Insults and Intimidation: Tense Moments Reported by a Social Worker in Elche

Moments of tension have been experienced by a social worker in Elche, who has reported verbal assaults and intimidation to the Elche Local Police by a user family of the Social Services Department. In fact, the complainant has requested the Elche council to act as a private prosecutor in the complaint, as the incidents occurred during her working hours.

The incidents took place on June 30, when M. reported "verbal and intimidating" assaults by a family of users she attends to. All this while the victim was at work. The social worker experienced tense moments that led her to require "urgent medical assistance" due to a "significant anxiety crisis and nervousness," according to sources close to the complainant.

This is not the first case experienced by this social worker, but it is the one that has led her to the extreme of filing a complaint, according to sources close to the affected person, who explain that this has been "a recurring situation, especially this past month at the workplace." Due to the tense moments, National Police officers had to be present, according to the same sources.

From the Official College of Social Work of Alicante (Cotsa), they defend this worker and assure that "despite the anxiety and fear of repercussions, she must be at her job" and praise her as "a great professional, dedicated and committed." The college warns that this situation "puts not only her but also the rest of her colleagues at risk" and calls on the administration to "provide the necessary security" in this sector. In fact, the complainant has expressed her anger that professionals "continue to work under pressure, fear, or insecurity."

Cotsa reminds "the obligation" of public administrations "to ensure the integrity of their workers" and expresses "our total rejection of any violent act towards any professional." The college insists that "no act of violence is ever justified" and shows their support for the Elche colleague.

The college insists in a statement that this case "is not an isolated case and for which a danger bonus is not enough" and points directly to the Administration: "it is their mandatory responsibility to provide security to social workers who perform their duties with the few resources available and the slow administrative response."