A call for change after Eleanor Barnfield’s death

The death of a 47-year-old care worker has prompted renewed calls for better protection for staff in the sector. 

Eleanor Barnfield, from North Cornelly, died on 19 October after suffering puncture wounds in an accident at the sheltered housing complex where she worked in Bridgend. 

She was later involved in a car crash on Coity Road, although South Wales Police said her injuries weren’t related to the collision. A 61-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and he remains in custody. 

Ms Barnfield worked for housing association Valleys to Coast at Ger-y-Nany, a complex with 13 flats for people aged over 60. 

Following her death, the Care Workers’ Charity (CWC) said its thoughts were with her family, friends, colleagues and the people she supported.

The charity said its 2025 survey of over 2,000 care workers found 24.6% had experienced or witnessed physical violence at work, while 33.4% had been exposed to bullying, harassment or verbal abuse. 

Members of its Care Worker Advisory Board said staff were sometimes sent to visits alone when two workers were needed, with concerns about safety dismissed because there was ‘no cover’. 

One worker said: ‘Care workers dedicate their lives to looking after others, but who looks after them? Our safety matters too. We deserve to go to work and return home safely.’

These concerns were echoed during a roundtable in August 2026, where people said incidents of harassment and bullying were treated as ‘part of the job’ and reports were rarely acted upon.

Karolina Gerlich, chief executive of CWC, said: ‘Every care worker deserves to finish their shift and go home safely to the people they love.

‘Eleanor did not get that chance, and our hearts are with her family and everyone who knew her. Care workers have told us for years that they too often feel unsafe at work, and that when they speak up, too little changes. That cannot continue.’

Image: Chris Barbalis/UnSplash

In related news:

Teachers report rise in child neglect referrals, NSPCC warns

Covid inquiry: care homes were ‘something of an afterthought’