Social Worker Admonished Following Conduct Hearing In London

A Conduct Committee of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) has decided the case of a social worker from Newcastle-upon-Tyne who was alleged to have breached the code of practice for social care workers.

Misconduct was found against the registrant, Ms Gayle Baxter. The registrant admitted misconduct for failing to respond to an emergency situation in which a service user required immediate attention. Ms Baxter also declared she had failed to inform the emergency services of the service user’s mental health history and subsequently her employer of the incident.

The Committee took into account Ms Baxter’s admissions of misconduct and acknowledged she had accepted responsibility for these failures from the outset. It was found Ms Baxter had an otherwise unblemished record and no evidence to the risk of the service user’s life was realised.

An admonishment was placed on her entry to the register for a period of three 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.”

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