A Conduct Committee of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) on 19 September 2007 decided the case of a social worker from Hampshire who was alleged to have breached the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers.
Misconduct was found against the registrant, Christopher Bradford and he was removed from the Social Care Register.
In June 2006, Mr Bradford was sentenced to 17 months imprisonment and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years for engaging in sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder.
The Committee found the registrant’s personal and sexual relationship with a vulnerable service user to be exploitative, considering her dependence on him. In light of Mr Bradford’s experience as a qualified social worker, approved social worker, supervisor and practice teacher, the Committee stated that the registrant should have been very aware of professional boundaries and their fundamental role in social work practice.
The Committee also considered that the registrant had shown limited insight into the seriousness of his misconduct, with his actions having clearly brought social care services into disrepute.
Registrants have a right of appeal to the independent Care Standards Tribunal.
GSCC Chair 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.