Hafal’s injunction threat

On September 11^th 2015 Hafal Chair of Trustees Elin Jones threatened me with an injunction. The threat was made in order to prevent me contacting AMs – primarily Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford AM – with my genuine public interest concerns about Hafal.

After chatting with my family I decided to make Elin’s threat public by mentioning it on Facebook and Twitter. I wrote that: “no member of the public should ever be threatened like this: politicians are there to serve us and are accessible to everyone.”

Within a few hours of publishing the posts I received an e-mail from Hafal’s solicitors. They asked me to remove the posts stating that Hafal may protect itself by taking “injunctive relief” – another threat.

I did not remove the posts. No “relief” was taken – more Hafal money wasted on solicitor’s fees.

Elin’s threat prompted a number of my former colleagues to get in touch with me which was kind and greatly appreciated. All were shocked by the injunction threat. Some shared their bleak experiences of working at Hafal and were happy for me to share their views anonymously and in the public interest.

Comments included:

• “They are a terrible company to work for.”
• “The fact that you have been threatened with an injunction speaks volumes.”
• “Anyone with any spirit and independent thought leaves Hafal eventually and often, unfortunately, in difficult circumstances, the list of casualties is endless.”
• “Hafal eats away at you like nothing else I’ve experienced. I used to be quite a confident person but Hafal stripped that away and I feel like I’ve been left with a cloud over me and my professionalism called into question.”
• “After a grievance brought by myself, Hafal senior management offered me counselling. This action left me feeling isolated, alone and with nobody to turn to. I have no doubt the offer of counselling was deliberately done to make out I had a mental health issue. I now know that offering counselling is standard practice for anyone that brings important concerns to light.”
• “Hafal took all my confidence away and questioned the person I am. When I told a senior member of staff that I felt bullied I was offered counselling instead of the alleged bullying issue being dealt with directly. Working at Hafal also had a massive impact on my family; at one point I seriously thought my long-term relationship with my partner was over because of all the stress at work.”
• “It’s about time someone spoke out. They can’t be allowed to treat people the way they do, it’s disgusting. I’ve bumped into two former colleagues in the last few weeks both of whom loved their jobs but couldn’t take anymore of Hafal and so have left.”
• “I had a horrible time at Hafal. The managers I worked with were dishonest and unprofessional. How they handle funding and treat service users as well is, in my view, disgusting and I couldn’t take it anymore. Their conduct can’t go on; it’s people’s lives they are messing with.”
• “I never expected to end up suffering with mental health issues because I worked for a mental health charity.”

On October 9^th I wrote to Hafal Chief Executive Alun Thomas. I included virtually all the quotes above in the letter. In addition, I asked him 13 legitimate public interest questions on a range of issues raised in discussion with some of my former colleagues. Alun still hasn’t responded or even acknowledged receipt of the letter which I think is disappointing and unacceptable.

Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford has, however, acknowledged my letter; the Welsh Government’s External Assurance Group are currently determining whether an investigation is warranted.

If you would like to share your public interest concerns about Hafal in confidence please e-mail me at: john.gilheaney@btinternet.com