News

Colchester social worker Theresa Guy has been admonished by the General Social Care Council after she sent a threatening letter to the wife of a foster carer.

Guy was alleged to have formed a personal relationship with the foster carer knowing that it would create a conflict of interest.

Guy was found to have breached the code of practice and to have committed misconduct. She was judged to have misused her position of trust and to have failed to uphold confidence in social work as a profession.

In considering the punishment, the committee took into account Guy’s "long and apparently unblemished career" and the remorse she showed for her behaviour. An admonishment was placed on her record for two years.

The case was decided at a GSCC Conduct Committee on 17 October after an investigation. Appeals against the decision can be taken to the Care Standards Tribunal.

GSCC chair Rodney Brooke said: ‘Social workers have a duty to act appropriately at all times, respecting the rights of service users and protecting them from abuse. The GSCC exists to promote high standards among social care workers and can take action against those who do not meet the standards laid down in the codes of practice. At the same time, we applaud the many thousands of social care workers who meet those standards and do so much to help vulnerable people.’