Social worker given three year admonishment for failing to investigate child’s bruising
A former Swansea social worker has been given an admonishment for three years after a hearing found his fitness to practise was impaired because of his misconduct.
Fraser Scott was accused of failing to fully investigate bruising on a young person in care following an incident in October 2015.
At the time, Mr Scott was employed as a senior social worker by Swansea Council, working with children with disabilities.
The Social Care Wales hearing was told that Mr Scott failed to visit the young person within 24 hours of being notified about the incident as required, failed to ask if the young person had been harmed and failed to make sure the young person was examined by a doctor.
The hearing was also told that Mr Scott failed to carry out a timely assessment as to the risk to the young person of potential abuse or neglect following the incident.
After considering the evidence, the committee decided that Mr Scott’s fitness to practise was impaired because of his misconduct.
Explaining its decision, the committee said: “In light of the factual findings that we have made, and the breaches of the Code of Professional Practice that have occurred – which include breaches of the fundamental tenets of the profession – we conclude that the ground of misconduct is made out, and this calls into question your suitability to remain on the Register without conditions.”
The admonishment means there will be a mark against Mr Scott’s name on the Register of Social Care Workers for the next three years warning future employers about his failings in this case.
The committee said: “In our judgement, the existence of an admonishment will alert any prospective employer, should you return to practice, to the concerns that exist in relation to your practice.
“We have carefully considered our guidance, and note that this, in our judgement, is a referral related to a single case in a lengthy career, and we feel that your actions were not deliberate.
“We have considered your good history and have been influenced by the fact that an admonishment could have more impact than a short period of suspension. This sanction, in our judgement, is the proportionate one in your case.”
Mr Scott was present for part of the four-day hearing at the Novotel Hotel in Cardiff.
