A hospital social worker who was struck off in 2009 has been allowed to re-join the register after the General Social Care Council was forced to re-hear her case in her presence. Her sanction was slashed to a one-year admonishment at the second hearing last week, after she had a chance to put her side across. The GSCC said this was why social workers should turn up and engage with the conduct process. What do people think about this?
Many social workers choose not to attend their conduct hearings. I'm told the attendance rate among doctors and nurses is much higher. Why is this?
I don't think there's any one reason for this. But I think that the fitness to practice model opposed to the conduct model may have something to do with it. As posted on other threads, the GSCC do appear to make moral judgements on SW's opposed to measuring how the 'misconduct' would affect their ability to practice in the future. I personally think that there is far too much emphasis placed upon 'public confidence in the profession' , I've often felt that the sanctions imposed on SW's often relate to the level of publicity the issue has received and this is completely unfair. Should the media really be dictating what constitutes misconduct.
Also I understand that the interim suspension rate is extremely high, I read this somewhere - I cannot recall where. If this is the case and the final sanction is admonishment - this makes little or no sense.
There often appear to be significant delays in the investigation of cases and bringing them to final conduct hearings, if as a employee you have been suspended for that lenght of time - there's every possibility you will consider a change of career. We all have to pay the bills! I have noted serious criticisms of the GSCC at the First Tier Tribunal over unreasonable delay.
Something which I recently discovered is that GSCC investigations are not actually conducted by SW's nor do the conduct panels generally consist of SW's. This is riduculous! If I was misfortunate enough to be subject of an investigation I would like to think that the people making decisions in respect of my future at least understood my profession. The GMC generally consists of at least three Doctors on the panel. Also the Panel are selected and paid by the GSCC - do this really promote independent decision making?
I think unions have an impact as well, I used to be part of UNISON and I have to say I would have little confidence in their ability to offer representation at a conduct hearing, as in my experience where I have spoken up about caseload levels they showed little understanding of the profession. I accept that this may not be the case in other areas. I personally could not afford private legal representation.
I have never been involved in a conduct hearing however I have been frequently disillusioned by some of the reports particularly the cases which are appealed to First Tier - it paints the GSCC in a draconian light. It would appear that we are all guilty until proven innocent at the GSCC.
echos gears sentiments - that and I was told by numerous people in other public services before entering social work that social work abandons you the moment you are under suspicion (its not the same in teaching etc)- its got to to be a very lonely process when it can take years to get a hearing - didnt the last gsccc head get sacked for the delay to hearings???
the strength of the union is defintely imporatant as well