Rotherham social worker found guilty of misconduct and removed from register

11 March 2008

A social worker has been removed from the Social Care Register by an independent committee of the General Social Care Council (GSCC), after being found to have committed misconduct by forming an inappropriate personal relationship with a person who used services.

The committee, which concluded its hearing on 6 March, heard that Andrew Walker worked at the NCH Rotherham Bridges project between November 2004 and April 2006. Whilst working at the project, he began a personal relationship with a person who used services described during the hearing as ‘particularly vulnerable'. He later lived with the woman and they are now married.
 
By entering into such a relationship, the Committee said Walker had breached an important principle set out in the profession's Code of Practice – which says that social workers should not form inappropriate relationships with people who use services. His work with the woman enabled him to have privileged contact with her and detailed knowledge of her personal circumstances and history.

The Committee concluded that this had created a significant imbalance of power between them which remained throughout the social worker's relationship with the woman. Walker was found to have broken the Code of Practice a number of times, including the part which says that social workers should recognise and use responsibly the power that they have in relation to a person who uses services.

In addition, Walker was also found guilty of failing to inform the GSCC of changes to his employment and home address. This is also a requirement of being a registered Social Worker.

Sir Rodney Brooke, Chair of the GSCC, said: "All social workers sign up to a code when they register with us, which sets out very clearly the standards of conduct and practice expected of them. Social workers have a responsibility to make sure that their conduct does not fall below these standards and that no action on their part harms the wellbeing of people who use services.

The GSCC is committed to taking action against the small minority who fail to abide by our Code of Practice, in order to protect people who use services and uphold public confidence in the profession."

Removal from the register means that the registrant will not be able to practice as a social worker. Registrants have a right of appeal to the independent Care Standards Tribunal (CST).