Social worker who had sex with carer struck off

A social worker has been struck off after having sex with a “vulnerable” carer at the offices of an Orkney charity.

Phillip Bennett was removed from the Scottish Social Services Council register after a misconduct hearing in May.

Mr Bennett admitted starting a relationship with a client while he was employed at the Crossroads and Princess Royal Trust Carer Centre at Kirkwall.

As manager he was responsible for the day-to-day running, staffing and quality of the Bridge Street services between August, 2008, and his resignation in July, 2009.

The conduct hearing was told that Mr Bennett, a social worker since 1996, “entered into an inappropriate personal and sexual relationship with a vulnerable service user”.

The woman, who cannot be named, cared for her husband and son. From April 24, 2009, Mr Bennett met her during working hours for meetings that lasted more than two hours, which was deemed “unusual” for the service.

They engaged in e-mail correspondence “the content of which included graphic sexual references and discussions”.

After the woman contacted him expressing her desire for a non-professional relationship, Mr Bennett then had sex with her at his place of work.

The conduct hearing concluded that the relationship breached professional boundaries and that the woman had suffered “emotional harm” because of it.

Publishing its decision, the hearing concluded: “Mr Bennett held a powerful position of trust relative to the complainant. Notwithstanding this, he allowed a relationship to develop with her that was inappropriate and unprofessional.

“He allowed the relationship to develop such that he had sexual intercourse with the complainant at his place of work. As a consequence of his behaviour she suffered actual harm.”

Mr Bennett was found to have abused his position of power and trust due to a “serious lack of judgment”.

The committee said that Mr Bennett had shown no remorse and they were not therefore satisfied that he would not repeat his behaviour in the future.

He was removed from the register, effective from June 4. Crossroads and Princess Royal Trust could not be contacted for comment last night.