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Hi, I am new here and would like opinions and sense check.
I have two jobs for same employer. (Or I did have)-full time Firefighter Control. Part time Firefighter.
June 2022-diagnosed by in-house Occy health doctor as having CPTSD from childhood trauma.
October 2022-Member of public gains access to secure area I was working. He is armed with a machete and tries to break in. Police turn up, throw a grenade at him then shoot him dead. 10ft away from me albeit behind a window.
November 2022-Psychiatric Health deteriorates as this incident scared the life out of me. Full blown PTSD episode. Off for 5 months. I have to source my own treatment by meds from G.P. and therapy from charity.
April 2023-Told by employer my sick pay reduces to half after 6 months. Can’t cope with half money so in house doctor and manager devise a carefully constructed phased return. Doctor indicates fit for firefighting and to be in Fire Control after phased return.
April 2023-whilst on phased return was told by SLT that I must park in the car park where person was shot dead. Too much for me another PTSD episode ensues.
May 2023-Comms with HR. Why was my psychological injury from first incident not investigated? Was the risk assessment changed when they built a police station on to the fire station prior to incident occurring? Was there ever a risk assessment?Why was I told to park in the car park? I also tell them I now feel very anxious in Fire Control.
May 2023-Taken out of Fire Control put on Temp Secondment to prevention department. In meeting I ask for adjustments. As a qualified operational firefighter could they move me to another location thereby making part time firefighter full time. To alleviate the anxiety in Fire Control.
June-referred to Occy health doctor. Was told adjustments would be possible but need to verify with doctor I am fit for firefighting-understandable. Doctor confirms fit for firefighting but advises to be kept out of Fire Control.
End of June July 2023. Several meeting with management dissecting doctors reports-intrusive questions about childhood, threatened with employment termination. Referred 3 more times to the same doctor, same questions. On the last referral, emailed doctor behind my back telling lies about training records and incident records. Doctor sees past it.
July 2023 management ask for report from treating therapist. I am still in prevention and I am still unable to respond to incidents with my part time role. Despite being unethical I provide details. Manager sits on those details for 6 weeks. I was given “holiday” as excuse.
Have another course of therapy with Charity because of the way I’ve been treated by SLT. Other managers witness me crying several times. Message Occy health doctor begging for help because of the way I’m being treated.
September 2023. Raise a grievance-discrimination, victimisation, bullying. The Dr they employ says I am fit for firefighting, yet prevented from doing so. Remain on temp secondment in prevention.
November 2023. Still no outcome from grievance. Head of Safety creates personal risk assessment for me. December 2024 I am reinstated as fully operational part time firefighter.
Jan 2024 grievance partially upheld as I was not interviewed
Jan 2024 interrogated by investigation officer. Ends up shouting at me-makes me cry.
now successful 5 months responding to incidents with positive welfare reports by line manager.
May 2024. Several meetings asking for adjustments, Ask if I could be permanently given the job I’m doing on temp secondment. All no. Despite being told there is a vacancy in prevention…Want to send me to PTSD specialist. I agree if it helps
Throughout process I have been begging for resolution and extra therapy.
June 2024 Case review hearing, given visibility of report from therapist I’ve never met. Therapist reports, he has not met me, he has not seen my medical records, he has not been part of my treatment plan. Undocumented meeting between SLT and this therapist. Therapist reports I should not be responding to incidents. SLT then take me back off the run rendering me unable to respond to incidents. Indefinitely
June 2024 Raise another grievance. Discrimination arising from a disability, bullying, victimisation.
Tell my employer I’m not refusing to do anything to maintain full time employment. I am just scared of feeling like I did when in Fire Control.
14th of June Lodge complaint with ACAS.
18th of June sat in meeting with SLT who are named on 2nd grievance. He answers allegations then sacks me from full time role. Due to capability. I remain on modified duties for part time role.
I go to GP and get signed off for “work related stress”
I’m currently working out my full time notice. I’ve been told by HR that my grievance is not a grievance and therefore cannot appeal.
I am appealing dismissal on the account of I do not agree with it. In the meantime have found alternative full time employment.
Outcome letter literally contains lies.
In stasis atm with conciliator. I am waiting to hear from Union solicitor however, in the meantime have created schedule of loss. Features usual standard difference in salary for old job and new job for 6 months. Standard calculation for unfair dismissal/whistleblowing etc…one thing I’ve been considering is Vento banding. I’ve currently got it sat at the top of the middle band. Leaving grand total of circa 45k.
I wanted to get the ball rolling with settlement negotiating. Would I be right with the vento banding? I’m not sure when I will hear from the Union solicitor but would I be doing more harm than good starting negotiation without them?
Thank you for taking the time to read
I have two jobs for same employer. (Or I did have)-full time Firefighter Control. Part time Firefighter.
June 2022-diagnosed by in-house Occy health doctor as having CPTSD from childhood trauma.
October 2022-Member of public gains access to secure area I was working. He is armed with a machete and tries to break in. Police turn up, throw a grenade at him then shoot him dead. 10ft away from me albeit behind a window.
November 2022-Psychiatric Health deteriorates as this incident scared the life out of me. Full blown PTSD episode. Off for 5 months. I have to source my own treatment by meds from G.P. and therapy from charity.
April 2023-Told by employer my sick pay reduces to half after 6 months. Can’t cope with half money so in house doctor and manager devise a carefully constructed phased return. Doctor indicates fit for firefighting and to be in Fire Control after phased return.
April 2023-whilst on phased return was told by SLT that I must park in the car park where person was shot dead. Too much for me another PTSD episode ensues.
May 2023-Comms with HR. Why was my psychological injury from first incident not investigated? Was the risk assessment changed when they built a police station on to the fire station prior to incident occurring? Was there ever a risk assessment?Why was I told to park in the car park? I also tell them I now feel very anxious in Fire Control.
May 2023-Taken out of Fire Control put on Temp Secondment to prevention department. In meeting I ask for adjustments. As a qualified operational firefighter could they move me to another location thereby making part time firefighter full time. To alleviate the anxiety in Fire Control.
June-referred to Occy health doctor. Was told adjustments would be possible but need to verify with doctor I am fit for firefighting-understandable. Doctor confirms fit for firefighting but advises to be kept out of Fire Control.
End of June July 2023. Several meeting with management dissecting doctors reports-intrusive questions about childhood, threatened with employment termination. Referred 3 more times to the same doctor, same questions. On the last referral, emailed doctor behind my back telling lies about training records and incident records. Doctor sees past it.
July 2023 management ask for report from treating therapist. I am still in prevention and I am still unable to respond to incidents with my part time role. Despite being unethical I provide details. Manager sits on those details for 6 weeks. I was given “holiday” as excuse.
Have another course of therapy with Charity because of the way I’ve been treated by SLT. Other managers witness me crying several times. Message Occy health doctor begging for help because of the way I’m being treated.
September 2023. Raise a grievance-discrimination, victimisation, bullying. The Dr they employ says I am fit for firefighting, yet prevented from doing so. Remain on temp secondment in prevention.
November 2023. Still no outcome from grievance. Head of Safety creates personal risk assessment for me. December 2024 I am reinstated as fully operational part time firefighter.
Jan 2024 grievance partially upheld as I was not interviewed
Jan 2024 interrogated by investigation officer. Ends up shouting at me-makes me cry.
now successful 5 months responding to incidents with positive welfare reports by line manager.
May 2024. Several meetings asking for adjustments, Ask if I could be permanently given the job I’m doing on temp secondment. All no. Despite being told there is a vacancy in prevention…Want to send me to PTSD specialist. I agree if it helps
Throughout process I have been begging for resolution and extra therapy.
June 2024 Case review hearing, given visibility of report from therapist I’ve never met. Therapist reports, he has not met me, he has not seen my medical records, he has not been part of my treatment plan. Undocumented meeting between SLT and this therapist. Therapist reports I should not be responding to incidents. SLT then take me back off the run rendering me unable to respond to incidents. Indefinitely
June 2024 Raise another grievance. Discrimination arising from a disability, bullying, victimisation.
Tell my employer I’m not refusing to do anything to maintain full time employment. I am just scared of feeling like I did when in Fire Control.
14th of June Lodge complaint with ACAS.
18th of June sat in meeting with SLT who are named on 2nd grievance. He answers allegations then sacks me from full time role. Due to capability. I remain on modified duties for part time role.
I go to GP and get signed off for “work related stress”
I’m currently working out my full time notice. I’ve been told by HR that my grievance is not a grievance and therefore cannot appeal.
I am appealing dismissal on the account of I do not agree with it. In the meantime have found alternative full time employment.
Outcome letter literally contains lies.
In stasis atm with conciliator. I am waiting to hear from Union solicitor however, in the meantime have created schedule of loss. Features usual standard difference in salary for old job and new job for 6 months. Standard calculation for unfair dismissal/whistleblowing etc…one thing I’ve been considering is Vento banding. I’ve currently got it sat at the top of the middle band. Leaving grand total of circa 45k.
I wanted to get the ball rolling with settlement negotiating. Would I be right with the vento banding? I’m not sure when I will hear from the Union solicitor but would I be doing more harm than good starting negotiation without them?
Thank you for taking the time to read
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