A Conduct Committee of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) on 31 October 2007 decided the case of a social worker from Pinner who was alleged to have breached the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers.
Misconduct was found against the registrant, Mr Richard Watkins, and he was suspended from the register for the maximum period of two years.
Mr Watkins admitted making inappropriate comments, sending sexually explicit text messages and having inappropriate physical contact with a person who uses services. Mr Watkins also admitted dishonesty in initially failing to admit to the allegations and denying the incidents took place.
The Committee agreed that Mr Watkins’ actions were a serious abuse of a vulnerable person who uses services and it considered the detrimental effect Mr Watkins’ actions had on the person who uses services.
Whilst the Committee gave credit for the final admission made by the registrant, it noted the admissions were not made at the earliest opportunity and were only made once an investigation had been undertaken.
The Committee took into account the registrant’s mitigation presented by his employers, and the remorse and apology expressed by Mr Watkins. However, the Committee considered that these factors did not detract from the seriousness of the inappropriate conduct to a vulnerable person who uses services and considered that suspension for a period of two years was the most appropriate sanction.
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 people who use services 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.
“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.”
Suspension by the GSCC means the registrant is not permitted to practice as a social worker for the length of time specified by the Conduct Committee. The decision follows a two-day Conduct Committee hearing in London.