Regulator can see ruling on senior social worker found to have abused ex-partner – High Court

A senior social worker found by a family court judge to have assaulted and abused an ex-partner has lost a fight to stop a regulator being given detail of the case.

Judge Farooq Ahmed had made a series of domestic abuse findings against the man after a private family court hearing, but refused to give a regulator Social Work England a copy of his ruling.

A more senior High Court judge has now overruled that decision following an appeal by the man’s ex-partner.

Mrs Justice Knowles on Thursday ruled that Social Work England should be given a copy of the ruling.

She said Judge Ahmed had “failed to have regard to the public interest” in disclosing his “fact-finding” judgment to Social Work England.

Social Work England had argued it should be able to see the ruling but the man disagreed and said the judge was correct not to disclose his findings.

Mrs Justice Knowles had considered arguments at a recent public appeal hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

She was told how Judge Ahmed had concluded that the man had assaulted his ex-partner and fractured her hand causing “lasting disability”; behaved in a way that amounted to “gaslighting, control and denigration”; used his temper to “frighten and control” her; “humiliated” her; been “verbally abusive” to her in front of their child; and hit the family dog in front of their child.

Mrs Justice Knowles heard that the man and woman had been involved in a private family court dispute centred on the care of their child.

She said the child involved could not be identified in media reports of the case.

Barrister Charlotte Proudman, who represented the man’s ex-partner, told Mrs Justice Knowles the man was a senior social worker who worked with vulnerable adults.

“This case is of significant public interest because it concerns the impact of findings of serious abuse on the employment of a parent who works with vulnerable people where safeguarding is a key issue,” she said.

“As a result of (Judge Ahmed) refusing to disclose the judgment to Social Work England, vulnerable people that the father is entrusted to care for could be at serious risk of harm under the father’s care.”

She added: “How can Social Work England investigate and ensure that the potential risks are managed if the judgment is not disclosed?”

Barrister Jessica Purchase, who represented Social Work England, told Mrs Justice Knowles the body had received a referral “raising a concern” about the man’s fitness to practise.

Ms Purchase said Judge Ahmed had decided that “disclosure” of the ruling was “likely to be detrimental to the child’s welfare”.

She added: “(Judge Ahmed) failed to take into account the enormous public interest in Social Work England being able to properly protect vulnerable adults and children from social workers who are not fit to practise.”

The man, who represented himself, said Judge Ahmed’s decision should be upheld.

“I have decided to allow the appeal against the judge’s decision because, in making his decision, the judge failed to have regard to the public interest in disclosing the fact-finding judgment to Social Work England in circumstances where it is highly desirable for the various agencies concerned with the welfare of children and vulnerable adults to co-operate with each other,” said Mrs Justice Knowles in a written decision released on Thursday.

She added: “The fact-finding judgment should be disclosed to Social Work England.”

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