Pembrokeshire social worker reprimanded for inappropriate behaviour

A Pembrokeshire social worker has been reprimanded by a Care Council Wales Conduct Committee for inappropriate behaviour and having personal relationships with colleagues.

Tudor Walters, formerly employed by Pembrokeshire County Council, admitted misconduct by behaving inappropriately when giving a disciplinary warning, and concealing his personal relationship with two colleagues.

During the hearing, the Committee was presented with nine written statements in support of the registrant and heard from two witnesses who spoke of the registrant’s previous good work record.

The Committee considered written evidence of the registrant’s repeated dishonesty with work colleagues, and misuse of his management position, by sitting on a recruitment panel considering the employment of a candidate with whom he was in a relationship.

The Committee also took into account the registrant’s 10-point mitigation, in which he expressed regret for his actions; and he admitted of the wrongdoing during his employer’s disciplinary proceedings and employment tribunal.

In reaching its decision, the Committee said: “The registrant not only concealed his relationships, he deliberately lied about his misconduct. His misconduct was not a single isolated event, there were repeated incidents over a period of three years.”

As a result of the Committee’s decision, Mr Walters will be able to continue working as a social worker but there will be a mark against his name on the Register of Social Care Workers for one year. Anyone contacting the Care Council about his registration during that time, including future employers, will be told he has an admonishment.

The Committee concluded: “We are satisfied that the registrant’s dishonesty was not directly connected with his social work practice and did not impact on service users.. If the registrant’s dishonest behaviour had involved service users or undermined the quality of service provided by his employer, a significantly higher sanction would have been necessary.”