Challenges to Social Care Council decisions

The General Social Care Council has been cleared of breaching its own rules by denying a social worker the opportunity to contest medical advice that led to him being wrongly refused registration.

Last week the Care Standards Tribunal decided that, under the GSCC’s rules, the committee had the discretion, not an obligation, to grant someone an oral hearing to contest the medical adviser’s evidence.

Meanwhile in another case in October, the GSCC withdrew its objections to the registration of a social worker with bi-polar affective disorder. The case had gone to the Care Standards Tribunal after Peter Van der Gucht objected to the conditions imposed on him by the GSCC.

Gucht accused the GSCC of “stereotypical and outmoded views on mental health” and was backed by the Disability Rights Commission and mental health professionals.