Care Council for Wales: Social worker admonished in conduct hearing

In a three day Conduct Hearing held between 21 - 23 April 2008 in Ewloe, near Chester, to consider allegations of misconduct brought against registered social worker, Ms Christine Rolfe, who previously worked for NSPCC Cymru/Wales, it was decided to admonish Mrs Rolfe for a period of one year.

The admonishment means that Mrs Rolfe remains registered and will be able to continue working as a social worker and call herself a social worker. The admonishment will be placed on Mrs Rolfe’s record on the Register of Social Care Workers for 1 year. During this time, anyone who contacts the Care Council for Wales enquiring about her registration will be told that she has an admonishment, whilst it is still active.

Mrs Rolfe pleaded guilty to misconduct in one charge and the Committee found her guilty of misconduct in 2 out of the remaining 3 charges, relating to keeping, without permission, a digital camera and lap top owned by her employer and conducting meetings with private clients on her employer’s premises without permission.

In coming to its decision, the Chair of the Committee said ‘taken as a whole the charges are at a lower level of seriousness’ and that due to ‘the statement of mitigation, and reference from her present employer and her record, which we consider to be good, this sanction is a proportionate response to the misconduct we have found.

The Committee considered the effect of the sanction in protecting the public stating:

‘We consider that the public will be adequately protected by admonishment for the period we have decided. The Committee also believes that this sanction will adequately address future concerns in relation to public confidence in social care services because acts of misconduct will always lead to sanction and as a deterrent to others’.


Ends

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