Tim Chittleburgh has stepped aside as chair of the British Association of Social Workers after a complaint about his private business affairs.
He made the decision last month, but BASW has only just made the news public.
According to a statement on the BASW website, the association is investigating a "serious complaint" about Chittleburgh's business affairs and he has left his BASW duties voluntarily while the investigation is carried out.
BASW broke the news after satirical magazine Private Eye published a string of allegations about Chittleburgh's private business dealings this week.
A spokesperson for BASW said Chittleburgh, a consultant with health and social care research agency Ozone Solutions, who took up the 12-month post as BASW chair in April 2009, strongly denies the allegations.
He is fully co-operating with BASW's investigation, according to the statement. He declined to comment further when contacted by Community Care.
External information
Private Eye homepage
British Association of Social Workers homepage