Between a rock and a hard place

I popped into one of my charities yesterday - to cast an eye over the financial situation and catch up on what's going on - only to be confronted with a staffing issue: one of the vulnerable service users had made a written complaint against the member of staff who is coaching her in applying for jobs etc.

She said that she felt quite drained and depressed every time she works with him: his manner is abrupt and she feels bullied; and it's true that the staff member lacks a number of human skills.

The trouble arises when one has to remember that the complainant is a vulnerable adult but also take on board that the staff member may have some mental health issues too.

All one can do is use common sense and apply concepts of natural justice, confronting the staff member with the nature of the complaint and giving him the opportunity to mend his ways - the first step on the disciplinary process ladder.

It's also tempting to be swayed by the financial and commercial implications if the staff member has to be dismissed in the end: but this is a secondary issue. It's also tempting to get involved, but as a trustee one is not an executive and doing so would just muddy the waters.

In the end, whatever the implications, honesty is always the best policy so we must follow clear processes and not try to subvert them however well-meaning our intentions.