The charity provides support and housing services to people who suffer from mental health problems. They pleaded guilty to a charge brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing to do all that was reasonably practicable to ensure their employees safety.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that the employee was visiting the service user at his home in Newcastle upon Tyne on 19 May 2006 when she was attacked and stabbed to death.

The employee had started work with the charity exactly six months prior to the date of her death. The attack occurred on the final day of her probation period.

The prosecution told the court that the victims employment exposed her to certain obvious risks, particularly in the context of her dealings with the service user. His mental health was known to be deteriorating and the charity failed to respond to a number of warning signs. The court also heard that they failed to afford the employee the level of protection that the nature of her job warranted.

A spokesman from the HSE said:

"This is an unusual case which shows the need for employers to assess risks to employees who visit individuals in their homes and for arrangements to be reviewed when changes occur.

We believe that if the charity had carried out a risk assessment, it would have resulted in the visiting arrangements being reviewed."