Social worker struck off for benefit fraud

A social worker has been struck off after she was convicted for benefit fraud. Noel Bournita Senyange, who was a social worker at Medway Council, was removed from the register by a General Social Care Council conduct committee for dishonestly claiming £23,144 in payments for childcare.

She was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid community work, after being convicted at Bexley Magistrates’ Court last April. She also tried to hide her court appearances from her employer, telling the council that she had a family emergency on the day of her conviction and car tyre problems on the day of her sentencing.

The committee concluded that Senyange’s actions, which took place systematically over a three-year period, were serious breaches of the code and that removing her from the register was the only appropriate sanction.

“The committee heard of the registrant’s personal and financial difficulties during the period of the allegations but concluded the registrant was not acting under duress at the time,” the committee said in its verdict. “She wanted to provide for her family, and struggled with the financial obligations of providing child care out of school hours, and also paying some routine bills. She had a good record as a social worker and provided a reference speaking of her qualities in good terms. The committee however found that this was a case where there was not other way to protect the public other than to remove the registrant from the register.”

Community Care Live

With the Health Professions Council due to take over responsibility for social work regulation in England from the GSCC, this year’s Community Care Live will unpick the future of professional regulation in a session at this year’s conference, which takes place on 16 and 17 May. Register to attend for free.

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