A Conduct Committee of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) on 3 October 2007 decided the case of a social worker from Birmingham who was alleged to have breached the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers.
Misconduct was found against the registrant, Mr Solomon Beckford and he was removed from the Social Care Register.
Mr Beckford admitted misconduct for disclosing confidential information about a service user to a third party, putting the service user, his social service colleague and himself at potential risk of serious harm. He also admitted giving false information about his employment history and experience on numerous occasions, including on his application to the Social Care Register.
The Committee found that as a worker in health and social care for over 16 years, the registrant should have been aware of the importance of maintaining trust and confidence in service users. Even without specialist training in domestic violence and child protection, a qualified social worker should know that information provided by a victim of violence should not have been shared with an alleged perpetrator.
The Committee also took into account the registrant’s blatant disregard for the GSCC’s codes of practice, designed to safeguard the interests of service users, colleagues and registrants and the seriousness of his actions had clearly brought social care services into disrepute.
Registrants have a right of appeal to the independent Care Standards Tribunal.
GSCC Chair, Sir Rodney Brooke said:
“Social workers have a duty to act appropriately at all times, respecting the rights of service users and protecting them from abuse as set out in our Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers and Employers. All Registered Social Workers sign up to the codes of practice when they register with the GSCC.
“Social workers working with vulnerable people essentially should be trustworthy and of good character. The GSCC exists to promote high standards among social care workers and can take action against those who do not meet the standards laid down in the codes of practice. At the same time, we applaud the many thousands of social care workers who meet those standards and do so much to help vulnerable people.”
Removal from the register means that the person will not be able to work as a social worker. The decision follows a three day Conduct Committee hearing in London.