Social worker ‘dressed five children in bin bags during home visit’

A social worker dressed five children in bin bags during a home visit, a tribunal has been told. Carmen Smith put the liners over the youngsters after cutting holes for their arms and heads. Her actions could have had ‘serious consequences’, the General Social Care Council heard.

Smith made the visit in April 2009, while working for the London Borough of Merton’s family support team.

She is also said to have administered ‘plaque disclosure’ tablets to the children, without discussing matters with her line manager Norma Page.

Miss Page told the hearing: ‘Regardless of whether you are a social worker, a parent or a carer we tell children not to place bags over their heads.
Carmen Smith made the visit in April 2009, while working for the London Borough of Merton’s family support team in Mitcham

Carmen Smith made the visit in April 2009, while working for the London Borough of Merton’s family support team in Mitcham

‘If one of the children had an allergic reaction to these tablets there may have been serious consequences. 

‘Likewise if one of the children had had an accident with the plastic bags there would have been serious consequences as well.’

It is further alleged Smith breached guidelines when she did not immediately inform her boss she had discovered a bruise on a 22-month-old baby.

She waited more than five hours to report the injury, by which time her manager had gone home, it was said.

Julia Faure Walker for the GSCC, said that on January 19 last year Smith had visited the 22-month-old at the home of ‘Family P’ at around midday and observed a bruise on the child. 

She told the hearing that Smith should have reported the matter to Miss Page ‘as soon as reasonably practicable and within office hours’.

But the panel heard she did not send an e-mail notifying Miss Page until 5.22pm, despite the two women being in the same office as her boss for three hours.

Miss Page told the hearing: ‘On the day we had a new member of staff and there was a lunch so there were several members of staff in the room when she returned.
Five children were fitted with bin bags by a social worker during a home visit, a tribunal heard

Five children were fitted with bin bags by a social worker during a home visit, a tribunal heard

‘I spoke with her and asked her how the visit had gone and she informed that everything was fine.’

Miss Page was then asked if Miss Smith had informed family support team leader Stephanie Doyle when she asked about the visit to which she replied: ‘No, she just said it was fine.’

Sandra Howell, for Smith, claimed her client had tried to see Miss Page to discuss the visit that day before Miss Page left for a meeting at 3pm.

She added that Smith had spoken to Mrs Doyle about the bruise and asked how to report it but was told there were no incident forms to do so as they were no longer in use.

Miss Howell told the hearing: ‘Miss Smith then telephoned the access and assessment team herself about referring the matter and spoke to the duty social worker and told her about the bruise. 

‘She then followed this up with an email and arranged to visit the family at 6pm that day.’

Smith earlier admitted not informing her line manager. It is further alleged she did not ‘safeguard a child in her case load’, but she denies the claims.

Smith also faces charges relating to third of her cases, referred to only as ‘child AAK’.

She was due to first meet the nine-year-old on November 17 2008, but it is claimed Smith did not ‘see or speak’ to the child between November 16 and January 15 2009.

Smith is also said to have failed to arrange a session with the child until January 30, even though she was instructed to arrange a follow up visit by her manager on November 21 2008.

As a result it is claimed she ‘did not assess adequately how the child’s needs were being met’

If found guilty of misconduct she could be struck off. The hearing continues.