Professional failed to report foster carer’s sexual misconduct

A children’s social worker who failed to report sexually inappropriate behaviour involving a foster carer and a service user has been warned about his conduct.

Daithi Martin Tobin was employed by Ethelbert Fostering Services between September 2008 and December 2009 when he became the allocated social worker to two foster carers.

At a hearing of a General Social Care Council conduct committee, he admitted learning that one of the foster carers bought alcohol for a service user and their friends, and allowed them to have a party at his flat where they became drunk.

Tobin was also told that the foster carer, referred to as Mr A in the judgement, had been “kissing and cuddling a service user in bed”, fantasised about a service user, and “watched a service user masturbating in the bath through the window”.

However, he failed to pass the information to the relevant social worker and the police, the conduct committee was told.

Tobin, whose town of employment is listed as Ramsgate on the GSCC register, also shared confidential information with a foster carer after a safeguarding meeting, and failed to report a change in the carers’ circumstances to the fostering panel.

The conduct committee issued Tobin with a two-year admonishment for unprofessional and inappropriate behaviour.

“He failed to share information with other relevant professionals and breached the confidentiality of a safeguarding meeting,” the committee said.

The committee acknowledged that Tobin had apologised and demonstrated insight into his failings, and was satisfied that his behaviour was unlikely to be repeated.

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