Inspector Todd worked for Weatherfield Council in the social services department and was employed to conduct inspections of retirement homes in the borough. He and an assessor called into Weatherfield Vale, a private home run by the penny-pinching Gerald Lickley where they found several faults. Lickley gabbled an excuse that some of his staff must have let them down but Todd wasn't in the mood for listening, telling Lickley that he would be sent a copy of their report. After they had left, Lickley accused assistant manager Martin Platt of reporting him to the council and fired him on the spot.