Social worker serving 15 years over historic sexual conviction struck off register

Social worker Bernard Waring has been struck off the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Register on grounds of a conviction whilst employed by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (the Trust).

A panel of the HCPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard that Mr Waring was referred by the Trust to the HCPC on 22 October 2012, as the police were investigating historic sexual allegations that occurred over 30 years ago.

The Panel further heard that Mr Waring was subsequently convicted at Lewes Crown Court, following the trial for the offences of five counts of indecent assault on a male and two counts of committing gross indecency with a child.

On the 18 November 2015 Mr Waring was sentenced to imprisonment for a total of 15 years.

Helen Carter Panel Chair commented: “The offences, whilst of a historical nature, constitute a serious breach of trust. Mr Waring had shown no insight or remorse. He had denied the original charge and his victim had to give evidence at two trials.

His convictions are irremediable. The Panel was also satisfied that by the virtue of his convictions, he had breached fundamental tenets of his profession through behaviour which damaged public confidence in him and his profession”.

The Panel concluded that the only appropriate and proportionate sanction was to strike the name of Mr Bernard Waring from the Register with an interim order to cover the appeal period.