News
Social workers and care staff to be asked for views on new proposals for dealing with professional misconduct
6 September 2010
The Care Council for Wales is consulting with registered practitioners and others on new proposals to streamline and refine the ways in which the regulatory body deals with cases of alleged professional misconduct.
It is asking for the views of social workers and registered social care workers on plans which will include adding to the possible sanctions imposed on practitioners found guilty of misconduct and simplifying how cases are dealt with.
As part of the consultation, the Care Council is seeking the opinions of those people who use the services provided by the workers it regulates.
The proposals will enable potential agreements to be made between registrants and the Care Council early in the process, and additional new options for dealing with cases throughout. The emphasis is on improving practice, raising standards and helping registrants to resolve work-based issues and prevent future occurrences. There will be a key role for employers in the proposed amendments, which have the aim of improving public protection at their core whilst maintaining a robust and fair process.
The proposals include:
- Providing investigating officers with the power to agree an undertaking with registrants who are not being considered for removal from the Register of Social Care Workers. An undertaking would be measurable and time-bound, with the registrant being responsible for producing written evidence of compliance with the undertaking at the end of the period. This process would mean registrants not having to proceed through a prolonged investigatory process.
- Developing a greater range of sanctions for conduct committees to use, including the new power to review, vary and revoke a sanction, where, for example, new evidence comes to light. The new sanctions would include suspension orders with conditions and being able to impose specific conditions on a registrant who can continue to practice.
Rhian Huws Williams, Chief Executive, said: ‘The review of our conduct processes provides the opportunity to ensure that they are effective and fit for purpose. The proposals reflect the experience of running the current procedures over the past six years and are designed to be of benefit to all parties concerned. The proposed changes will aim to streamline current procedures whilst ensuring that we continue to have in place a robust and fair process.’
The new proposals are subject to a 12-week public consultation, starting on 6 September. Comments can be submitted to the Care Council about its proposals via its website, http://www.ccwales.org.uk/your-voice/consultation/current