A social worker from London has been banned from practising after an independent committee of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) found misconduct against her for forming an inappropriate relationship and for dishonesty.

Virginia Leckie, who worked for Hounslow Social Services at the time, was found to have formed an inappropriate personal relationship with the father of a young person on the Child Protection Register, to whom she was the allocated social worker. In addition, Ms Leckie failed to inform her employer of her continued relationship with him.

The committee, which concluded its hearing on 7 April, noted that during the relationship the registrant prepared a number of reports in respect of the child for care proceedings and child protection case conferences. The committee found that the registrant failed to acknowledge the depth of the conflict of interest and dishonesty of her actions.

Ms Leckie was also found guilty of failing to inform a subsequent employer and the GSCC, in her application to register with the Council, of her employment at Hounslow Social Services.

Sir Rodney Brooke, Chair of the GSCC, said: "Social workers are in a unique position of responsibility and trust. Thankfully, the vast majority of the 80,000 social workers on our register are honest, professional and perform an invaluable role in society. However, there are instances when social workers cross professional boundaries and act in a way that calls into question their suitability to practice. In these cases, it is the GSCC’s responsibility to investigate and take action to ensure professional standards are maintained and the public is protected.”

Removal from the register means that the registrant will not be able to practise as a social worker. Registrants have a right of appeal to the independent Care Standards Tribunal (CST).