-A CARE worker who received a police caution for stealing from helpless disabled people in her charge will keep her job with Bury social services.

Joanne Davidson was suspended with pay from a residential hostel in Radcliffe for five months after financial discrepancies were found in the housekeeping accounts.

She confessed to helping herself to about £70 of the residents' money, but at a disciplinary hearing on January 29 it was agreed that she could continue to work for the social services department.

The families of the three mentally and physically disabled residents were shocked by the decision.

"Justice has not been done. She is still employed by social services and will be transferred to another hostel where the residents are more severely disabled and consequently more vulnerable. Why hasn't she been sacked?" asked Mrs Karen Ashworth of Bolton Road, Radcliffe, whose brother Arthur lives in the hostel.

"The amount of money taken is irrelevant. The fact is that someone who is supposed to be trustworthy and responsible has taken from vulnerable people who depended on her."

Mrs Alice Ormerod, whose 45-year-old Downs syndrome sister Lesley is also a resident, added: "It's disheartening, upsetting and wrong. The residents loved her, but she's let them and everyone else down."

It is the second time in recent years that staff have stolen from residents at the hostel. Four years ago a male care worker was sentenced to six months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to taking £1,512.

Defending the latest decision, assistant director of social services Ms Sue Lightup said such matters were treated on an individual basis and Miss Davidson's "personal problems" had been taken into account.

She added: "We are absolutely certain that the disciplinary action is appropriate to what has happened. Joanne has received a police caution and we are satisfied she has shown genuine remorse." But the residents' families claim they are being kept in the dark: social services will not even tell them whether the missing money has been returned.

Ms Lightup said: "We have made the residents fully aware of the circumstances and it is up to them if they want to tell their relatives."

The outraged relatives say their brothers and sisters are incapable of understanding what has happened.

One of them has a mental age of ten, one has trouble talking and does not understand money, and the third is mentally and physically disabled.

Ms Lightup said: "As a result of what has happened the financial procedures have been reviewed and changes made to prevent something like this from happening again."

Mrs Ashworth said the same assurances were given four years ago.

She added: "What is to stop other staff helping themselves to residents' money? The worst that could happen is they get suspended with pay. If they are threatened with dismissal they could cite this latest incident and claim unfair dismissal. A precedent has been set."

Chairman of the social services sub-committee, Coun John Costello said: "This is a purely managerial decision but I will be seeking the full details. Until then I do not wish to comment further."

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