Essex social worker found guilty of misconduct

A MAN who worked as a team manager for Essex County Council’s adolescent fostering team has been found guilty of misconduct. The General Social Care Council investigated allegations that David Lee had broken codes of practice.

Mr Lee, who worked at Essex County Council between April, 1998 and November 2005, was found guilty of spending time alone with children that were in care, not informing managers of his plans, giving money to children and buying them gifts.

In rounding up the case on Monday, Laurence Peterken, chair of the General Social Care Council Conduct Committee, said: “The essence of the case against him was that the Registrant had overstepped his professional boundaries and that on occasions between January 2004 and November 2005 he had been in contact with a number of looked after children.

“The Committee accepted that the registrant’s motivation was a simple one, to achieve a positive outcome for the child and to provide personal support at a difficult time for the child, but plainly his actions were inappropriate.

“The committee considered that an admonishment for 18 months would be the appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case, marking behaviour which fell at the lower end of the spectrum of misconduct and where there is a negligible risk of recurrence.”

Mr Lee will now have a mark against his name on the Social Care Register proving he has breached his professional boundaries for 18 months.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “If Essex County Council has concerns about the professional conduct of any members of staff, it will be investigated. David Lee’s employment with Essex County Council ended in 2007. The council is unable to comment further.”

Mr Lee did not attend the final day of the hearing.