Social Worker Admonished Following Conduct Hearing In London

A Conduct Committee of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) on 29 June 2007 decided the case of a social worker from London who was alleged to have breached the code of practice for social care workers.

Misconduct was found against the registrant, Mrs Valerie Baiyewu. It was found that the registrant had taken extended leave and failed to communicate her return date with her employer. Mrs Baiyewu misrepresented her position in correspondence with someone not related to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, using their letterhead and facsimile template.

The Committee took into account that there was no evidence of direct harm caused to service users or the public. Mrs Baiyewu was found to have worked successfully and competently for her employer at the time of the allegation and whilst misrepresentation of her social work role was considered as serious, the Committee did not find any issue of dishonesty.

An admonishment was placed on her entrance to the register for the period of two years. 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.”

The decision follows a two day Conduct Committee hearing in London.