I work as a carer for a private care home for people with learning difficulties and challenging behaviour. On Saturday whilst in work i was attacked by a patient/service user i was kicked in the knee full force causing my knee to buckle and causing me to fall to the floor. I had soem pain in my knee but whe i woke up sunday morning the pain was intense so took myself off the local hospital where i was informed that i have a pulled ligament and im being referred to physiotherapy. so i have first aid training tomorrow so i informed work yesterday that i would be unable to attend due to the level of pain that im in and basically its gonna be impossible for me to complete the course as there is no way i can get to the floor to practice chest compressions and the recovery position. I was told that if i did not attend the course that i would have to pay for it £65. I was quiet gobsmacked as i attained this injury whilst at work and now they are trying to make me pay for the course i cant attend due to this injury. Since this injury i have had no support whatsoever from any of management. can they make me pay for this course? Any help would be gratefully received. thanks

Simple answer, No. Can you give them a doctors note to fully back up your side of the issue?

yep i can give them a doctors note to fully back me up.

best to cover your own back. Youve informed them you cannot attend, and they have no justification at all to make you pay. They can easily reschedule it for you.

Thank You so much for your advice

Hi sazza

Has this incident been recorded in the Accident Book in work if not get it recorded in the Accident Book.

What is the procedures in place for assaults on staff by patients/service users?

Howlong have you been employed?

it has been logged in accident book. i have been employed there for over 5 years. if any violence occurs to staff there is meant to be a meeting afterwards between the staff member and the management to discuss what happened and if you feel you need to press charges etc. i was offered no medical attention at all from the management. i completed relevant documentation e.g. incident reports, behavioural monitoring forms and a copy of these have also been sent to cssiw.

I was told that if i did not attend the course that i would have to pay for it £65. I was quiet gobsmacked as i attained this injury whilst at work and now they are trying to make me pay for the course i cant attend due to this injury. Since this injury i have had no support whatsoever from any of management. can they make me pay for this course? Any help would be gratefully received. thanks

No, of course they can't (unless it is there in the small print and you signed a document). Give them a medical certificate and ask them to defer the course until you are better.

just had a phone call of a colleague telling me that the deputy manager has spoke to her and said that she does not believe that i went to hospital and does not believe that i have pulled a ligament.I have no issue with this as i can easily produce a doctors certificate as proof but surely she shouldn't even be discussing me with another colleague.

Thats all you need. You have it logged. Get the doctors note and that should be it. You are correct that the manager shouldnt be discussing it, but unless the colleague is willing to make a written statement that says they did, then its best to leave that alone for now, as it will be your word against theirs.

just had a phone call of a colleague telling me that the deputy manager has spoke to her and said that she does not believe that i went to hospital and does not believe that i have pulled a ligament.I have no issue with this as i can easily produce a doctors certificate as proof but surely she shouldn't even be discussing me with another colleague.

String her along. Let her demand you refund the course and perhaps call you to a meeting. She will look a right fool when you hand over your sick note with "Pulled ligament" in black and white - it's hardly something that can be faked!

i'd sit on that until the dep manager states it as your friend won't recall a word of it if she becomes a witness, it's always good knowing what your managers really think as it gives you the time to get the evidence to discredit them and put them on the back foot, you should also explain if they do go for the money that you were injured on their premises and as they owe you a duty of care for a safe working environment and you will therefore suffer loss it could result in you pursuing the matter further.

If they do take it put in a carefully worded letter to challenge to have a paper trail just in case they are not good employers