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 Loughton who was alleged to have breached the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers having been found guilty of tax fraud committed outside of work.

Misconduct was found against the registrant Mrs Nourin Khan, and she was admonished, with a record of the admonishment to be placed on her entry in the Social Care Register for a period of two years.

The Committee heard that the registrant had been convicted of Tax Credit fraud. The Committee determined that this amounted to a breach of the requirements in the code of practice to be honest and trustworthy and behave in a way suitable for someone who works in social care services. 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 working with vulnerable children essentially 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 one day Conduct Committee hearing in London.