A Coventry social worker who received a police caution for “child cruelty” has been banned from practising for 12 months.
A Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) panel heard the social worker had been cautioned in April 2014 for an incident relating to the neglect or ill treatment of a child. The panel was not able to disclose the exact details of the offence or relationship of the child for legal reasons.
‘One off’
The misconduct was a one-off, and because it was seen as unlikely to be repeated the panel found removing the social worker from the register would be disproportionate.
However, because she did not attend the hearing and declined to submit written evidence, there was also no indication the social worker in question had insight into her actions, the panel said.
‘Serious allegations’
The panel’s finding stated: “The core of the allegation relied on by the HCPC relates to a single event, albeit serious. The registrant is an experienced social worker and will have had relevant training in safeguarding and risk assessment in order to work with children.
“Nevertheless, the panel is satisfied that the shortcoming of the [social worker] could be remedied without difficulty.”
The hearing was held in private to protect the child’s identity.
A trauma-informed approach to social work: practice tips 
Problem gambling: how to recognise the warning signs 
Find out how to develop your emotional resilience with our free downloadable guide 
Develop your social work career with Community Care’s Careers and Training Guide 
‘Dear Sajid Javid: please end the inappropriate detention of autistic people and those with learning disabilities’
Ofsted calls for power to scrutinise children’s home groups
Seven in eight commissioners paying below ‘minimum rate for home care’
Facebook
X
LinkedIn
Instagram
I am struggling to understand this decision. Having been a practicing social worker for over 25 years.
in a child protection area when working with parents, we require parents to accept responsibility for their actions, to be accountable and we can work really effectively on change.
If parents, don’t accept responsibility, or are not accountable, this really can effect the outcome in terms of risk assessment, but now, we don’t need social workers to be accountable for their actions.
Very odd decision.
I couldn’t agree with you more it really is an odd decision.
With harm seemingly having happened to children across England, over the last 40 years or so, to children living at home or ‘in care’, I seriously wonder at the corruptions abd lack of personal and corporate accountability, which have been shown to exist within the social work profession, and particularly within overseeing agencies, relating to the most vulnerable in our society.
What seems clear is that no child is safe in care or – if known to be harmed – at home, because social workers do not aim their efforts in the direction of safeguarding but only in the direction of ‘my own life’ and ‘getting through the day’ and ‘ticking the Local Authority’ boxes. Whilst that may seem to be a sweeping statement, which good social worker can truthfully say they would disagree?
That is not to say that there are not good social workers.. but since the system is so totally corrupted, what chance would they have of remaining within their own profession, if they were to raise their voice about the wrongs which they observe?
It really is time to get rid of those whose actions are so damaging to children.. and that includes those at a high level. We need to factor out all political interference.. and we need to train social workers into individual accountability and the expectation that they will all take a corporate accountability to its logical conclusion by immediaely reporting those colleagues, whether social workers or police or charity workers or others, and sticking with that reporting until the system is changed for the better.
Otherwise, why would anyone trust even a good social worker?
I do not understand this ban for twelve months. The HCPC have made a judgement based on knowledge that they have. This person is either safe to work or she isn’t. If she is deemed safe to work then it’s not up to the HCPC to punish her for a random twelve months
Surely if she is under a ban for abuse against a minor then she should be struck off?? It cannot be one for for one and one for the you.
Social worker or not, everyone has a duty of care to protect and she obviously failed in her duty. I am sick of hearing how a parent is accused and her baby snatched but when a social worker does it it’s an over site!