Sheffield social worker banned after swindling £20,000

A SOCIAL worker from Sheffield has been banned from her profession after swindling more than £20,000 in housing benefit, council tax relief, and income support.

Benefits fraudster Amanda-Jayne Carmody’s name has been removed from the Social Care Register, preventing her from working as a social worker.

A Conduct Committee hearing in London was told that while employed by Sheffield Council as a social worker during 2007 and 2008, she failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of a change of circumstances which affected her entitlement to income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Her deceit meant she claimed £20,507.25 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

Carmody pleaded guilty to fraud at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court last July, and was sentenced last August to a six month suspended prison term, 300 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to pay £100 costs.

Carmody did not attend the General Social Care Council hearing in London, where a panel was told her crime amounted to professional misconduct.

The committee said it had “carefully considered the sanction of suspension” but took the view Carmody’s behaviour “was deliberately dishonest and involved a substantial amount of money” over a 17-month period.

“The Committee was also of the opinion the registrant had shown little, if any, insight into the offending and there was no evidence of any regret or remorse.”

The Committee decided Carmody should be removed from the social work register.

It said: “The public and service users have a right to expect honesty and truth from those in the social care services both inside and outside work. This was an abuse of that trust.”

Carmodyhas a right to appeal within 28 days.