Suspension from work - help!

[LRob]

I have been suspended from my job as a care support worker in a residential house after a 'service user' made an untrue allegation against me. The service user is well known for fabricating tales about staff.

For months I, and my colleagues, have stated to our line manager that we feel vulnerable whilst working with this particular resident, yet business has carried on as normal.

I feel very angry that staff have been allowed to be victimised in this way. What rights do I have, as a council social services employee, to be protected at work from false allegations by the people I look after?

[buildersmate]

Given your second paragraph you should not feel concerned about what has happened. You should be suspended on full pay whilst the allegations are investigated - the investigation should include interviewing you (and maybe other work colleagues). When interviewed make sure that you make all the points in detail highlighted in your second paragraph. The outcome then should be communicated to you via interview (and confirmed in writing).
Unfortunately the employer has an equal duty to investigate allegations by customers as it has to provide you with a safe working environment o- so try not to feel angry. What should happen is that it shouldn't take very long to investigate and you will be back to work - having had a 'free' holiday.
Then, if the employer has any sense and there is no substance, future allegations of a similar nature will be treated as nonsense.

[LRob]

Thanks, buildersmate.

[andy-hughes]

Are you a member of the appropriate Union? If not, join now! They will send their local Representative to accompany you at your formal interviews, and make sure everything is done properly. They are experts at this sort of situation, so get them on board today.

[buildersmate]

Rather unnecessary when you can get good advice for free on here.

[Folker]

andy-hughes is right. If you are a member of a union then they will accompany you to any interviews, represent you at disciplinaries etc. Unfortunately in the care sector this sort of thing happens but if you have already made your concerns known then that will help.

Sorry buildersmate but having the help of a union is invaluable in cases like this. We can give the best advice in the world (and yours is usually spot on) but having someone real to talk to is better.