An social worker, whose behaviour placed vulnerable children at risk of harm on numerous occasions, has been struck from the Scottish Social Services Council’s register for social workers.
A damning 11-page report by the SSSC listed 25 separate cases where Elizabeth West failed in her duty, including one instance where she referred a 16-year-old boy she was aware had sexually abused a seven-year-old boy, to volunteer at the Beavers.
In light of the cases noted the SSSC found her fitness to practise was impaired because of her “deficient professional practice.”
There was a pattern of “serious” behaviour which continued over a number of years, despite action taken by Angus Council to address it.
The report found West failed to assess the safety of three children living with their mother, who was in relationships with men known to criminal justice services.
The fact she did not carry out background checks on the mother’s new partners, was described as failure of her “duty of care.”
Not assessing the impact of the mother’s new relationships may have resulted in failure to identify and address concerns, and to put in place necessary interventions to protect the three children from harm.
She did not follow risk management procedures to monitor the safety of the children, putting them at unnecessary risk of harm.
On or around December 12 2016, West referred a 16-year-old boy, referred to as HH in the report, who she was aware had sexually abused a seven-year-old boy, to volunteer at the Beavers.
The SSSC stated: “The public has a right to expect social service workers will take the necessary steps to prevent people who use services doing actual or potential harm to others.
“By referring HH, who you knew to have sexually abused a young child, to volunteer at the Beavers, you failed to consider the risk management plan in place for HH to prevent HH from posing a risk of harm to others.”
West also neglected to record financial payments to a child’s family which may have had a detrimental impact on the assessment of the family’s needs and, by failing to carry out home visits, did not fulfil her professional responsibility to assess the suitability of the living situation of vulnerable children, placing them at risk of harm.
The damning findings show she did not liaise with, and update, colleagues, third parties and other professionals involved in the care and welfare of vulnerable children.
The report stated: “Such poor communication can have serious implications for the welfare of vulnerable children, placing them at risk of harm.
“Your behaviour fell well below the standards expected of a registered worker in your position.
“There is a persistent pattern of failings over a significant period of time.
“Your deficient professional practice is so serious it is not easily remediable.
“Given the pattern of behaviour, there is high likelihood of the deficient professional practice being repeated if you return to your role.
“If your behaviour was repeated this would place vulnerable young children at an acute risk of harm through failing to address child protection concerns in an appropriate way.
“The SSSC considers a removal order is the most appropriate sanction as it is both necessary and justified in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession.”
West was advised to take legal advice and accepted the removal order on February 8 2018. The notice came into effect on March 10.
An Angus Council spokesman said: “We note the decision of the report and can confirm the individual is no longer employed by Angus Council.”
