Social worker ‘kissed colleague during course’

A social worker followed a colleague to her hotel room and kissed her on the cheek against her will, a tribunal has heard.
  David Holder faces misconduct charges over his alleged actions while attending a residential course at an Exeter hotel in April 2007.

However, the former Gloucestershire County Council social worker said the allegations were “half-truths” and broke down in tears while giving evidence to the General Social Care Council (GSCC) in London today.
 
Earlier, GSCC barrister Sean Larkin said Mr Holder had previously been in trouble for his behaviour, and was described by a colleague as having a “tendency to make sexual innuendoes”.

In 2006 he had been taken off the register of approved social workers and was attending the course in a bid to be put back on the list.

A fellow social worker, who cannot be identified, alleged that Mr Holder followed her back to her room after lectures and asked “can I have a kiss” before kissing her cheek.

She told the hearing the incident left her feeling “numb” and she locked herself in her room before phoning her husband. The following day she made a complaint and Mr Holder was forced to leave the course.

He denied the claims and said the woman followed him to his room from the hotel bar and they shared an “air kiss”.

Mr Holder also accused her of making four different statements about what happened, and described them as “half truths and malicious falsehoods”. She denied this, saying: “My statement has stayed the same.”

Mr Holder faces seven charges including claims he discussed cases when members of the public were present, made inappropriate remarks to a female tutor on the course, and attempted to get into the room of another female colleague.

He denies all the charges and the hearing continues.