Social worker ‘in denial’ over conviction has suspension extended

A former Essex County Council social worker, found guilty of having extreme pornographic images, has had his suspension extended for a further year.

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) decided Stewart Ford’s fitness to practise was still impaired because of his conviction.

Ford, from Little Wakering in Essex, was convicted in 2012 for having 50 videos and images on his home computer and banned from the register for 12 months.

The council’s representative, David Allen, told a conduct and competence committee that Mr Ford was trying to appeal against his conviction.

Mr Allen said that demonstrated Ford “had not yet accepted responsibility for the facts which led to his conviction, the serious and unacceptable nature of his conduct and how it adversely affects his professional status.”

Mr Allen told the panel that Ford ‘remains in denial’.

Mr Ford has been unemployed since he was sacked by Essex County Council in 2010, when pornographic meterial was seized from a home computer.

Following his conviction at Basildon Crown Court, Ford was originally removed from the HCPC Register in July 2013.