Tribunal finds protected disclosure outlining concerns about employer’s care team ‘messing about’ was the ‘real reason’ for sacking
8 September 2026
A personal assistant has been awarded more than 35,000 after a tribunal found he was sacked for reporting concerns about his employer’s care to social services.
The Sheffield tribunal found that while Mr L O’Flaherty was supporting Mr S Timmins with his physical and social needs, he became “concerned” about the “conduct” of two other personal assistants.
O’Flaherty alleged they were “trying to control” Timmins, not turning up on time, taking him for unhealthy food and failing to meet his care needs, and urged Timmins’s family members to contact social services.
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Timmins’s sister, Ms Fisher – who was found to be friends with the two personal assistants – told O’Flaherty to report the concerns to social services. However, despite giving O’Flaherty her blessing to report, Fisher summarily dismissed him a few months later.
The tribunal found his disclosure to social services – rather than the conduct allegations later made against him – was the “real reason” for his dismissal. Employment judge Miller found Fisher was “unhappy with the claimant causing trouble for her and her friends by reporting them to social services”.
O’Flaherty was awarded...
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