Cyngor Gofal Cymru / Care Council for Wales

A registered social worker employed by an agency has been admonished for three years after a Care Council Conduct Committee found her guilty of misconduct after she gave evidence that was inaccurate or misleading in a child protection case at Cardiff County Court.

The sanction was handed out to Deborah Borley, who currently works for the City and County of Swansea. Ms Borley will be able to continue working as a social worker but there will be an admonishment, or reprimand, against her record on the Register of Social Care Workers for three years. Anyone contacting the Care Council about Ms Borley’s registration during that time, including future employers, will be told she has an admonishment.

The Conduct Committee decided that Ms Borley, who had denied misconduct, had breached clauses 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 5.8 and 6.1 of the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers. The charges against Ms Borley related to evidence she gave regarding visits to parents of children in a county court case that took place in December 2006.

Admonishment is one of the sanctions available to the Care Council as the social care workforce regulator in Wales. Through its work, the Care Council aims to improve and raise public confidence in the social care services used by around 150,000 people at any one time in Wales.

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If you have any queries, please contact Malcolm Williams on 029 2078 0634 (malcolm.williams@ccwales.org.uk)

or Charmine Smikle on 029 2078 0626 (charmine.smikle@ccwales.org.uk)

Notes to Editors:

1. The Care Council is the social care workforce regulator in Wales. By registering with the Care Council, social workers are accountable for their conduct and practice.

2. Conduct hearings are held where a registered social worker, registered social work student or registered social care worker is accused of misconduct and after evidence has been gathered by the Care Council for Wales. The Conduct Committee is made up of three members and takes decisions in the public interest. The Committee has a majority of lay members. Where misconduct is found, the options open to the Committee include admonishment, suspension or removal of the registrant from the Register of Social Care Workers. This means a worker may be removed from the Social Care Register and therefore would not be able to practice in the UK.

3. Conduct procedures are part of the Care Council’s drive to protect the public and raise the level of trust and confidence in the social care services used by around 150,000 people at any one time in Wales.

4. The Care Council for Wales Conduct Rules define misconduct as "Conduct which calls into question the suitability of the registrant to remain on the Register".

5. A copy of the Conduct Rules is on the Care Council's website at www.ccwales.org.uk.