Mabel Rose, aged 48, faced allegations about her conduct at an interview with a six-year-old child during which she was shown a scratch on or near the child’s genital area. Allegations were made that she requested to see the mark which was contrary to child protection policies and procedures. At the time, in December 2006, she was an agency worker at Lewisham Borough Council.

At the end of a three-day hearing, during which evidence was given by the social worker’s former manager and other colleagues at the Council, the panel did not find all the facts proven and concluded that Rose had not committed misconduct.

In setting out their reasoning, the committee said that they did not feel confident in relying on the evidence presented. The committee noted the endorsement Rose received from her former line manager, who spoke positively about the social worker’s work and character in the four months leading up to the event.

Sir Rodney Brooke, Chair of the GSCC, said: “In order to fulfil our role as regulator of the workforce, we need to assess all complaints that come our way about the conduct of a Registered Social Worker or student. Where we have established that there could be a case to answer, we put those concerns in front of an independent panel. It is quite right that such cases are assessed and we respect the decision of the committee.”