Unfair Sacking Claim By Kerelaw Depute Head

The former depute head of a school attached to a secure unit for young people, which was at the centre of allegations of sexual, physical and emotional abuse of children in care, has claimed he was unfairly sacked by Glasgow City Council.

{mosimage}Chris Johnson, 54, told an employment tribunal he was unfairly dismissed from his position as second in command at Kerelaw School two years ago for alleged management failings. If successful, he wants the tribunal to award him compensation.

Problems at the unit for troubled youngsters came to light in April 2004 when the Care Commission produced a critical report on Kerelaw and Glasgow City Council was alerted to abuse claims.

The school and the secure unit were subsequently closed. There is no suggestion Mr Johnson was involved in any alleged child abuse.

John Legg, former head of performance standards and strategic management in social work services, who chaired the disciplinary hearing into the complaint against Mr Johnson on June 28, 2005, told the tribunal he had concluded Mr Johnson should be dismissed.

Mr Legg told the tribunal that Mr Johnson was dismissed, in particular, because he had breached council policies and procedures with regard to therapeutic care intervention and the safe management of restraints.

The tribunal heard that, at the time of his dismissal, Mr Johnson was in a “very senior position” at Kerelaw and had previously worked “across the school”. A social work investigation at Kerelaw named Mr Johnson as being “key” to the problems there. The case continues.