So things have been going reasonably okay for me despite some major reorganisations at work. A few bonuses havecome my way for going above and beyond during the changes.
However, two weeks ago when I was having a day off, someone I thought of as a friend e-mail my line manager saying I had acted negligently with a client with special needs. I got back on Monday and presented a package of information via audit trail (I'm techy and audit-trained) to show I'd acted in a proper manner, with which my line manager was satisfied with. I'd shown I'd logged the special needs client correctly, I hadn't neglected the case and had informed the correct person and responded to the client given the best response I had available who gave exactly the information we needed. People will note I've discussed my NHS Right to Choose upcoming AD-HD and ASD diagnoses sessions on here in the past.
As the matter had been escalated by the person I thought was a friend, it was my line manager who dealt with the issues. The "friend" doubled down, saying I'd sent an incorrect response to the candidate and basically ignoring the other points in the evidence.
It turned out delays were due to the system we were using, with the client query not offered to me by our systems to process until four days after it arrived. Also, the person I informed admitted to me they had not passed on the query as due to other duties they'd forgot - they at least apologised. That other person didn't question my actions. Also, a senior manager on that team looked at the case on the log but failed to act shortly after I added it and even after being emailed by another manager. As regards the response my friend said I should have used, it was not on the list of responses we had available and only to members of her own team.
The person who forgot has not been questioned despite the data I provided. Noting his error was minor and the case was seen by more senior people, he and I have basically shaken hands on his part. It was a human mistake done on overtime when others weren't around.
I never got an apology despite the evidence. Also, both my line manager and I both can't see why she didn't come directly to me. We were supposed to friends and a direct approach would have sorted it out in 10 minutes.
The same client popped up a week later. Apparently, no-one had got back to them. I logged the contact and this time the senior manager concerned was available. I carried out the actions asked, but I'm of the believe once again the senior manager didn't act.
As regards the friend, it's now at the two weeks stage and we're not on speaking terms now.
The thing is the two of us were close as we became buddies very quickly after I started the job. I'm missing her, but at the same time I'm pissed over her actions. The whole situation just seems to have spiralled out of control and led to an extended silence (and we all know women are the masters of silences). I think she's acted clumsily, not looked at all the data but she's not prepared to lose face by admitting she was wrong.
Other cases are being delayed due to basically the system being overloaded but there seems to be an atmosphere clients should account for this and contact us well in advance.
When I first saw the e-mail, I found myself enterring an ASD shutdown phase and blaming myself and only once I pulled round did I start to look more anlytically at the evidence. The friend, despite having a son herself on the scale doesn't actually seem to understand what Autism is and knows all about my situation. I find that the really sad bit.
I have to admit I'm hurting over this and it's been a severe test of my coping strategies.
Do I reach out to her and try to talk or do I move on and leave it to her to come to her senses? I'm erring towards the latter seeing how stubborn she's been and sort of thinking I might have to move on from what may be now a former friendship.
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