Social worker struck off register for failings in child care proceedings (30 June 2014)

A social worker has been removed from the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Register after lying about care proceedings for four children while she was working for Middlesbrough Council.

A hearing of the HCPC misconduct panel found that Deborah Lamie failed to instigate care proceedings for the four children over a 15-month period.

However, she told both her colleagues and the children that care proceedings had been started and were ongoing. She also said that a judge had advised on the conduct of the care proceedings case – and a legal guardian had been appointed for the four children.

The HCPC panel also heard that Ms Lamie tried to hide the truth from her team leader at Middlesbrough Council and fabricated documents to cover up her deception.

The council told the hearing that said Ms Lamie was dismissed “as soon as evidence of unacceptably poor practice was identified”. Until a council investigation was launched, however, Ms Lamie continued with her deception.

Chair of the HCPC panel Jennifer Rogers said that Ms Lamie’s conduct had resulted in “demonstrable harm”.

“Her course of dishonest conduct continued over a period of 15 months – and resulted in delay of court proceedings relating to the children in her care for over one year,” said Ms Rogers.

“This caused anger and frustration to the children themselves – and delayed important decisions relating to provision for their welfare.

“Her misconduct inevitably undermined trust in her, her colleagues and her profession.”

Ms Lamie did not attend the hearing and was not represented.

In her absence, the HCPC panel members decided to strike her from the HCPC Register and imposed an interim suspension period to cover the period allowed for her to appeal the decision.

The HCPC is an independent regulator and regulates social workers in England – social workers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are regulated by the relevant care councils in those countries.

The HCPC also currently regulates 16 different professions involving health and care services – and only registers professionals who meet the standards it sets for training, professional skills, behaviour and health.

As part of its remit, The HCPC can take action against professionals who do not meet the standards it sets, or if an individual uses a protected title illegally.

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