A jury has heard how two members of staff at a nursing home walked out after arguments with the manager.
Activities co-ordinator Susan Scott told Bradford Crown Court today about two incidents involving upset colleagues at the Elm View nursing home in Calderdale.
Mrs Scott said she got on fine with manager Faheza Simpson, but she described how one nurse at the home had walked out after she heard her say: “I don’t have to be spoken to like that.”
“That was it,” said Mrs Scott.
“She went and I never saw her again.”
During another incident Simpson told a member of staff to take a resident back upstairs because it didn’t look as if the woman had been dressed properly and her hair combed.
Mrs Scott said the staff member looked cross and after she came back down she left in her car.
But Mrs Scott, who had been promoted to activities co-ordinator after Simpson took over the home, described how her work involved entertaining and stimulating the residents with activities and games and she told the court that the home was a happy place.
“The point being that Faheza Simpson through you wanted these residents to maintain their dignity and continue as human beings,” suggested Simpson’s barrister Michelle Colborne QC.
“Yes,” replied Mrs Scott.
Simpson, 49, of Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth and the home’s former owner Philip Bentley, 65, of Woodthorpe Drive, Sandal, Wakefield, have both denied neglect charges relating to four elderly residents who suffered pressure sores while staying at the premises.
During questioning by Bentley’s barrister Sam Green, Mrs Burton agreed that Simpson was ‘stricter’ than previous managers at the home and a lot of staff didn’t like that.
“Mrs Simpson was brought in to turn the home around and improve it wasn’t she,” said Mr Green.
“Yes,” said Mrs Scott.
“And in doing what she felt she had to do to turn it around and improve it she didn’t necessarily win the universal popularity contest,” he added.
“No,” said Mrs Scott.
The court heard that the home’s inspection rating had risen from zero meaning poor to two stars representing good within months of Simpson taking over and Mrs Scott agreed that morale was good because things were improving.
The trial continues.
