Dundee social worker faces string of allegations
A Dundee City Council social worker has been charged with misconduct after allegedly failing to report concerns about a child’s sexual behaviour.
Shona Ritchie is facing a string of allegations from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
She is charged with having failed in her responsibilities to five different children.
Ms Ritchie allegedly failed to respond to concerns about one child’s sexual behaviour, concerns which were raised by a Dundee organisation in 2010.
She should have referred the child to a specialist service for children at risk of committing sexual offences. However, she did not do so quickly enough, according to the SSSC.
The social worker will now face a three-day conduct hearing from today (Wednesday).
She is further charged with failing to quickly visit a toddler, despite concerns about the family circumstances.
Concerns were raised in August 2009 — but Ms Ritchie allegedly didn’t visit until six days later.
She is also accused of failing to record visits to the child, refer the case to the community support team or make a detailed record of a home visit. Finally, she allegedly failed to record a contact observation with the child.
Ms Ritchie is facing allegations of failures in relation to three other children.
She allegedly stopped contact between a child and the child’s family without getting permission.
In relation to the same child, Ms Ritchie is charged with failing to carry out a visit, complete a form, update a report, complete three child protection investigations and record a referral from police.
She is also charged with failing to carry out any kind of assessment over another child’s mother’s capability to care for her and allegedly failed to visit the child until more than a month after being allocated her case.
Additionally, in relation to the case of another child, Ms Ritchie is charged with failing to make a referral to the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “This individual is no longer employed by Dundee City Council.”
