CCWales: Former social work degree student conduct hearing

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Wednesday, 24, Oct 2007 12:00

A Care Council for Wales Conduct Committee hearing will be held on 25 October 2007 to consider allegations of misconduct brought against a former registered social work degree student at University of Wales Bangor who was convicted of actual Bodily Harm contrary to Section 47 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861. The hearing will take place from 10am at The Royal Hotel in Cardiff.

The Care Council is the social care workforce regulator in Wales. Through registration, social workers are accountable for their conduct and practice. Action may be taken against social workers where the Conduct Committee agree the allegation(s) amounts to misconduct and decide whether the registrant is not suitable for continued registration. This means a worker may be removed from the Social Care Register and therefore would not be able to practise as a social worker in the UK.

Taking action when a Committee deems that a registered social worker’s practice and/or behaviour amount to misconduct aims to improve services for the 150,000 people who use social care services in Wales, and improve the public's confidence in those services.

Notes to Editors:

1. Members of the press who wish to attend should contact Heledd Gwyndaf on 029 2078 0634 / 07971 277 573 or via e-mail on heledd.gwyndaf@ccwales.org.uk

2. Conduct hearings are organised where a registered Social Worker is suspected of misconduct and after evidence has been gathered. The Conduct Committee is made up of three to five members and take decisions in the public interest. The Committee has a lay majority. Options open to the Committee include admonishment, suspension or removal of the registrant from the Register of Social Care Workers.

3. The Care Council for Wales Conduct Rules defines misconduct as “conduct which calls into question the suitability of the registrant to remain on the Register”.

4. Please note that only limited information is available before the hearing. The Care Council issues guidelines to members of the media and public attending conduct hearings. This is designed to protect the confidentiality of witnesses including children, who cannot be identified.

5. The Care Council is unable to confirm how long hearings will last or whether there will be adjournments or requests for them to be held in private. In accordance with the Care Council's Conduct Rules, hearings may be held in private if the particular circumstances of the case outweigh the public interest in holding a public hearing. A copy of the Conduct Rules is on the Care Council's website at www.ccwales.org.uk.

For further information please contact Heledd Gwyndaf on 029 20 780634 or email heledd.gwyndaf@ccwales.org.uk