Sefton social worker suspended over child protection concerns

Social worker Martin Sands has been suspended from the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Register for 12 months on grounds of misconduct after failing to respond to child protection and/or child welfare concerns whilst employed by Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council.

A panel of the HCPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard that an investigation took place in December 2012 following an allegation that Mr Sands had failed to make statutory visits within required timescales and had falsified records relating to those visits. At a subsequent disciplinary hearing held in March 2013, Mr Sands was given a first written warning.

The Panel further heard that in May 2013 an investigation into additional allegations against Mr Sands took place, relating to his failure to make statutory visits to service users, failure to progress cases and falsification of records. Following a second disciplinary hearing held in November 2013, Mr Sands was dismissed from his position.

Panel Chair Rachel O’Connell commented: “The misconduct was serious, occurring as it did across a range of child care cases and over a wide period of time. Whilst Mr Sands has made admissions and expressed remorse for his former behaviour, there is no evidence that he has taken steps to address that behaviour and there is, therefore, a likelihood of a repetition.”

The Panel decided the most appropriate sanction was to impose a 12 month suspension order.

Mr Sands was not present or represented at the hearing.