Social worker posed in underwear for service user

The General Social Care Council (GSCC) has removed a mental health social worker from the social care register for her “plainly inappropriate” sexual relationship with a service user.

Debra Archer started a year-long sexual relationship with the service user, known as Adult A for legal reasons, in November 2009 while employed by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. At the time she was Adult A’s care coordinator.

The GSCC’s conduct committee found that, on 12 November 2009, the pair had sex at Adult A’s flat and Archer posed for photos taken by Adult A in a range of provocative underwear while smoking what appeared to be a cannabis joint.

In evidence submitted to the committee before the hearing, Archer claimed that she did not have sex with Adult A and, due to medication she was on, had no recollection of posing for the photos – but the committee found her claims lacked credibility.

Archer, who did not attend the hearing, had previously admitted sending Adult A loving text messages and cards, but claimed she did it under duress. However, the committee ruled that, since she had not reported this to her employer, this claim was “incredible”.

The committee said her actions were “a clear conflict of interest” and that Archer had “failed to recognise and use responsibly the power that comes from her work with Adult A”.

It added: “In her lies to this committee as to the fact of and surrounding the relationship, the registrant has shown no insight and no remorse.”

It ruled that she had committed misconduct and struck her off the register.

Read the full notice of decision

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