the honourable thing and resign. Wirral is ashamed of you.

But we are proud to count Martin Morton as one of us.
Seconded. Well said Natasha.
...
Name Shame & Discipline...nothing less. Give us back some faith in Accountability and Justice.
...
Very well done Mr Morton. You've paved the way for others to tread so I do hope we see more wrongs righted. Almost a decade of your life bringing justice to those who couldn't fight for themselves. We're all very proud of you...be very proud of yourself.

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kingqueen says...
4:24pm Fri 15 Apr 11

Well done Mr Morton; an honourable man who has sacrificed a lot for his ideals and for the protection of residents.

I do hope that where it is determined that officers who have now left the Council are culpable in this abuse or in the failure to act on it that an appropriate referral is made to the Independent Safeguarding Authority, so that these individuals don't make the same "mistakes" elsewhere.

http://www.isa.homeo
ffice.gov.uk/default
.aspx?page=397

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hugo2008 says...
1:37pm Sat 16 Apr 11

I think that it is the quite right the decision to offer Mr Moron his job back.

I also think that Martin might want to take on another very worthwhile task and that is as a liaison officer between, potential whistle blowers and the Council Senior Executive Management.

He has after all demonstrated a very exceptional level of professional integrity and a degree of working to a high level of honesty both with those above him and those below in status terms.
Certainly one to trust implicitly, and a bonus is he knows who the back stabbing low life characters who totally lack any credibility in any form of management position or for that matter employment in public service.

One word of warning to Wirral Council in general both elected and employed, if this is political sneak move because of the election looming on the doorstop, the public of Wirral will be on your back to the death.

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hugo2008 says...
1:42pm Sat 16 Apr 11

Please can I make a plea to the contributors to our local press, and in particular this column.

Do not under any circumstances re-act to "Toryman of Heswall" the poor demented
soul has neither wit or wisdom, and only make feeble utterances for effect.

Just smile and move on.

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TheLooseCannon says...
2:35pm Sat 16 Apr 11

Congratulations to Martin for his unswerving belief that he must “do the right thing” no matter what was thrown at him over the last decade.
.
Congratulations to Simon Mountney, the only Wirral Councillor to take up Martin’s fight following the publication of the PIDA report.
.
Congratulations to Jeff Green for keeping his promise of a proper investigation once Labour lost its control over the Council. It would have been easy for him to have given it a much lower priority than it deserved.
.
Congratulations to everyone who has stood by Martin – his family, those who were already his friends, his former colleagues, and those still being victimised by the remaining ‘bad apples’ within the Council. The latter deserve special praise for having the courage to speak out when the investigation required them to.
.
Congratulations to the Investigator who tried to make his interviews with Martin (which I was asked to attend) as searching, but relaxed and friendly as circumstances permitted.
.
It is now imperative that those who were involved in the enormous cover-up that has gone on for so many years within the Council be removed, not just from their current posts, but from the Council, and as quickly as possible. There should be no ‘easy option’ of quietly retiring, only to continue such appalling practices against others.
.
There also have to be penalties against those who ‘bailed out’ once they saw the writing on the wall, often with healthy bonuses.
.
And let’s not forget where this started – with a small number of vulnerable people being unlawfully charged by Wirral Council for seven years. The finances of those same vulnerable people are STILL in the hands of those who abused them. That cannot be allowed to continue and MUST be put right as soon as alternatives can be arranged with the office of the Public Guardian.
.
The Conservative-led cooalition has made a great start on this, and the momentum should not be lost.

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statictom says...
4:53pm Sat 16 Apr 11

Social services need people of the calibre of Martin. They need the likes of him to overturn the CQC report which still shows Wirral to be one of the worst departments in the country in the way they treat the vulnerable people they care for. To be graded POOR and the future outlook shown as UNCERTAIN, just about tells you how poor they are. Lets see Martin in a senior post and make the changes that need to be made NOW.

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ArdalMcFardle says...
9:10pm Sat 16 Apr 11

John Webb was allowed to escape, others too. Let the people who remain and kept their heads down now experience at least some of the anxiety that Mr Morton felt for so long. However being a good man he wouldn't wish that on his worst enemies. Me? Well I'm obviously not as good a man as Martin. I want a clean sweep, I want a department that has not been fit for purpose for years to make the changes that this investigation necessitates. Heads should roll.
And yes there are STILL people being bullied in WBC. It must stop. Enough is enough

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bickyboy says...
10:41pm Sat 16 Apr 11

The only thing that surprises me about this story is that a man with Jeff Green's experience in politics and public life was "shocked" to hear that the bullying of staff by managers goes on in the public sector. Theres little opportunity for frank exchange of views between managers and staff about the inefficiencies of their government departments. Instead, an internet newsletter will be released on a regular basis telling everyone how successful the organisation is in everything it does, trumpeting the achievement of targets and providing no opportunities for challenging rank bad procedure. Anyone who stands up and shouts too loudly that things are going wrong and that the public deserves a better service is likely to find themselves witchunted into at best an unwelcome sideways move, at worst early departure, and that such things can happen in this day and age is a disgrace. This latest twist in the case of Martin Morton looks like a very good result for all those who acted honorably; but I wonder how many similar but less high profile cases have gone under the radar without coming to the notice of someone who, like Jeff Green, has the power to turn back the clock and at least partially right a wrong.

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PaulCa says...
10:53am Sun 17 Apr 11

With this outcome, there could be far-reaching positive effects for whistleblowers / bullied employees who are constantly being targetted by failing managers, not just on Wirral but much further afield. As Bickyboy commented, it's extremely rare to see a council leader stand up and be counted - ok there could be a political imperative here also - and the circumstances suited it. BUT, if we disregard that and look at the positive effects of such a finding, it bodes extremely well for the thousands of employees up and down the country who are suffering from the following combination of factors: the 'flexibility' of internal policies and procedures drawn up by the CIPD (Human Resources departments' professional body) in tandem with the unions. These are actioned and massaged deliberately to ease 'problem people' or genuinely ILL people out of the door without too much fuss or fanfare; line managers' inability / unwillingness to act upon allegations / disputes at an early stage and the preference for adopting a defensive position aimed at covering up the problem, usually backed up by their own bosses who go in for concealment; UK gov currently stripping away employment rights (e.g. protecting rogue employers by removing employees' tribunal option at 1 year and extending it to 2 (ever noticed how perfectly good employees are so often 'released' on day 364 of a contract?); No legal definition of 'bullying' in the UK - 'bullying' is 'bolted on' as an afterthought in other recognised cases such as unfair dismissal or variations of discrimination - there is therefore no direct legal remedy, and any 'bullying policy / procedure' is reliant upon employer good will and therefore prone to be ignored / abused by managers almost without exception.

That said, Martin was magnificent and won a massive victory not just for himself but for disabled / vulnerable people and vulnerable employees everywhere.

The next scandal to envelop this council will be that of the "special charging policy" - that some would call more simply "theft" and the associated disability discrimination, found by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. It's currently being looked at, but I doubt that the investigator could trump the ruling by the above commission, so it will almost certainly be the next big moment for the Leader of the Council, whoever that may be at the end of May 2011.

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Wirral_leaks says...
5:13pm Sun 17 Apr 11

Well said Paulca. I do hope the managers in DASS who hide behind policies to bully staff and rip off clients to make themselves look good are now experiencing a chill down their spine. It's still happening and it needs to stop. The senior officers who indulge in this behaviour should be feeling very nervous indeed. Well done Mr Morton.

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GRISTAL says...
7:36pm Sun 17 Apr 11

Martin I have always held you in the highest esteem and have said to very many people how after attending a number of your presentations how wonderful those who where present felt, all the information you gave to us was invigorating and filled many of us with hope for the future. Those who treated you in such a disgusing way need to be named and shamed, if this council is telling the truth about "transparency" let them prove it and tell the people of Wirral (we rate payers and voters demand to know who they are) . Councillor Green prove to us all what you said is the truth and not just a pre-election ploy for votes. Martin you and your family are such honourable people THANK YOU FOR CARING, may God bless you all

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lagoncego says...
11:37am Mon 18 Apr 11

This is a typical fault with managers at Wirral Borough Council. They often make and take decisions without consulting Human Resources to see if their decision is valid. On the other hand, there are managers that are not aware of what senior employees within their department are doing. Naughty naughty, a good manager should know at all times what, where and when their staff are or are doing.

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PaulCa says...
11:42am Mon 18 Apr 11

Couldn't be more wrong actually. The trend since "Personnel" became "Human Resources" is for HR Departments to operate as another arm of management - and therefore take an active role in the intimidation, aggression, bullying, harassment, victimisation, concealment or general avoidance of responsibility that's rampant and spreading across the length and breadth of the UK - not just Wirral.

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PaulCa says...
11:50am Mon 18 Apr 11

...I forgot - misrepresentation to councillors that "everything's wonderful in this department", as seen again and again in this case.

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spenser says...
2:15pm Mon 18 Apr 11

And senior councillors are taken in by them.

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ArdalMcFardle says...
3:48pm Mon 18 Apr 11

Maybe the should be called "InHuman Resources ?" certainly the case in WBC where "HR" surely stands for 'Harassment And Repression"

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West Wirral Reader says...
5:54pm Mon 18 Apr 11

The sad fact is there are three types of councillors at Wallasey Town Hall, and I am not referring to their political colours.

There are the keen opposition: Always noisy, mostly ineffective.

The bolshy power-holders (at least when Labour were in charge): Do what we say, or we'll sack you.

And the worst of the lot, the supine safe-seats (of all parties) who do bugger all, snigger at their leaders' jokes and then sit with their arms folders waiting to go home.

Go and watch a full council meeting. They're unintentionally hilarious and very, very, worrying.

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unbeleivable says...
9:03pm Tue 19 Apr 11

Lots of things need sorting out in adult services in the wirral. Start with some of the social workers and the private companies that have been given the work to place vulnerable adults. None of them do their job properly. When people try and say something its the same old story they all join ranks. Councillor Jeff Green needs to look into what is really happening in the departments.

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statictom says...
11:19am Wed 20 Apr 11

Have to agree with the above post re social workers. Since our authority was damned by the CQC report why get rid of most of our experienced social workers and replace them with nothing short of clerical assistants.
To try and sort out the respite fiasco wirral were forced to hire in social workers from other parts of the country. What a waste of money. Social services needs sorting out from the top to the bottom. We will soon be looking for a new director of social services as this one is currently only a stop gap position. Instead of wasting money lets see it spent on the premises that are used for caring for the vulnerable and disabled. Some of these are in a disgraceful condition.

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Positive thinker says...
9:41pm Wed 20 Apr 11

Martin accept your job back,as your
not wrong in doing what you did but I
Don't think there's going to be many
Job offers.

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piggymalone says...
8:27pm Fri 22 Apr 11

There seems to be objections to council services being put out to the private and voluntary sector......sorry but ther are numerous examples of such companies or organisations providing a cheaper and better service than the council service they replaced. As far as the respite service goes Tom, council have not thought of the consequences of moving these establishments around.

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