A Bournemouth social worker who was involved in domestic violence has been disciplined by an independent committee of the General Social Care Council (GSCC).

Brian Morris, who is employed by Bournemouth Borough Council and works in Adult Services within a hospital based team, received a conditional discharge from Dorset Magistrates Court for the ‘assault by beating’ which took place in May 2007.

Appearing in front of the committee yesterday (31 March), Morris admitted the assault and that he had breached the code of practice that social workers sign up to when they register with GSCC.

Whilst not condoning Morris’ behaviour, the committee noted that he did not represent a threat to people who use services and that he had shown remorse and taken steps to ensure it did not happen again. They did however find that he had breached the part of the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers which states that social workers should not behave in a way, in work or outside work, which would call into question their suitability to work in social care services.

In reaching their decision to issue a 12 month admonishment – a caution set alongside his entry on the public Social Care Register – the committee acknowledged that the misconduct was out of character, he was open and honest in admitting it and he has not repeated it since. They noted the confidence of his employer in retaining him in his role at Bournemouth and that he had 20 years of satisfactory conduct at work.

Rosie Varley, Chair of the GSCC, said: “All social workers sign up to our code of practice when they register with us and by doing so, they are sending a message to people who use services that they will work to high standards of conduct and practice. Where anything calls into question that commitment, it is vital that we investigate it and take the appropriate action to safeguard public confidence in social care services.”