Social worker struck off over failures to visit offenders with mental health problems

A health professional who failed to make regular visits to convicted criminals with mental health problems has been struck off as a social worker.

A Care Council for Wales (CCW) hearing was told that Kerri Imelda Doherty was supposed to see four offenders at least once a month.

Bosses said the men, who were living in the community, needed regular visits because they could suffer a relapse – which could place the public at risk.

The senior social worker had insisted she had made regular visits and denied any wrongdoing.

However, three charges were found proven against Ms Doherty at a hearing in Cardiff. A fourth charge of acting “dishonestly” was found not proven.

After deciding that her fitness to practise was impaired, the CCW issued a Removal Order given the “seriousness” of the case.

A report by the care watchdog said: “The committee has found the registrant’s actions and omissions at work had the potential to prejudice the welfare of the individuals concerned and the public over a period of nearly a year.

“She did not meet the expectations of the Code of Practice for Social Care.

“The committee finds that only a Removal Order will be adequate in this case given the seriousness of the impairment.”

The CCW Fitness to Practise hearing was told that Ms Doherty worked for the Vale of Glamorgan as a senior social worker and had years of experience under her belt.

Part of her job was to make sure people who had committed “significant crimes” complied with Crown Court orders issued under the Mental Health Act.

Council mental health services manager Andrew Cole gave evidence on the first of a two-day hearing in the Novotel Hotel, Cardiff.

He said: “She (Ms Doherty) said that the visits had happened every six weeks.

“That would lead the Ministry of Justice to think that the visits were adequately being carried out and therefore give a false sense of security.

“But the evidence led me to believe that the visits were not happening at six weekly intervals ….which leads to a potential increased risk of somebody’s mental health deteriorating and an escalation in their behaviour – which is more likely to go undetected.”

Mr Cole also said the minimum four-week frequency of visits were set by doctors and would have been “clearly marked” on official documents.

However, while ruling that Ms Doherty had not carried out enough formal visits and had also filed “inaccurate” paperwork, the CCW said that the registrant’s conduct had not been dishonest.

In her evidence, Ms Doherty told the panel she often had an excessive work-load, inadequate management support and often felt “left out on a limb”.

The CCW’s report, which was published on Wednesday, said: “The committee accepted the registrant’s evidence she had…less formal contact with the individuals, but this did not satisfy the requirements of social supervisor visits.

“The implication of this infrequency of formal visits was that the registrant could not be confident she was visiting frequently enough to ensure protection of each of individuals or of the public.”

Details of the men and their crimes were not revealed during the hearing for “confidentiality” reasons.

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