Care Council for Wales: Social worker removed from register

The Conduct Hearing held by the Care Council for Wales on 8 April 2008 in Cardiff to consider allegations of misconduct brought against registered social worker, Mr David Llewellyn Edwards, who previously worked in Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, decided to remove Mr Edwards from the Social Care Register. Mr Edwards will no longer be able to use the title ‘social worker’, or work as a social worker in the UK.

The Committee found Mr Edwards guilty of misconduct in all 15 charges brought against him, relating to failures to follow policy and strategic directions in relation to Child Protection matters leaving children at risk of harm.

In coming to its decision to remove Mr Edwards, the Committee considered the lesser sanctions of admonishment and suspension, but rejected them, stating its reasons as:

First, the significant number and seriousness of the charges. Secondly, the failure of the registrant to engage and provide assurance to the Committee that his future conduct would address the deficiencies admitted in his practice. Thirdly, the Committee is not confident that the public would be sufficiently safeguarded if it were to decide on either of these sanctions.

The Committee decided that Mr Edwards was not suitable for continued registration due to:

The repeated catalogue of omissions and failures in providing basic assessments and support to vulnerable children. These failings resulted in limiting access to health care and agency provision which restricted the children in achieving their potential. There was a systematic failure to assess risk in working the case load and a failure to appropriately inform others. There was a failure to refer to other agencies for support and services and as a consequence the Care Plans in some cases were not fit for purpose. There was a failure to record and file information required by statute.

The Chair highlighted particular examples from the charges which helped it in coming to its decision, evidencing in each one a breach of the Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers:

In relation to charge 1 and 2, there was a failure to act on known information about the child’s sexual behaviour which consequently put other children at risk and there was an allegation of sexual assault. The registrant failed to uphold sections 4 and 6 of the Code of Practice.

In charges 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12, there were failures by the registrant to carry out actions prescribed in statutory reviews of looked after children which adversely affected the care and development of six children. The registrant failed to uphold section 6 of the Code of Practice.

In charge 13 the case recordings were not kept up-to-date by the registrant which, in this case, left a fellow social worker at risk of potential harm. The registrant failed to uphold section 6 of the Code of Practice.

The Committee is satisfied that the only sanction appropriate to ensure the protection of the public is one of removal from the Social Care Register.


Ends

For further information please contact Charmine Smikle on 029 2078 0634 or email charmine.smikle@ccwales.org.uk