Secret list of rogue social workers booted for crime, corruption and porn

A DOZEN rogue social workers who cared for Scotland’s most vulnerable people have been secretly struck off. A Sunday Mail investigation today reveals a shocking catalogue of criminality, corruption and incompetence in social services.

One worker was struck off for running a stolen car racket and another for possessing child porn.

Catherine Watt was struck off for life after being sacked as manager of Ramsay House children’s home in Clydebank for health and safety, financial and management failings.

She also “obtained a management qualification by deceit” and breached West Dunbartonshire Council’s dignity at work policy.

She was struck off by the Scottish Social Services Council, set up to regulate the profession in 2001. Watt said: “I deny all the allegations. I had 37 years of unblemished service and then this happened.

“My former employers did a very good job on me.”

Also given a life ban was Darren MacDonald, who “placed children at risk of harm” by botching 10 cases in Fife.

Yesterday, married dad-of-three MacDonald, 30, claimed he had been “let down” by his former bosses at Fife Council.

MacDonald, who compiled risk assessments on vulnerable children in Glenrothes, said: “I had been off with stress but they showed me no support.

“They should have helped me instead of disciplining me.

“It was my first job in social work and I was looking at about 30 cases at any one time.

“I accepted there were failings on my part. I was struggling to tie up my cases and my bosses said children were being put at risk.”

Others struck off this year are Karen Taylor, Catherine Forrest and Patricia Higgins, all of Glasgow, and John Donnelly, of North Lanarkshire.

Taylor failed to “adhere to her employers’ absence management procedures and policies”.

Donnelly failed to provide appropriate care for “vulnerable adults to their detriment”.

Student social worker Forrest was banned for “dishonesty and plagiarism” in relation to university course material.

And residential childcare worker Higgins failed to adhere to her “employers’ reporting practices and procedures”.

The most high-profile social workers struck off are Kevin Glancy, 46, and Jackie McIlhargey, 44.

Glancy – who worked with vulnerable children and families in Edinburgh – was jailed last year for having child porn.

Fostering manager McIlhargey was struck off after the Sunday Mail revealed she ran a stolen car factory in Plains near Airdrie.

Four more social workers have been struck off and, in the next month, four others face SSSC disciplinary hearings.

They are Alan Mann, Glasgow, Margaret Gribbon, Clydebank, Derek Horrobin, Moray, and Heather Clark, Aberdeen.

Mann is accused of using “inappropriate and degrading language” to a young client then criticising them for complaining.

Deputy children’s home manager Gribbon was sacked by West Dunbartonshire Council two years ago. She is accused of 12 breaches of SSSC code of practice.

They include failing to be “honest and trustworthy” and failing to comply with health and safety policies “including those relating to substance abuse”.

Horrobin, of Buckie, Banffshire, worked part-time with children and families for Moray Council.

He faces an SSSC rap for breaking the rules by running three licensed premises. In April, his licences were suspended for Bubbles nightclub in Buckie, Republica in Elgin and the Ben Aigen Arms in Mosstodloch.

Grampian Police told councillors Horrobin had “a total disregard for the law” following violence and under-age drinking at Bubbles.

Clark, 51, is accused of failing six vulnerable families and was sacked in March by Aberdeen City Council.

The 12 breaches of the SSSC code of practice she faces include not being “honest and trustworthy”.

She is also accused of failing to “minimise the risks of service users” harming themselves or others. Clark claims she and her colleagues were under such massive pressure they were all behind with records.

She said: “They are making me out to be dishonest. I’ve nothing to hide but with no records I have nothing to back myself up.”

The SSSC began holding disciplinary hearings three years ago. Since then, 19 social workers have been found guilty with 12 being struck off.

Despite rooting out rogues, there are concerns that the SSSC keeps the public in the dark.

They have previously refused to reveal any details about what sacked staff were found guilty of. Only in the past nine months have they begun to release basic details.

But the public information is much less than that given by the English equivalent, the General Social Care Council.

Respected Fife-based social work expert Alyson Leslie has been involved in four serious case reviews in England in the past year.

Alyson, who chairs the General Medical Council’s disciplinary hearings, said: “The Scottish system is behind its English counterpart in terms of the information it makes available publicly about the nature of allegations and the facts found proved or not proved.

“It is perfectly possible to provide this information without compromising client confidentiality.

“Hard-working, hard-pressed, honest professionals don’t want the safety of the public or the reputation of the profession compromised by the small number of individuals who act unprofessionally or deliver poor standards.”

Sssc chief executive Carole Wilkinson said: “Registration of the workforce is good news.

“This gives more protection to those people who use social care services, many of whom are the most vulnerable people in society and deserve the highest standards of care.

“We still have a way to go to get all care workers on the register.”