A SENIOR care worker accused of mistreating elderly women at a Bolton home has claimed that other staff members played on mobile phones, ignoring residents.

Giving evidence in her own defence at Bolton Crown Court Pamela Wolfendale said she had treated more junior members of staff at the Mill View nursing home with respect and got on well with them but had had to reprimand them on occasion.

She said: “I was quite a bit soft and laid back. I didn’t want to see myself as a boss.

“I was really good with them. When they started they were eager but when the novelty wore off they didn’t seem bothered about the residents.

“They were more interested in playing with their mobile phones.”

She also alleged that Michael Southern, one of the carers who had given evidence against her, had fallen asleep at work and would repeatedly leave residents’ rooms at the Bridgeman Street home in a mess.

Wolfendale, aged 54, of St Helens Road, Bolton, denied being aggressive towards elderly dementia sufferers at the home.

She had worked at Mill View since 2007, being promoted to the role of senior carer in 2011, but was suspended in November 2013 following the allegations made against her.

She told the jury that carer Mr Southern’s claims that she had roughly handled a woman who had soiled herself and needed a shower were untrue as it would have taken three members of staff to deal with the pensioner, who could be aggressive.

The jury had previously heard how Wolfendale also pushed down a bed-ridden woman’s legs so hard that she winced and made a noise, but Wolfendale said she had been gentle.

She said: “She didn’t wince – she sings all the time when you change her.”

The court had heard how Wolfendale allegedly grabbed a cup of tea from a resident she wanted to go to bed, causing it to spill over her.

But she told the jury that she had heard the woman arguing.

She said: “I could see the resident was going to throw a cup of tea or Horlicks over the other resident.

“I ran over to her, told her she couldn’t do it and asked her for the cup. I didn’t grab anything.”

She also denied roughly pushing residents out of the way when they came near her medicine trolley.

She said: “I have never pushed a resident in all the 30 years I have been a carer."

Wolfendale denies seven counts of ill treatment or neglect of a person who lacks capacity.

The trial continues.