Social Worker Admonished Following Conduct Hearing

A Conduct Committee of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) has decided the case of a social worker from Scunthorpe who was alleged to have breached the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers by engaging in inappropriate relationships with service users.

Misconduct was found against the registrant, Stephen Thompson, and he was admonished, with a record of the admonishment to be placed on his entry in the Social Care Register for a period of five years.

The Committee found that Mr Thompson had inappropriate physical contact with two vulnerable female service users. This was particularly serious, as his behaviour continued following instruction from a manager about professional boundaries. Because of the seriousness of the misconduct, the admonishment was for the maximum period available to the Committee.

Registrants have a right of appeal to the independent Care Standards Tribunal.

GSCC Chair Rodney Brooke said: “Social workers have a duty to act appropriately at all times, respecting the rights of service users and protecting them from abuse as set out in our Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers and Employers. All Registered Social Workers sign up to the codes of practice when they register with the GSCC.

“Social workers work with vulnerable individuals, and it is essential that they should be trustworthy and of good character.  The GSCC exists to promote high standards among social care workers and can take action against those who do not meet the standards laid down in the codes of practice. At the same time, we applaud the many thousands of social care workers who meet those standards and do so much to help vulnerable people.”

Admonishment by the GSCC amounts to a caution and public record. The decision follows a two day Conduct Committee hearing in Lincoln.