‘Arrogant’ social worker removed child from carer

A social worker has been branded “arrogant and impetuous” by the General Social Care Council after she removed a child from care against the advice of colleagues.

Jeanette Russell ignored a barrister and the child’s guardian who said there were no grounds to remove the child.

Russell claimed her manager at Rotherham Council had approved the removal in October 2006. But a GSCC conduct committee, having heard evidence from the manager, found this to be untrue. This proved her behaviour was not only dishonest, the committee said, but “characterised by arrogance and impetuosity”.

It added: “She consistently failed to take into account the views of others and was often dismissive of them. She disregarded advice, instructions and policies when it suited her to do so.”

Russell was also found to have committed other incidents of misconduct, including failure to comply with a child protection plan.

“She did not promote and protect the needs of service users,” the committee said.

Russell did not attend the hearing and offered no mitigation.

The committee decided she “should not again be allowed to jeopardise public trust or to neglect the needs of service users” and removed her from the social care register.

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